Draft:Justus Parmar

= Justus Parmar = Justus Parmar is a Canadian entrepreneur, businessman, investor and the current managing director of Fortuna Investments, a Vancouver-based venture capital firm.

Born in Duncan, British Columbia, Parmar earned a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Victoria and completed advanced studies at Harvard University​. He began his career at CIBC, then held significant roles at Global Securities and Macquarie Group before founding Fortuna Investments in 2015. Under his leadership, the firm has raised over $300 million for early-stage companies and facilitated 24 IPOs.

Parmar is also a philanthropist, establishing the Justus Parmar Group Scholarship Foundation and supporting various charitable organizations.

Early life and education
Justus Parmar was born in Duncan, British Columbia, a town on Vancouver Island​. He currently resides in Vancouver and Los Angeles​​. Parmar pursued his higher education at the University of Victoria, where he earned a Bachelor of Commerce​. Furthering his education, he completed executive education in finance at Harvard Business School and private equity and venture capital studies at Harvard University​​.

Personal life
Parmar was born [INSERT DATE] to Indian parents who immigrated to Canada and worked hard to establish themselves. Parmar's mother [INSERT NAME] was a nurse, and his father [INSERT NAME] ran a small import-export business after working in the lumber industry​. Parmar’s father passed away when Parmar was 13, significantly impacting his sense of responsibility towards his family.

Parmar married Elisia Parmar [INSERT DATE], who co-chairs the Fortuna Foundation​. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Wilfrid Laurier University and is currently pursuing a Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology​. Justus and Elisia have been together since 2015 and he proposed to Elisia on top of the London Eye. In his spare time, Parmar enjoys reading about creators and founder success stories, as well as listening to house and dance-pop music.

Professional career
Parmar began his career in a junior position at CIBC before moving to Global Securities (now Ventum Financial Corp) as an investment advisor​. He became the youngest advisor at Macquarie Group, quickly rising to one of the top 10 producers​. Later, he served as an investment adviser and vice president at Jordan Capital Markets, an independent boutique investment firm​​.

In 2015, Parmar founded Fortuna Investments, a venture capital firm that has raised over $300 million for 125 early-stage companies and facilitated the IPO of 24 companies​. The firm supports companies in various sectors, including blockchain, renewable energy, and lithium exploration, with several portfolio companies reaching market capitalizations of over $1 billion​.

Achievements and recognition
Parmar has received several awards, including Business in Vancouver’s 2018 Forty Under 40 Award for his achievements in business, leadership, and community contributions​. He has co-founded and invested in companies with a collective market capitalization value of over $2 billion, including Millennial Lithium (TSX-V)​.

Philanthropy
Parmar founded the Justus Parmar Group Scholarship Foundation, which has awarded $250,000 in scholarships to finance students at the University of British Columbia​. He mentors young investors and entrepreneurs through the support of UBC’s Finance Club​. Parmar is also an active board member and fundraiser for Face of Today, a charity focused on ending the stigma around mental health issues impacting youth​. Additionally, he co-chairs the Fortuna Foundation, which supports communities and young entrepreneurs​.

Professional philosophy and advice
Parmar emphasizes the importance of young talent in organizational growth and believes in empowering his team by delegating responsibilities and trusting them with their tasks​. He has advocated for making ideas happen, helping others selflessly, and exceeding expectations in all endeavors​​. Parmar’s professional philosophy revolves around investing in people and maintaining a solutions-oriented business culture​​.