Globalive

What Globalive does

Globalive is a Toronto-based private venture platform founded in 1998 by Anthony Lacavera that combines a Build Studio (co-creating companies from scratch with capital, product, and operational support) with an investment vehicle backing early-stage founders. The firm operates across telecom, AI, fintech, wellness, and media sectors. Wholly-owned or majority-owned operating subsidiaries include WealthONE Bank of Canada (65%-owned Schedule I bank, acquired 2025), Paradise Mobile (5G-first telecom in Bermuda and Cayman Islands), EverMe (AI-powered longevity platform), Pairus (AI-assisted relationship platform), Beyond Innovation (Bloomberg-aired media reaching 70+ countries), and Liberty Horizons (fractional CFO services). Underlying technology varies by subsidiary: cloud-native 5G network infrastructure for Paradise Mobile, AI-led editorial tech stacks for EverMe, behavioral matching algorithms for Pairus, and licensed banking infrastructure for WealthONE.

Globalive's business model combines equity ownership in co-built ventures, carried interest and returns from portfolio exits, and operational revenue from operating subsidiaries. The flagship economic event in company history was the $1.6 billion sale of WIND Mobile to Shaw Communications in 2016; other realized exits include TouchBistro, Tokyo Smoke, and Nuuvera. Cumulative capital raised across the platform's activities approaches $2 billion. The go-to-market is relationship-driven: founders are sourced through ecosystem partnerships with Creative Destruction Lab Toronto, DMZ, MaRS, Techstars, and 50+ venture funds, plus direct inbound via website portals ("Build With Us", "Raise With Globalive"). The senior leadership team (Anthony Lacavera, Brice Scheschuk, Simon Lockie) has worked together for over 25 years, with a headcount of 51-100 employees concentrated in Toronto. Customer segments are early-stage founders in regulated or overlooked industries who require long-term operating partners rather than passive capital.

Name

Globalive

Legal name

Globalive Capital

Website

https://globalive.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Toronto-based private venture platform founded in 1998 combining a Build Studio that co-creates companies with an investment vehicle backing early-stage founders. Operates across telecom, AI, fintech, and media with 150+ portfolio companies and 25+ realized exits.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Venture Capital & Company Building

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles (525)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Emerging Manager / Seeding Platforms (Multi-Manager) (FSANAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Strategic Partnerships, Alliances & JVs Advisory (BPAHADAI)

Keywords

• Venture capital investing
• Company building platform
• Early-stage investment
• Founder-focused studio
• Co-building ventures

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Investment Returns and Carried Interest: Globalive generates returns through venture capital investing in early-stage companies, with realized exits including WIND Mobile ($1.6B to Shaw Communications), TouchBistro, Tokyo Smoke, and Nuuvera. Revenue comes from portfolio company exits and carried interest on investments.
2. Build Studio Co-Building Services: Globalive provides hands-on operational support to early-stage ventures through their Build Studio, including capital deployment, product development, GTM strategy, legal, finance, and media services. Services are provided to co-built companies in exchange for equity ownership.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Globalive operates a Build Studio and investment platform that co-creates and backs early-stage ventures, deploying capital, product development, GTM strategy, legal, finance, and media services in exchange for equity. It has co-founded 12 companies and backed 150+ others, including WealthONE Bank of Canada (65% owned), Paradise Mobile (5G telecom), EverMe (AI longevity), Pairus (AI relationship matching), Beyond Innovation (Bloomberg-aired media), and Liberty Horizons (fractional CFO services).

