Growth-focused private equity firm Jolt Capital has appointed Tara Akhavan as Value Creation Partner, effective May 1, 2026. Based in Montreal, she will join the firm’s newly established value creation team, working closely with portfolio company executives to enhance performance, define and execute growth strategies, accelerate go-to-market initiatives, and support international expansion.
Akhavan brings extensive experience across startups, scale-ups, and large corporations, having led the commercialization of more than 30 products spanning consumer electronics, automotive, and health technology sectors. Her expertise includes scaling B2B SaaS, SaaP, and SaMD businesses across Asia, Europe, and North America. She holds a PhD in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence and is the inventor of more than 50 patents.
In addition to her technical background, Akhavan has received multiple industry recognitions, including CES Innovation Awards and Automotive PACE Awards, and has been named among Canada’s Top 100 in Business and Top 40 Under 40. She previously founded IRYStec, a perceptual display technology company later acquired by Faurecia, now FORVIA, and has held senior leadership roles at FORVIA. She is currently CEO of AI4Eyes, a health-tech startup focused on improving eye care through AI.
At Jolt Capital, Akhavan will play a central role in strengthening the firm’s hands-on operational approach, supporting portfolio companies through their next phase of growth and global expansion initiatives.
KEY QUOTES:
“We are thrilled to welcome Tara to Jolt Capital. Her exceptional combination of technical depth, entrepreneurial mindset, and global operating experience will be instrumental in supporting our current portfolio companies through their next phase of growth. Her proven expertise in deeptech and medtech perfectly fits with our strategy, and will prove very complementary to the rest of our Canadian team”.
Jean Schmitt, President And Managing Partner, Jolt Capital
“I’m excited to join Jolt and support the growth of its portfolio and global presence. With my experience across deeptech operations and M&A, this is a natural next step. I’m inspired by the team’s passion and look forward to building great companies together.”
Tara Akhavan, Value Creation Partner, Jolt Capital
