Kathryn Wortsman

Kathryn Wortsman is Managing Partner of Amplify Capital, one Canada's oldest and leading impact funds. Amplify Capital focuses on investing in businesses using technology to solve for massive social and environmental challenges. Kathryn began her career as an investment banker at RBC Dominion Securities and then went on to spend 20+ years in private equity and venture capital both in Toronto and New York City. Kathryn has held senior investment roles at Constellation Ventures (a Bear Stearns GP Fund), MetLife Ventures, BMO Capital and Lynx Equity. Kathryn started her philanthropy work in New York and then launched the Toronto Chapter of Social Venture Partners in 2008. Kathryn launched the first fund of Amplify, MaRS Catalyst Fund in 2016 with backing from Richard Branson's family foundation, Virgin Unite, Lino et Mirella Saputo Foundation, McConnell Foundation and a number of family offices in Canada. Prior to Amplify, Kathryn co-founded Crest Capital in 2012, a special purpose acquisition vehicle which purchased 100% of Kelso Industrial Group in 2013. Kathryn and her business partner managed and grew Kelso through 2015 when Kathryn exited Kelso to move on to MaRS/Amplify. Kathryn has over 20 years of private equity and venture capital investment experience in Canada and the US. Prior to joining Lynx which she led the growth of the portfolio by over 10x, Kathryn was a Director at BMO Capital Corporation investing mezzanine capital to small mid market companies. Prior to BMOCC, Kathryn held consecutive investment roles at MetLife in New York: Principal in the venture group and Director, Corporate Development. Prior to MetLife, Kathryn was VP and Principal at Constellation Ventures in New York, a Bear Sterns sponsored venture capital firm focused on early and growth stage media enabling technologies. Prior to moving to New York, Kathryn held positions at both RBC Dominion Securities and CIBC Capital Partners in Toronto. Kathryn holds a BA in Economics from the University of Western Ontario and an MBA from Columbia University. Kathryn was the Founder and first Chair of the Board of Social Venture Partners Toronto, established in 2008. SVP Toronto is part of the international network focused on active and engaged philanthropy. Specialties: Impact Investing, Impact Measurement, Board Governance and Board management, Fundraising, Investor relations, Deal negotiation, pricing and completion. Financial and Impact reporting and operational capacity building.