Sean Wise , BA / 93

Before you get to the Dragons’ Den, you have to get through Sean Wise.

The venture capital guru screened all potential contestants for the producers of CBC’s Dragons’ Den, a show where Canadian entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to five multimillionaire angel investors. He is also an online host for the program.

After studying economics and engineering at Carleton, Wise earned a law degree in corporate finance and an MBA in entrepreneurial studies. He is a member of the Canadian Venture Capital Association, the Toronto Venture Group and Law Society of Upper Canada. A former director of venture capital with Ernst &Young LLP, Wise is now managing director of Wise Mentor Capital, a national venture capital consultancy.

A public speaker and strategist who travels North America advising on entrepreneurial best practices, Wise also shares in wisdom in a monthly column for the Globe and Mail’s Report on Business.

Wise sits on the boards of the Canadian Venture Forum, the Banff Venture Forum and the Toronto Venture Group. Through Wise Mentor Capital, he helps young tech companies looking for strategic guidance on capital raising and growth.