NexChapter
Unfiltered wisdom from post exit founders
Ryan O’Leary

RYAN O’LEARY

CEO

Ryan is the co-founder and former CEO of Sonapay (SONA), a Canadian merchant services company he built from scratch in Bedford, Nova Scotia in 2016. Over eight years, bootstrapped and values-driven, SONA grew to serve 5,000 merchants across Canada, processing over $1B in annual volume with industry-leading retention rates and a culture built on transparency and solution selling. In 2024, SONA was acquired by Celero Commerce. Ryan is now the founder of ROKO Holdings and Investments, deploying capital into fintech, venture, and early-stage companies. He and his wife Kristin are preparing to circumnavigate the globe aboard their Oyster 625, Distraction, in the 2028 Oyster World Rally — a dream that was literally written into their wedding vows 19 years ago.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanoleary1/

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