Maelis Carraro is the Managing Partner of Catalyst Fund, an impact VC fund and accelerator dedicated to backing tech startups building a climate-resilient future in Africa.

With a career spanning impact investing and tech, Maelis works closely with startups, investors, DFIs, banks, and philanthropic funders to drive transformative solutions across emerging markets, benefiting people and the planet. She focuses on investing in and supporting early-stage entrepreneurs building tech-enabled solutions in agri tech, insurtech, carbon finance, blue economy, waste management and water access for climate-vulnerable communities.

Having backed over 80 startups across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, Maelis has played a vital role in nurturing the innovation ecosystem in emerging markets. Before Catalyst Fund, she worked at the International Finance Corporation, the OECD, Grameen Bank, and impact fund-Global Partnerships, where she supported impact investing strategies, inclusive finance product innovation, and research on bottom-up financing schemes to support climate adaptation and resilience.

Maelis also co-founded RemitMas, an inclusive fintech startup that empowers immigrants through cross-border remittances, enabling them to save for long-term goals. She holds a dual MBA and Master’s in International Affairs from Columbia Business School and the School of International and Public Affairs, and a BA Cum Laude in Political Science and Development Economics from University College London.