Darren Bondar

Next Phase Advisory Helping founders and business owners navigate growth, transition, and operational scale with greater clarity, discipline, and modern systems. NextPhase Advisory is a boutique advisory practice where I work directly with entrepreneurs and leadership teams entering critical inflection points in their businesses — including growth, restructuring, expansion, and strategic repositioning. Drawing on more than 25 years of experience building and scaling companies, I help organizations simplify operations, strengthen execution, and implement modern AI-enabled systems that improve visibility, efficiency, and decision-making. Rather than adding unnecessary complexity or headcount, the focus is on building smarter operational foundations that allow businesses to scale sustainably. Core Areas of Support • AI-Enabled Growth Systems – Automated recruitment, onboarding, and customer acquisition workflows, including AI-supported sales development processes. • Operational Automation & Dashboards – Integration of CRM, POS, ERP, and analytics platforms to create real-time operational visibility and leadership reporting. • AI-Enhanced Performance Intelligence – AI-assisted review of sales calls, marketing performance, and team metrics to improve consistency and execution. • Strategic Advisory & Executive Support – Hands-on guidance aligning strategy, people, and systems for the next phase of growth. • Founder Advisory – Support for entrepreneurs navigating turnarounds, expansion, or major business transitions. Mission To combine deep entrepreneurial experience with modern AI tools — helping leaders create clarity, momentum, and measurable results in their next phase of growth.

Hempalta Corp. is a publicly listed company on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV: HEMP) focused on building long-term shareholder value through disciplined corporate strategy, capital markets expertise, and strategic business development. As President & CEO, I lead the company’s strategic direction, investor relations, and corporate initiatives as we reposition the platform to identify and grow strong operating businesses that can benefit from the scale, governance, and access to capital provided by a public company. Hempalta has historically operated in the industrial hemp and carbon markets, including the development of the Hemp Carbon Standard, an initiative designed to support agricultural carbon sequestration and high-integrity climate projects. Today, our focus is on strengthening the company’s capital structure, managing legacy operating assets, and positioning the public platform for future growth opportunities. My responsibilities include: • Corporate strategy and long-term growth planning • Capital markets strategy and investor engagement • Mergers, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships • Corporate governance and public company compliance • Operational restructuring and asset optimization Through this work, the objective is to create a flexible public company platform capable of supporting scalable businesses and delivering sustainable value for shareholders.

Trail Blazing Ventures Ltd. was created as a capital pool company with a mission to identify, back, and scale a visionary brand poised for public market success. Founded by a team of brand builders, category experts, and operational leaders, TBV focused on companies where culture, community, and value creation intersect. We believe that great brands are built on strategic alignment between shareholders, employees, and customers. As Chair and largest shareholder, I led the fundraising strategy and secured all capital required to complete the go-public process. On March 19, 2024, TBV successfully completed its qualifying transaction and became Hempalta Corp. (TSXV: HEMP) — a nature-based carbon credit and hemp innovation company.

The end of prohibition. The start of something incredible. We Built An Iconic Canadian Cannabis Company. Inner Spirit Holdings Ltd. (CSE:ISH) applied its award-winning franchise and retail models to the recreational cannabis industry. With a group of more than 100 franchised and corporate-owned Spiritleaf stores open across the country, a growing portfolio of proprietary brands, and strategic partnerships and investments, Spiritleaf is a leader in the Canadian cannabis industry. Inner Spirit was sold to Sundial Growers Inc. (NASDAQ:SNDL) in July 2021 for $131 million and the Spiritleaf brand continues on its path as a cannabis retail leader.

In 1999, at age 24, I left the security of full-time employment to launch WATCH IT!, a national retail concept built from the ground up with $30,000 in credit, reclaimed fixtures, and relentless passion. Over the next 20 years, WATCH IT! grew from a single location into a 30+ store national chain with more than 200 employees across Canada. Through a strong franchise network and a culture that made every second count, we served millions of Canadians with timepieces, heirlooms, and milestone gifts — building a loved and trusted retail brand. WATCH IT! was a hands-on MBA in entrepreneurship — from operations and franchising to marketing and brand development. It became the foundation for my next venture, Spiritleaf. In 2017, as we transitioned into the cannabis sector, the WATCH IT! retail and e-commerce business was sold to a franchise partner and still operates today.

Supported by the Toronto Stock Exchange, the TSX Venture Exchange and the BC Securities Commission, the course provided information needed to comply with Canada’s complex system of securities regulation. Topics included fundamentals of corporate governance, securities law, shareholder communications and investor relations, financial statement requirements, obligations for company insiders, understanding TSX/TSX Venture Exchange requirements, and directors’ powers, functions, and liabilities.