Reza Jafer

Reza Jafer is a vice president of technology banking for Silicon Valley Bank in Canada. In this role, he covers a broad range of technology sectors with a focus on fintech clients. Reza offers his clients strategic, personalized advice and financing solutions to help meet their companies’ current and future goals. Additionally, he provides his clients with valuable introductions and connections to leaders in the fintech space. Reza is passionate about working with visionary entrepreneurs who are changing the future of the world through technology, and he is proud to be a part of their growth journey through his role at Silicon Valley Bank.

Before joining Silicon Valley Bank, Reza was a venture partner for Good News Ventures, where he built and scaled their sidecar investments, led sourcing and due diligence efforts. He also launched their fund’s syndicate program on AngelList, attracting more than 700 new limited partners. Before that, Reza was the investor relations and program lead for Canada’s preeminent incubator and accelerator program at The DMZ, where he coached and advised early-stage founders on business and talent management, partnerships, fundraising and capital allocation, as well as providing leadership coaching. Formerly, he served as the head of wealth management for Lending Loop, a Series A fintech company, where he successfully quintupled their assets and launched three new lines of business. Reza was a corporate and investment banker with Echelon Wealth Partners, The Royal Bank of Scotland and the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. in their Toronto office for six years before diving into tech and venture ecosystems.

Reza holds a bachelor of commerce with specialized honors degree in finance from York University in Toronto, where he was also a teaching assistant. He is a CFA Charterholder. In 2019, Reza was nominated for the Digital Finance Institute’s Fintech 30 Under 30 Award. He volunteered with Katimavik, a six-month Canadian federally funded program with a mission to develop diverse youth as engaged, caring citizens and capable contributors and leaders for a better Canada; while there, he received an award from volunteer peers for outstanding leadership.

Outside of the office, Reza is an adventure seeker and foodie, and he enjoys do-it-yourself projects.