Product overview

Globalive operates as a dual platform combining a Build Studio and investment vehicle. The Build Studio co-builds ventures including WealthONE Bank of Canada (65%-owned digital bank), Paradise Mobile (5G telecom infrastructure), EverMe (AI-powered longevity platform), Pairus (AI relationship matching), Beyond Innovation (global media content platform), and Liberty Horizons (fractional CFO services). The investment platform backs over 150 companies across sectors including space tech (Kepler), quantum computing (Xanadu), AI tax research (BlueJ), geospatial data (Skywatch), and cryptocurrency finance (NYDIG). The ecosystem is supported by Globalive Media, Mind Frame content network, and various creative/communications partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Build Studio: Globalive's operator-led studio for co-building early-stage ventures with capital, product, and execution support.
• Liberty Horizon
• Globalive Impact

Products and services

• WealthONE Bank of Canada A federally regulated digital bank acquired by a Globalive-led consortium in 2025, offering practical financial solutions to Canadians. Globalive owns 65% of the bank following the ~$58 million CAD acquisition.
• Paradise Mobile Cloud-native, 5G-first telecom infrastructure built for emerging markets. Live in Bermuda with the fastest 5G in the region and under construction in the Cayman Islands, providing network infrastructure where legacy carriers have not reached.
• EverMe AI-powered longevity co-pilot platform. Uses an AI-led, editorially structured tech stack to map expert opinion, contextualize research, and adapt to user behavior for personalized longevity guidance.
• Pairus AI-powered relationship platform designed to make connection intentional. Uses behavioral expertise and AI-assisted matching for relationship connections.
• Beyond Innovation Bloomberg-aired content platform spotlighting global innovation. Produced and distributed by Globalive Media, airing in 70+ countries with 430M+ household reach, featuring end-to-end media execution.
• Liberty Horizons Fractional CFO and strategic finance infrastructure services for founders. Provides capital planning, operational finance, and board-level readiness support for scaling companies.
• Build Studio Operator-led studio that co-builds companies from the ground up with select ventures, providing capital, product, and operational expertise in exchange for equity.
• Globalive Media Content network exploring the future of innovation and leadership. Powers storytelling, production, and positioning for ventures across the Globalive ecosystem.
• Mind Frame Innovation content series elevating global tech and entrepreneurship, part of Globalive's creative and communications engine supporting portfolio companies.

