MARKET ENTRY STRATEGY
Market Entry Strategy & Execution
From assessing the opportunity through to executing the right market access plan.
What We Do
We bring Canadian businesses the in-region commercial expertise needed to enter European markets, operate efficiently and scale to their full potential.
SCALE-UP FINANCE
Access To Scale-up Finance and Investment Capital
Tailored finance strategies and deal structuring support.
TRADING & REGULATION
Trading Establishment & Regulatory Setup
Implement company formation, banking, statutory registrations and operating frameworks.
COMMERCIAL AGREEMENTS
Commercial Agreements & Negotiation Support
Draft, structure and negotiate essential business agreements — including licensing, distribution, supply, co-development and pilot arrangements — to secure fair, compliant and scalable outcomes in European markets.
Market Entry Advisory
EXPANSION JOURNEYS
From first conversation to trading entity in Europe.
We work company leadership to design practical, tailored routes into the UK and EU – balancing ambition with risk, capital and operational bandwidth.
Our work spans structuring, due diligence, regulatory mapping, commercial agreement support and the secure data-room infrastructure that investors and partners expect.
Who We Serve
We focus on Canadian innovation-driven businesses and their partners seeking resilient, diversified growth across Europe and Canada.
Canadian Mid-market Companies
We support Canadian mid-market companies seeking structured, investor-ready and capital-aligned entry into European markets—combining market-entry strategy, regulatory setup, trading establishment and commercial execution across the UK and EU.
Private Capital
We work with private equity, growth funds and family offices deploying capital into Canadian innovation or supporting Europe-bound expansion, providing due diligence, structuring insight and cross-border commercial readiness.
Corporate Venture Capital
We help corporates identify Canadian innovation aligned to strategic priorities, supporting CVC investments with market mapping, regulatory frameworks and execution-ready commercial partnerships across Europe and Canada.
25+
Years of European business experience
3
Offices in European and Canada
100+
corporate & investor relationships
Our Team
Our leadership team come from backgrounds in international banking, legal, tax, digital media and compliance.
Richard Sealy
Partner99
International banking and management consultant executive with 25+ years experience based in the UK, Switzerland, and France. Specialist in M&A, strategic sourcing and operational restructuring across highly regulated industries. A passionate sailor and skier.
Phil Staff
Partner
Global branding & communications lead with 30+ years’ experience, founding, growing & exiting; marketing & digital agencies in the UK & Europe. Working with some of the world’s biggest brands, advised on start-up, market-entry and M&A across many sectors. A lover of the outdoors, both mountains and ocean.
Robert Painchaud
Partner
CPA of Canada and CFA charter holder with over 25 years’ experience in Asset Management and Banking across Europe. Based in Switzerland for two decades, Robert facilitates access to private equity, venture capital, family office, and bank financing. A lifelong ice hockey player, he’s still on the ice after 45 years.
Christian Tetrault
Partner
International business and tax attorney with 25+ years’ experience across 60 jurisdictions within mature and emerging markets. Skilled negotiator, focused on strategy, governance & cross-border collaboration to enhance returns, reduce risks, expand operations, and build strong global partnerships.
ABOUT WECAN
European Market Entry for Canadian Ambition
WECAN is a European-based advisory supporting Canadian companies as they expand, diversify and strengthen their presence across the UK and EU. With backgrounds in global banking, restructuring, cross-border strategy and operational execution, our team brings clarity to the complexities of entering new markets — from commercial strategy to regulatory setup and investor readiness.
We work with founders, scale-ups, family-owned companies and institutional partners seeking structured, compliant and investable routes into Europe. Our strength lies in combining on-the-ground European insight with a deep understanding of Canadian innovation ecosystems, enabling clients to make informed decisions with confidence and pace.
Operating from hubs in the UK, France, Switzerland and Italy, we support clients wherever they are in their European journey.
