Artak Robert Melkonyan

About Artak Robert Melkonyan

Global impact investment and blended finance executive with 30+ years of experience mobilizing and deploying institutional capital across emerging markets.Currently serving as Senior Technical Advisor at UNDP, where I help architect and scale the $1B timbuktoo initiative—one of the largest global platforms mobilizing catalytic and private capital into venture funds, startup ecosystems, and innovation infrastructure across Africa. My experience spans:• Structuring and mobilizing over $1B in institutional capital across venture funds, blended finance vehicles, accelerators, and ecosystem platforms• Partnering with sovereign wealth funds, DFIs, private equity firms, asset managers, and family offices• Designing investment platforms, fund structures, and capital mobilization strategies• Scaling investment and venture acceleration programs across 40+ countries• Advising institutional investors and governments on capital deployment into high-growth sectorsPrior roles include leadership positions in private equity, fintech, venture philanthropy, and economic development, including senior executive roles at Dun & Bradstreet and global advisory mandates.Board member: credit bureaus, fintech, edtech, healthcare technology, courier companies as well as scholarly and academic societiesRecognized among \"Top 100 Fintech for SDG Influencers\". Regular speaker at international forums on sustainable finance and bridging private capital with development prioritiesInterested in opportunities involving:• Investment platform leadership• Fund formation and scaling• CIO / Managing Director / Partner roles• Institutional capital deployment into emerging markets• Strategic advisory to boards and C-suites on blended finance, emerging market investment, and platform scalingBased in New York.

Experience

1. Senior Technical Advisor, Equity Financing, Impact Funds and Accelerators Rba Directorate

   Undp

   Dec 2024 — Present · New York, NY, US

   Strategic and technical oversight of $1 billion timbuktoo initiative to mobilize catalytic and private capital for African startup ecosystems- Formulating and guiding strategies, establishing institutional arrangements and frameworks for building and scaling the program, its projects and related innovative blended finance instruments - Engaging diverse stakeholders including VC/PE firms, institutional investors, accelerators, DFIs, and government entities for strategic partnerships- Supporting resource mobilization efforts using market intelligence to attract SDG-aligned investment- Positioning organization as thought leader in innovative finance, impact investing and start-up ecosystem development

Education

• Georgetown University

  senior executive program; School of Foreign Service, Fellow of Pew Economic Freedom Program. (project finance, foreign direct investments)

  1997 — 1998

• INSEAD

  International Social Entrepreneurship Program (ISEP)

  2015

• American University of Armenia

  MBA

  1994 — 1996

• State Engineering University of Armenia

  Master, Engineering Management

• State Engineering University of Armenia

  Diploma, Cybernetics, Electronics, Microprocessors Programming

  1989 — 1994

Skills

• Financial Management
• Management Consulting
• Project Finance
• Entrepreneurship
• Strategy Development
• Due Diligence
• Change Management
• Alliances
• Executive Management
• Business Planning
• Negotiation
• Strategy
• Business Management
• Deal Structuring
• Entrepreneur
• Financial Modeling
• Finance
• Valuation
• Strategic Partnerships
• Strategic Planning
• Venture Capital
• Emerging Markets
• Market Research
• Impact Investing
• New Business Development
• Corporate Governance
• Joint Ventures
• Nonprofits
• Analysis
• Vendor Management
• Restructuring
• Corporate Finance
• Business Development
• Financial Analysis
• Social Entrepreneurship
• Leadership
• Start-Ups
• Private Equity
• Auditing
• Reorganization