James Dayson

James Dayson is a Vancouver-based entrepreneur, angel investor, and professional racing driver. He is the founder and principal of Kilauea Investments Ltd., a Vancouver seed-stage investment firm that provides "seed funds, business expertise, mentorship, and knowledge network to startups." The firm takes its name from the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii, using the metaphor that lava "forms new land, which in turn provides new life and opportunity" to describe its role in helping early-stage companies grow. Kilauea states a preference for backing companies in Vancouver so it can remain hands-on during a startup's early development.

Beyond Kilauea, Dayson has been involved with Utopia, described as a front-end circular energy and recovery-systems startup based in Ireland, extending his sustainability focus internationally. His LinkedIn history ties him to both Kilauea Investments and a venture referred to as "Utopia Mother X."

Dayson is also known publicly as a racing driver. Born August 7, 1978, he began competing around 2011 and turned to professional sports-car and open-wheel racing in his 30s. He has driven in the USF2000 championship (with ArmsUp Motorsports, announced for 2014), the Pirelli World Challenge SprintX GT/GTS series with M1 GT Racing in an Audi R8 LMS (2017), and endurance sports-car events including Petit Le Mans (2016), the 24 Hours of Daytona (2017), IMSA LMP3 prototype racing, the European Le Mans Series (2017–2018), and the Asian Le Mans Series. Kilauea Investments, Elite Performance, and Music Heals have been listed among his personal racing marketing partners — reflecting how his business and motorsport identities overlap.

• Stage: Seed-stage / early-stage startups, where Kilauea can be an active, involved partner rather than a passive check-writer.
• Sectors: Healthcare, high tech, and education, with a clear tilt toward sustainability and clean/circular energy (e.g., involvement with Ireland's Utopia).
• What makes them say yes: A stated mission "to empower companies and individuals to strive for a world based on positivity, and harmony within culture, environment, and social interaction." The firm specifically seeks enterprises offering "socially impactful services or products" — impact and mission alignment are core screens, not add-ons.
• Geography: Strong preference for Vancouver/British Columbia companies so the team can stay actively engaged in early development; select involvement internationally (Ireland).
• Check size: Not publicly disclosed.