This episode of GIST Innovation Talks explores Global Investment Trends in Latin America with Juliana Garaizar, Board member of the Angel Capital Association, Launch Director of Greentown Labs, and GIST Investors Mexico instructor. She will discuss the exciting trends in global investment across Latin America.

The early-stage startup and investment ecosystem across North and South America is more intertwined than ever. Throughout Latin America, innovative companies solving critical problems are launching everyday. Cross-border investing, from investors across both continents has become the norm. 

Host

Samer Yousif
Program Officer, VentureWell

Samer implements the U.S. Department of State Global Innovations through Science and Technology (GIST) Investor mobilization training programs, working closely with local partners and Embassies to plan and implement training, mentorship, and networking programs for angel investment networks in emerging markets.  Samer has led early-stage startup training programs in over 10 countries, working with innovators from the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Central Asia. Previously, he spearheaded the North America outreach strategy for Ashoka. Samer has a Masters of Global Policy Studies, with an emphasis on international entrepreneurship, from the University of Texas at Austin.

Guest

Juliana Garaizar
Lead Investor, Portfolia

Juliana is a Board Member of the Angel Capital Association, a Lead Investor of the Portfolia Rising America Fund, Consumer Fund and Rising Tide Fund and the Launch Director for Greentown Labs Houston. A Kauffman Fellow, Juliana is the President of the Business Angel Minority Association and an Advisory Board Member of the Cougar Venture Fund and the Houston Diversity Fund. Juliana was the Director of the Texas Medical Center Venture Fund, the Managing Director Houston Angel Network and of the Sophia Business Angels network. Previously Juliana managed Antipolis Innovation Campus, the Business Innovation Centre in in the French Riviera, as well as several International Projects funded by the European Commission. She started her career in Singapore: first as an International Trade Consultant for the Trade Commission of Spain in a broad range of industry sectors and then as a Project Manager for the Asia Technology Office of Citigroup, leading projects at international level in Europe, Latin America and Japan.