We are here to make a better tomorrow
As a firm, we are committed to one thing: creating disruptive impact to bring positive change in our world.
Our history
When Shyam Gupta sold SDP Telecom back in 2014, he was not looking towards retirement. Instead, his focus was on how he could use his capital to bring a better future by empowering innovative entrepreneurs and game-changing technologies. That’s how Somel Investments was born.
Today Somel manages a diverse portfolio, including various cutting-edge technology companies, real estate projects, and alternative assets. We have also launched a philanthropic foundation, through which Somel heavily commits itself to addressing various systemic inequalities and issues. All of this reflects Somel’s continuing desire and commitment towards improving our world for the generations to come.
Meet the Somel team
We are a tight-knit team of domain experts ready to support your vision.
Shyam Gupta
President & Founder
Shyam is a successful entrepreneur with more than 40 years experience in research, operation management and business development in the high-tech industry. Shyam co-founded SDP Telecom Inc. a company serving all major wireless OEM companies around the globe, which he led for more than 15 years until SDP was acquired by Molex LLC, a subsidiary of Koch Industries.
Shyam is also a Partner at Yaletown Partners, a large Canadian venture fund dedicated to closing the emerging-growth stage investment gap faced by technology companies in Canada.
Shyam has received numerous awards for his entrepreneurial success, including the Deloitte Technology Fast 50, the Technology Fast 500 in North America for two consecutive years, and the Quebec Ernst & Young 2009 Entrepreneur of The Year Award. He has a PhD in engineering.
Chris Hanck
Chief Investment Officer
As Chief Investment Officer, Chris helps determine the firms’s overall investment strategy. Chris is responsible for identifying and executing on new investment opportunities for Somel as well as managing closely the existing portfolio across all asset classes. He sits on the board of several of the firm’s venture portfolio companies, including Kaloom, Noviflow, Boreas, DeepLite and is a board observer at Aeponyx.
He began his career at Ernst & Young; working in Silicon Valley and helping venture-backed technology clients through the IPO process. He then moved on to financial advisory roles and has extensive experience in M&A, restructuring, and corporate governance. Chris holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Accounting, a graduate diploma in Chartered Accounting and is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) registered with the Quebec CPA Order. He also holds an Executive Education Certificate from Harvard University in Private Equity and Venture Capital.
Sophie Gupta
Co-Founder & Managing Director
Executive Director, The Somel Foundation
Sophie is a lawyer and investment professional. Her practice focuses on investing in technologies that seek to digitally transform traditional industries for climate resilient growth and on investing with a gender-lens. As co-founder and Managing Director of Somel, Sophie oversees its operations and provides strategic business and legal expertise.
Her passion lies in the fields of international human rights, social justice and humanitarian issues, relating particularly to advocacy for gender equity, access to health care and education of all persons, sustainable development assistance and climate justice. To that end, she is the Executive Director of the Somel Foundation. She also volunteers her time as a Board Director of the Equality Fund and as the Co-Chair of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee of the Canadian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (CVCA).
Sophie began her career as a lawyer at McCarthy Tétrault LLP, specializing in M&A, private equity and IP law. Sophie holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from the University of Ottawa and a Bachelor of Laws from Université Laval. In addition to her work at Somel, Sophie is a Principal & Head of Responsible Investing at Yaletown Partners.
Joan Gartner
Office Manager & Executive Assistant
As the Office Manager, Joan carries out the various managerial and administrative duties required to help things run smoothly at Somel.
Joan began her career as the Controller at a business tech company originating in Saskatchewan, the province where she grew up. A number of big family moves while raising her family led her to hold many volunteer and board positions throughout her community since then.
Joan holds a diploma in Business Administration and is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CMA) registered with the Institute of Chartered Professional Accountants of Saskatchewan (CPA Saskatchewan). Joan is also a music teacher, a Certified Curling Coach and an avid curler.
Max
Chief Greeting Officer
With nearly six years’ experience of welcoming and greeting guests in multiple settings, Max is proficient in both client engagement and stress management. He plays a vital and integral part of the Somel team, leading daily innovation walks and cultivating joy at the office.
Let’s talk
If you think we are the right partners for you, let’s talk. We’re always thrilled to meet builders of tomorrow.