Maelis Carraro

Managing Director Catalyst Fund

Maelis Carraro is the Managing Director of Catalyst Fund and heads the venture building team at innovation consulting firm BFA Global. Maelis has spent her career in impact investing and fintech, working alongside fintech startups, investors, DFIs, banks, and philanthropic funders to pioneer tech-enabled solutions across emerging markets.

At Catalyst Fund, a global accelerator for inclusive tech startups supported by JPMorgan Chase & Co, UK aid, PayPal, and Mastercard Foundation, she has invested in 60+ early-stage startups creating digital solutions for underserved populations in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Previously, she worked at the International Finance Corporation (World Bank Group), the OECD, Grameen Bank, and impact fund Global Partnerships, supporting impact investing strategies and product innovation in the inclusive finance sector. She also co-founded fintech startup RemitMas, a cross-border remittances company helping Latino immigrants save in their home countries. Maelis holds a dual MBA and Master in International Affairs from Columbia Business School and the School of International and Public Affairs. She received her BA Cum Laude from University College London in Political Science and Development Economics.