Co-Founder & Operator

Gabe was shaped early on by a family of entrepreneurs in Brazil, where running a business meant treating people well, taking pride in the work, and building something to last. That foundation continues to guide his approach to leadership and ownership today.

Over the past 15 years, Gabe has built a career helping companies grow, not behind a spreadsheet, but up close and on the ground. He’s helped lead two high-growth businesses, scaling one from $10M to $120M CAD in revenue, and another from $8M to $70M USD. His success has come from building strong teams, creating systems that scale, and cultivating customer loyalty as a competitive advantage.

Gabe was appointed by Toronto City Council to the board of TO Live, overseeing three theatres, 630 employees, and a $30M operating budget. During the COVID-19 pandemic, every venue was forced to shut down and revenues dropped by 99%. Gabe played a key role in helping the organization navigate this unprecedented crisis. It was a test of values and resilience, one that reinforced his belief in steady leadership and doing right in the hardest moments.

He graduated at the top of his class from the Richard Ivey School of Business, with a focus on Finance, Accounting, and Entrepreneurship.

Co-Founder

Cailyn believes that people are everything to an organization and that genuine connection is the key to building lasting brands and businesses. For over 15 years, this people-first mindset has shaped her career leading marketing and brand strategy for Rogers, Cineplex, Disney, and LivePerson, building customer loyalty, driving measurable growth, and scaling impact across digital and physical channels.

At Disney, she managed a $100M national brand and media budget, oversaw the studio’s Canadian lm business, and helped launch Disney+ in Canada. She worked closely with iconic brands including Marvel, Pixar, and Lucasfilm. At Cineplex, she led marketing for the national theatrical slate, partnering with Hollywood studios to deliver impactful campaigns that brought people back to the big screen. Most recently, at LivePerson, she led global customer engagement and growth marketing for Fortune 500 clients in the AI-powered customer experience space.

In 2020, she co-founded Teach Me How to Adult, a top-charting Canadian podcast focused on personal growth for the next generation of women. With brand partners including Procter & Gamble, Uber, and Telus, the platform reflects her belief in lifelong learning and meaningful connection, values that continue to guide her work today.

Joey Tai is the Managing Principal of Crete Capital and brings over 15 years of experience in debt financing for private Canadian companies. His expertise spans a broad range of corporate finance solutions supporting organic growth, M&A transactions, and investments in property, plant, and equipment. Prior to founding Crete Capital, Joey led one of the largest offices at a leading Canadian merchant bank, where he specialized in financing private company M&A and major capital investments. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from UBC’s Sauder School of Business and is a CFA Charterholder.

Crete Capital is a corporate debt advisory firm that delivers tailored capital solutions for entrepreneurs and investors. The firm focuses on financing private company growth, M&A transactions, and refinancing events. As an independent advisor, Crete Capital represents its clients in the capital markets to secure optimal financing terms, while providing full transaction oversight as a trusted buy-side advisor.

With over $2 billion in cumulative transaction experience and a strong track record of success, Crete Capital leverages deep expertise and long-standing lender relationships to drive results with speed, certainty, and negotiating power. Crete Capital helps corporate clients access the right capital partners to grow with confidence and build enduring value.

We’re fortunate to be surrounded by a trusted group of advisors who bring deep experience across entrepreneurship, private equity, accounting, and operations. Our advisory bench includes successful searchers and business owners, seasoned accountants with buy-side expertise, former private equity partners with decades of transaction experience, and founders of high-growth companies. Their insight, candor, and real-world knowledge help us evaluate opportunities with clarity and confidence.