Quantifiable outcome

• WIND Mobile sold to Shaw Communications for $1.6 billion
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• TollBit (BI.Garage, Japan Business Press, Novoscribe)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobalive collaborated with BI.Garage, Japan Business Press, and Novoscribe to develop and roll out 'TollBit,' an AI-era content monetization platform in Japan. The initiative aims to protect media content from AI traffic and generate revenue by supporting media companies in monitoring and licensing their content for AI systems.
• Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) TorontocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAs a founding partner of Creative Destruction Lab Toronto, Globalive has helped it grow from a bold academic experiment to one of the world's most respected science-based accelerators. Their role has spanned capital, mentorship, and long-term ecosystem support. CDL ventures have generated billions in equity value across AI, quantum computing, health, and clean energy.
• DMZ (Digital Media Zone)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobalive backs DMZ to give founders the structure, speed, and global support they need from day one. DMZ is a top business incubator helping startups scale.
• NEXT CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobalive co-chairs NEXT Canada to equip the country's highest-potential entrepreneurs with the tools to build and lead at scale.
• MaRS Discovery DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobalive's work at MaRS has helped create space, structure, and visibility for ventures scaling to $100M+ in revenue. Through Globalive Media, they've profiled high-growth MaRS startups, giving their stories reach, credibility, and a platform to connect with customers, investors, and future talent.
• MindFrame ConnectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWith Anthony Lacavera and Brice Scheschuk on the founding team, Globalive has helped shape MindFrame Connect's strategy, voice, and reach. MindFrame Connect builds Canada's most advanced mentorship and founder support programs, embedding them into leading accelerators and institutions across the country.
• Founder InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobalive supports early-stage founders with mentorship, mindset, and momentum through one of the world's most accessible accelerators.
• Techstars TorontominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobalive backs global founder-first programs and invests in select Techstars Toronto companies shaping tomorrow's industries.
• Shamba FoundationminorOthersFounded by Anthony Lacavera, the Shamba Foundation was designed to make volunteering easy, accessible, and meaningful for the Globalive team. Now a registered foundation, it has enabled thousands of acts of service and meaningful support for underserved communities.
• Paradise MobilecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParadise Mobile is a cloud-native, 5G-first telecom built from the ground up. Now live in Bermuda with the fastest 5G in the region and under construction in the Cayman Islands, Paradise is a full-stack network infrastructure built to power innovation where legacy carriers never reached. Winner of 'Fastest Mobile Network' in 2024 from Ookla.
• BermudairminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBermudair uses Paradise Mobile's network infrastructure for critical flight data, enhancing decision-making and optimizing communication.
• American Wireless Consortium (AWC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAWC creates Western-aligned alternatives in regions dominated by foreign state-backed providers. Wireless infrastructure for emerging markets.
• EverMecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobalive co-built EverMe from vision to intelligent longevity platform. They helped define the core product model, recruited the founding team, and worked across design, research, and GTM. EverMe is built around an AI-led, editorially structured tech stack.
• PairuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobalive is building Pairus as a relationship platform to make connection intentional again. They helped structure the core matchmaking journey, supported product design, development and testing, and shaped the team from behavioral experts to founding leadership.
• Beyond InnovationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeyond Innovation is a Bloomberg-aired content platform built to spotlight global innovation. Produced and distributed by Globalive Media, airing in 70+ countries with 430M+ household reach. End-to-end media execution: research, scripting, interviews, production, distribution, and post-launch partner content.
• Liberty HorizoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLiberty Horizons provides CFO support built inside the companies Globalive helps scale, including fractional CFO services and strategic finance infrastructure. Launched to support founders who outgrow their spreadsheets faster than they can build finance teams.
• Globalive MediacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobalive's content network exploring the future of innovation and leadership. Provides end-to-end media services including production, scripting, interviews, and distribution for portfolio companies.
• Joules Creative StudiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative studio translating science into brand power. Part of Globalive's creative and communications engine.
• Creators ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork fueling creators and builders across media and tech. Part of Globalive's creative and communications engine.
• King Street MediaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction-led studio for brand impact. Part of Globalive's creative and communications engine.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Plug and Play Tech Center: Plug and Play is a global startup accelerator and investor operating across multiple verticals and geographies. Comparable on ecosystem partnership model and accelerator-driven deal flow.
• Founders Factory: Founders Factory is a venture studio and accelerator that builds and scales startups with corporate partners. Comparable emerging peer to Globalive's operator-led co-build model with corporate partner engagement.
• Antler: Antler is a global early-stage venture firm and founder-building platform that supports founders from idea stage. Comparable emerging player to Globalive's founder-first, ecosystem-driven deal origination model.

Broad incumbents

• General Catalyst: General Catalyst is a global venture capital firm with a "creation" strategy and substantial platform capabilities. Broader incumbent peer given its size, fund scale, and move into company building.
• Andreessen Horowitz (a16z): a16z is a leading US venture capital firm operating a broad multi-stage platform with operating partners and media properties. Broad incumbent peer comparable in scale and breadth but with a pure VC (not studio) model.

Direct peers

• Idealab: Idealab is one of the longest-running company creation studios, founding and operating technology startups since 1996. Direct peer to Globalive's Build Studio model of co-building rather than just funding ventures.
• Science Inc. Science Inc. operates as a startup studio and venture fund that builds, launches, and invests in technology companies. Closely comparable to Globalive's dual Build Studio + investment platform approach.
• Atomic: Atomic is a venture studio that partners with founders to build companies from inception. Directly comparable to Globalive's Build Studio approach of hands-on co-creation rather than passive investment.
• Pioneer Square Labs (PSL): PSL is a Seattle-based startup studio that co-founds companies from scratch with operators. Closely comparable to Globalive's Build Studio, particularly in verticalizing operator-led venture creation.
• Betaworks: Betaworks is a startup studio and venture capital fund based in NYC that builds and invests in early-stage internet and AI companies. Peer to Globalive's studio-plus-investment model with a media-adjacent orientation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/globalive
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/globalivecapital

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments50 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Globalive