Maria Alegres co-founded and led Chartboost as CEO for eight years before becoming a VC at Flori Ventures, bringing rare founder-operator experience from building a company from zero to scaled exit. She combines her Web3 and climate focus by serving as Chairperson of Climate Collective, where she works on blockchain-based tools for carbon markets and biodiversity, while investing in underrepresented founders across Africa and Latin America.

• Focuses heavily on Web3 applications that provide real-world utility rather than speculation, particularly those addressing financial inclusion in emerging markets. She is driven by the belief that technical innovation like borderless money and low-fee micro-transactions can enable prosperity in countries where traditional financial systems fail the population.
• Champions the Celo ecosystem and the concept of mobile-first decentralized finance to ensure accessibility for everyone. This interest manifests in her support for projects that make crypto mobile and easy to understand, often serving as a judge or mentor for hackathons and accelerators dedicated to this specific tech stack.
• Interest in the intersection of climate action and blockchain technology, often referred to as ReFi or Regenerative Finance. She actively looks for founders solving coordination problems related to the environment and has committed to pledges aimed at raising capital to combat climate change alongside poverty.
• A strong commitment to diversity and supporting underrepresented regions, specifically highlighting opportunities in Africa and for Black founders. She frequently shares resources and investment opportunities intended to bridge the gap for builders in these demographics, such as incubators specifically for African early-stage startups.
• Positions herself as a founder-first partner who leverages her own entrepreneurial background to mentor teams through the early stages of development. She emphasizes the growth journey of the founder, equating it to blooming, and actively participates in demo days to highlight the teams she supports.