OUR TEAM

We are a dedicated team made up of seasoned entrepreneurs with a track record of success and extremely passionate about helping organizations grow. Our efforts are focused on identifying investment opportunities and working alongside talented management teams to build and accelerate further growth.

MICHAEL DIEP

Managing Partner

Mike Diep, a co-founder and Managing Partner of Capficiency, has over 10 years of private equity investing, senior executive, and financial management experience focused on the lower-middle market. Mike sets the firm's strategic direction and is involved in investment decision making and operational management of its portfolio companies. Mike currently serves as a Director of Appficiency Inc., a portfolio company who's IT consulting practice has emerged as a market leader focused on the Oracle-NetSuite cloud-based ERP platform. Mike also currently serves as acting CEO of KWizCom Corp. a portfolio company focused on developing Microsoft SharePoint products.

Prior to founding Capficiency in 2018, Mike was a Vice President at Maxim Partners, a private equity firm in the greater Chicago area, for nearly 5 years. During his tenure at Maxim, Mike focused on investment activities in the education and energy industry.

Prior to Maxim, Mike was an Associate at Birch Hill Equity Partners. Mike started his finance career as a financial analyst at JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs.

EDUCATION:

Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management, M.B.A

University of Western Ontario, Ivey Business School, H.B.A

JOHNNY THAN

Partner

Johnny Than, a co-founder and Managing Partner of Capficiency brings over 14 years in business management, consulting, and sales experience. Johnny is active in all aspects of the firm's activities, with a focus on leading value creation by applying his business development and operational expertise to our portfolio companies.

Johnny founded appficiency inc. in 2014, an international IT consulting firm with offices in North America and Asia. Through his deep expertise in the IT industry, Johnny has built a business with an award-winning reputation and defensible market position.

Prior to founding appficiency inc. Johnny was an ERP consultant at Oracle Netsuite where he was an integral part of the innovation and expansion of the professional services division.

EDUCATION:

McMaster University, DeGroote School of Business, M.B.A

University of Western Ontario. B.A.

DIANA ALARCON

Senior Associate

Diana Alarcon, a Senior Associate at Capficiency has over 8 years of global operations and management experience focused on supply chain and product delivery. Diana joined the firm in 2022 and manages the portfolio company’s design and execution of strategies to operationalize growth. At Appficiency Diana serves as Director, Microsoft Business Unit including KWizCom + ProvisionPoint.

Prior to joining Capficiency, Diana delivered new product launches for several iPhone generations at Apple as an Operations Program Manager. She started her career with Procter & Gamble’s Gillette where she led multiple teams in the operations and business planning functions to achieve benchmark results in the U.S and Latin America.

EDUCATION:

Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management, M.B.A

University of Florida, College of Engineering, B.S.E

ERIKA ARNOLD

Associate

Erika Arnold, an associate at Capficiency, joined the firm in 2024. Erika is experienced in developing and executing strategies to sustainably grow businesses. Her previous work in management consulting at ZS Associates provided experience in developing sales & marketing strategies to propel growth across companies in CPG, Healthcare, Agriculture, and Technology. More recently, Erika led the Portfolio Strategy team at Molson Coors Beverage Company, determining resource allocation, key priorities, and leading cross-functional teams in achieving financial results across the brand portfolio. Erika also has experience developing growth strategies for start-ups in the sustainable fashion technology and immune supplement industries.

Currently, Erika is located in Evanston, IL and is completing her MBA at the Kellogg School of Management with a major in Finance. As part of this program, Erika interned with the Nike Strategy Team in 2023, evaluating global monetization opportunities in the future world of sport.

EDUCATION:
Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management, M.B.A

University of Michigan, Ross School of Business, B.B.A

MATTHEW BORG

Senior Analyst

Matthew Borg, an analyst at Capficiency, joined the firm in 2022 and is focused on analysis of prospective targets and portfolio companies. Matthew focuses on assisting associates and partners with industry prospecting, opportunity origination, thesis development, valuations, modelling, and portfolio monitoring.

Prior to joining Capficiency, Matthew worked for FirePower Capital, where he focused on evaluating and executing private capital opportunities in the lower mid-market.

EDUCATION:
University of Western Ontario, Ivey Business School. H.B,A

JERRY FENG

Analyst

Jerry Feng, an analyst at Capficiency, joined the firm in 2023 and is focused on analyzing the financial and strategic fit of prospective target companies. Furthermore, Jerry assists the team throughout the deal execution and due diligence process.

Prior to joining Capficiency, Jerry worked for Agentis Capital in infrastructure investment banking. Jerry enjoys playing chess and table tennis in his free time.

EDUCATION:
University of Western Ontario, Ivey Business School. H.B,A

SHIYAO LI

Analyst

Shiyao Li, an analyst at Capficiency, joined the firm in 2023 and is focused on strategic operations, development, and growth of current and prospective companies.

Prior to joining Capficiency, Shiyao worked at Whitehorse Liquidity Partners on the Capital Management Team.

Outside of work, she is a current member of the Royal Canadian Navy Reserves and serves as a Materiel Management Technician.

EDUCATION:
University of Western Ontario, Ivey Business School. H.B,A

IRELAND CATHERWOOD

Junior Analyst

Ireland Catherwood, a junior analyst at Capficiency, joined the firm in 2024 to support the broader team with business development and investment thesis development.

Prior to joining Capficiency, Ireland was a Section president at the Ivey Business School and finalist in Boston Consulting Group's 28th annual case competition.

EDUCATION:
University of Western Ontario, Ivey Business School. H.B,A (Candidate)