# Alkarim Jivraj

> Alkarim Jivraj is the Toronto-based CEO of Espresso Capital. A former technology investment banker and founder of Intrepid, he joined Espresso in 2013 and became CEO in 2015 after leading a management-company ownership transaction. His public work focuses on financing technology businesses, preserving founder ownership and monitoring lending risk.

- **Role:** CEO at Espresso Capital
- **Organizations:** Espresso Capital, Intrepid Business Acceleration Fund, Intrepid Equity Finance, Yorkton Securities, The Upside Foundation of Canada, Streamlogics, eSentire, SCI MarketView
- **Education:** BA, History, University of Toronto, MBA, Finance, University of Western Ontario, Richard Ivey School of Business
- **Known for:** Founded and managed Intrepid Business Acceleration Fund and led Intrepid Equity Finance., Led the investor group that acquired majority ownership of Espresso's management company in 2015., Advised Streamlogics on its 2009 sale to Thomson Reuters.

## Career timeline

- **1996** — Began investment banking career at Yorkton Securities; later led technology investment banking and co-managed two investment funds.
- **2001** — Settled an Ontario Securities Commission proceeding over a 1998 share purchase: reprimand, $10,000 voluntary payment and $5,000 investigation costs.
- **2004** — Founded Intrepid; worked in venture capital and corporate finance advisory.
- **2006-2009** — Served on Streamlogics board and advised on its sale to Thomson Reuters.
- **2011-2013** — Served on eSentire board after leading its Series A financing.
- **2013** — Joined Espresso Capital as managing partner.
- **2015** — Led an investor group acquiring majority ownership of Espresso funds' management company; became CEO.
- **2017-2023** — Served on the Upside Foundation of Canada board.
- **2018** — Led Espresso during launch of a SaaS lending program with up to 24x monthly recurring revenue and loans up to $10 million.
- **2021** — Espresso announced a $200 million KeyBank credit facility.
- **2026** — Published articles examining software valuation, capital structure and operational durability in venture lending.

## Achievements

- Founded and managed Intrepid Business Acceleration Fund and led Intrepid Equity Finance.
- Led the investor group that acquired majority ownership of Espresso's management company in 2015.
- Advised Streamlogics on its 2009 sale to Thomson Reuters.
- Led eSentire's Series A financing.
- Led Espresso during international lending expansion and the 2021 KeyBank facility.

## Latest updates

- **2026-05** — Published Growth gets headlines, but durability drives outcomes, focusing on liquidity runway and operating resilience.
- **2026-03** — Published Software lending risk: How narratives get lost in translation, distinguishing valuation changes from credit impairment.

## Links

- Website: https://espressocapital.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alkarimjivraj

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/alkarim-jivraj
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-09