Renata Aráuz-Destefano

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

SKILLS

ABOUT RENATA ARÁUZ-DESTEFANO

Renata is an investor at Pivotal, founded by Melinda French Gates to accelerate the pace of social progress. Pivotal\'s Investments team aims to disrupt the industry by proving that there is money to be made from investing in funds and companies led by overlooked investors and founders. Since joining Pivotal, Renata has facilitated over a dozen LP investments into venture capital funds, diligenced hundreds of firms, and spoken at numerous industry events. With a portfolio of over 30 direct and fund investments, some of Pivotal’s recent fund investments include Acrew Capital, Ulu Ventures, and Planeteer Capital. Renata has spent the last 15 years bridging the finance and social impact sectors, having held roles in microfinance, investment banking, and social enterprises before becoming an allocator. Through her diverse experiences, she has maintained a commitment to being a “gate-opener,” and is committed to increasing access to capital - first, for entrepreneurs in emerging markets and, today, for overlooked GPs and founders. A proud SEO and Toigo alumna of Ecuadorian descent, Renata is passionate about building a bench of future capital allocators who reflect the changing demographics of the US. She currently sits on the board of LaFamilia Foundation, a non-profit that seeks to close the resource gap for Latine founders by bringing together Latine startups, venture capitalists, and aligned ecosystem partners.Renata holds a BA in International Relations and French from Tufts University and an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.