About Q1 The Team

Mike Middleton

Managing Director

Mike Middleton

Mike Middleton has played in the full range of private equity, from seed to Series E, and he's managed to build a broad following across the whole asset class. His public market experience also allows him to bring value to venture exchange companies tackling such unique issues as how to build investor relations. There isn't anyone else working with entrepreneurs today with a comparable network plus real world experience in tackling these issues.

Suzanne Dingwall-Williams, Founding Partner, Venture Law Associates LLP

Mike Middleton, MBA, CFA, is the founding partner of Q1 Capital and a recognized leader in investment banking to private Canadian technology companies. Prior to entering the field, Mike worked in the financial services industry and was the Founder and President of a niche Canadian consumer products’ firm. 

Mike has dedicated the past 15 years to investment banking with a focus on high-technology, advanced manufacturing, and consumer product companies.  Progressing from research analyst to Managing Partner at two leading Canadian private investment banks, Mike co-founded his own boutique investment bank in 2001 with the primary mandate to serve the unique financing and M&A needs of Canadian private companies.  Within these roles, Mike has focused exclusively on small to mid-cap companies and has looked at over 1,000 firms.  Companies that he has worked with include: Leitch Technology Corporation, ATS Automation Tooling Systems, The Learning Company, Enghouse Systems, and Wescam. 

Mike has a strong reputation for delivering value to his clients.  He brings relevant expertise, deep investor networks, and an uncompromising approach to raising capital for private Canadian technology companies across Canada.  Mike’s objective is to provide entrepreneurs with a level of professional service that previously was only available to public companies.  He has an excellent track record in the successful completion of mandates and has been featured in several recent Canadian business publications for his work.

Having successfully founded and built three businesses, Mike also brings an entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to every client engagement.  From 1988 to 1992, Mike founded and grew a consumer products firm that manufactured product in Haiti and sold into the U.S., Canadian, and Australian markets.  Since 2001, Mike has focused his efforts on providing M&A services, capital financing and financial advisory to private Canadian technology companies, most recently through Q1 Capital Partners. Under his leadership, Q1 Capital has become a leading Canadian investment banking boutique focused on meeting the unique needs of private technology-centric Canadian companies. 

Mike holds an honours BA degree from the University of Toronto, an MBA in Finance and Entrepreneurial Studies from the Schulich School of Business, and is a CFA charterholder.