Quito, Ecuador - August 13, 2025

 

Michelle Arévalo-Carpenter, co-founder and General Partner at IMPAQTO Capital, has been named a 2025 Yale World Fellow, becoming one of a select group of Latin American leaders to receive this distinguished honor.

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The Maurice R. Greenberg World Fellows Program is Yale University’s signature global leadership initiative. Since its founding in 2002, the program has brought together mid-career leaders from around the world who are tackling the most pressing challenges in their communities and sectors. Each year, 16–20 fellows are selected from thousands of applicants to spend a semester in residence at Yale to reflect, collaborate, and sharpen their next chapter of impact.

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Notable Ecuadorians who have previously received this fellowship include Jessica Faieta, former UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Regional Director for Latin America, and Diego A. Tituaña, a Kichwa diplomat and Indigenous rights advocate.

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Arévalo-Carpenter, recognized for her work in entrepreneurship, social innovation, and impact investing, will use this opportunity to advance the design of a new fund at IMPAQTO Capital, focused on regenerative value chains for the Andean Amazon. During her time at Yale, she will continue to collaborate closely with Justin Schwartz, to explore new models for channeling just and regenerative capital into the region.

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In her previous role as Executive Director of Content at SOCAP Global, Arévalo-Carpenter helped shape one of the world’s most influential convenings at the intersection of money and meaning. There, she built entry points for global south leaders, brought proximate fund managers to the center of the conversation, and expanded how alternative finance is understood—from blended and catalytic capital to community-rooted investment structures.

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Though still an early-stage fund manager, IMPAQTO Capital has a portfolio of 8 impact companies across the Andean region. Collectively, these companies have improved the lives of more than 247,000 people through access to essential services and sustainable livelihoods, mitigated 8,400 tons of CO₂ emissions, and created 413 jobs—with women holding 49% of these positions. Furthermore, 75% of portfolio companies have at least one female co-founder, and 42% of leadership roles are held by women.

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