OnWave Ventures

Investment decisions are run by the two co-founders, Vlad and Alex. Vlad contributes more than 25 years of executive and entrepreneurial experience, primarily in energy and agribusiness, plus the capital base from the ITERA exit. Alex brings management consulting expertise from McKinsey and a specialization in financial services and FinTech. Both are involved in sourcing, diligence, and structuring.

The firm invests its own capital, taking a flexible, long-term view without the constraints of fund lifecycles or external LP reporting. It seeks to act as an enabler, providing support, resources, and operational discipline. The typical initial check ranges from C$100,000 to C$1,000,000, with reserves for follow-on investments in successful ventures.

The wealth originates from Vlad's role as a core member of ITERA's executive team. ITERA was a large private Russian energy company that was successfully sold to an oil and gas super-major, generating the liquidity that funds OnWave Ventures today.

The firm's primary geographic focus is Canada and the United States. The founders are based in Oakville, Ontario, and maintain a professional presence in Switzerland, but the stated investment mandate centers on North American early-stage companies.

All deployment is structured as direct investments. The firm uses proprietary capital rather than operating as a fund-of-funds or investing through SPVs. This direct approach grants founders a single, flexible counterparty throughout the investment lifecycle.

The firm focuses on early-stage investments, specifically seed and startup phases. It also reserves capital for follow-on opportunities in later expansion and growth rounds for companies already in the portfolio, supporting them beyond the initial check.

While FinTech is the only sector explicitly signaled on the current portfolio page, the founders' operational history points to strong domain knowledge in energy transition and agribusiness. Alex's McKinsey background additionally anchors expertise in enterprise software and digital transformation within financial services.