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September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Money & Work • Entrepreneur

Michele Romanow

Michele Romanow is a Canadian entrepreneur, investor, and television personality known for co-founding Clearco (formerly Clearbanc) and appearing on CBC’s Dragons’ Den.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

Michele Romanow is a Canadian entrepreneur, investor, and television personality best known as a co-founder of Clearco and a Dragon on CBC’s Dragons’ Den.

What it is

Romanow co-founded Clearco (originally Clearbanc), a Toronto-based company that provides revenue-sharing funding to online businesses. She also co-founded earlier ventures including Buytopia.ca and SnapSaves, the latter acquired by Groupon in 2014.

Why it matters

Romanow is a prominent figure in Canada’s startup and e-commerce sectors. Her role on Dragons’ Den and her recognition on business lists (e.g., Canada’s Most Powerful Women) highlight her influence as a public-facing investor and entrepreneur.

Key details

Born in 1985, Romanow studied civil engineering at Queen’s University and later earned an MBA there. She joined Dragons’ Den in 2015, becoming one of its youngest Dragons. Her other ventures include The Tea Room and Evandale Caviar.

In short

  • Co-founded Clearco, a major e-commerce funding platform.
  • Appears as a Dragon on CBC’s Dragons’ Den since 2015.
  • Studied civil engineering and MBA at Queen’s University.
  • SnapSaves was acquired by Groupon in 2014.
Canadian angle

Romanow is a prominent Canadian tech entrepreneur and public-facing investor, and her companies, television role, and awards are closely tied to Canada’s startup and e-commerce sectors.

Quick questions

Who is Michele Romanow?
She is a Canadian entrepreneur, investor, and television personality best known as a co-founder of Clearco and a Dragon on CBC’s Dragons’ Den.
What is Clearco?
Clearco is a financing company co-founded by Romanow that provides capital to online businesses, especially e-commerce companies.
What did Michele Romanow study?
She studied civil engineering at Queen’s University and later earned an MBA there.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michele_Romanow
    Supports: Birth year, Canadian entrepreneur identity, Clearbanc/Clearco, Dragons’ Den role, recognition
  2. World Economic Forum — https://www.weforum.org/people/michele-romanow/
    Supports: Company history, Dragon role, earlier ventures, recognitions, Queen’s University background
  3. BBC — https://www.bbc.com/storyworks/limitless-pursuits/michele-romanow-revolutionary-vision
    Supports: Serial entrepreneur profile, Clearco, Buytopia.ca, SnapSaves acquisition
  4. Startupfest — https://www.startupfest.com/speaker/michele-romanow
    Supports: Education, ventures, Dragons’ Den role, board/directorship information
  5. Maclean’s — https://macleans.ca/education/michele-romanow-wants-to-be-a-helpful-dragon/
    Supports: Queen’s education, early business career, Dragons’ Den background
  6. Speakers Canada — https://www.speakers.ca/2022/03/from-caviar-to-clearco-how-michele-romanow-made-it/
    Supports: Clearco founding, funding scale, serial entrepreneurship