Michael Astone, CPA, CA

Chief Executive Officer

With over 15 years of experience in the investment banking industry, Michael has established himself as a multifaceted banker, successfully navigating numerous sectors. His career has seen him advancing through roles as an Analyst, Associate, Vice President, Director, and most recently, Managing Director at a prominent Wall Street investment bank. In 2017, Michael co-founded the pioneering cannabis investment banking practice at BMO Capital Markets after being promoted to Vice President. This initiative marked the first instance of a Canadian Schedule 1 bank backing the global cannabis sector, where Michael and his team rapidly evolved the practice into a top-tier franchise.

In 2020, Michael embarked on another venture as a co-founder of a psychedelic company, raising $15M and orchestrating its public listing on the TSX-V. His journey then led him to Cantor Fitzgerald Canada, where he established a Diversified and Special Situation investment banking group with a global perspective. At Cantor, he swiftly secured a leadership position for the firm within the diversified growth sectors, spearheading financings for tier-1 clients that included Cybin’s transition from the NEO to the NYSE, Bitzero’s institutional private placement and Hexo’s $150 million global financing in addition to several go public transactions.

In 2023, Michael co-founded several companies as one of the lead investors and advisors. His efforts culminated in securing several million dollars in growth capital and taking them public in Canada. Raised in an entrepreneurial family, Michael harbors a deep-seated passion for generating value alongside his clients and partners. His expertise lies in identifying both organic and inorganic growth opportunities, aiding clients in securing global capital to finance strategic plans and expedite growth through M&A transactions. As a trusted advisor, Michael offers counsel in facilitating transactions and financings across varied industries to numerous boards, CEOs, and CFOs of public and private clients worldwide.

Michael is a licensed Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and commenced his career at KPMG, where he specialized in audit and buy-side due diligence in the transaction services for prominent private equity / pension funds.