Fundraising Fox

Barbara Iyayi

InvestorFounder

Founding Partner and CEO at Unicorn Growth Ventures · Board director at Churpy

New York, New York, United States

Writes $500K – $2.5M checks

FoundedChurpy

About

Barbara Iyayi is a rare founder-investor—CEO/co‑founder of Liquid Credit and founding partner—combining JP Morgan credit experience and early backing of Zone to focus on regulated blockchain infrastructure and cross-border liquidity.

Invests in

Crypto & Web3Enterprise SoftwareFintechImpact & Social GoodSaaS

Board director at Churpy

Intro paths

→

In turn, Barbara can intro founders to Churpy's investors below.

Churpy's investors · 2

Nairobi Business Angel Networksince 2022Unicorn Growth VenturesNew York · $500K – $2.5M checks · since 2022

Co-founders at Churpy

JKJohn Kiptum Juma
John Kiptum JumaFounder
JJ
John JumaExecutive Officer, Director
KO
Kennedy OpalaDirector

Experience

  1. Liquid CreditCEO & Co-Foundercurrent2024 — presentNew York, United States
  2. Green FlareBoard Chaircurrent2023 — present
  3. Unicorn Growth CapitalFounding Partnercurrent2020 — presentNew York City Metropolitan Area
  4. ChurpyNon Executive Board Membercurrent2022 — present
  5. World Wide Web FoundationNon Executive Board Member2021 — 2022
  6. Appzone GroupNon Executive Board Member2018 — 2020
  7. Lateral CapitalAdvisory Board Member / Venture Partner2017 — 2020New York, Nigeria
  8. Element, Inc.Chief Growth Officer & Managing Director for Africa2018 — 2020New York, New York, United States
  9. Atlas Mara LimitedRegional Head - M&A and Investments / Founding team2014 — 2016Dubai, UAE
  10. J.P. MorganVice President, Global Investment Banking2010 — 2014New York, NY
  11. Centerboard GroupAssociate2009 — 2010New York, NY
  12. UBS Investment BankAssociate Director2008 — 2009New York, NY
  13. JPMorgan Chase & Co.Associate2003 — 2006New York, NY

Education

  1. Harvard Business SchoolMaster of Business Administration (M.B.A.)2006 — 2008
  2. Columbia UniversityBS, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science1999 — 2003

Skills & more

Strategy2Private Equity31Investment Banking58Financial Analysis7Equities7Restructuring10Mergers & Acquisitions5Investments3Corporate Finance10Financial Services3Valuation23Capital Markets3
+11 moreDue DiligenceCorporate DevelopmentFinancial ModelingEmerging MarketsLeveraged FinanceFinanceEntrepreneurshipPortfolio ManagementVenture CapitalFinancial StructuringMergers & Acquisitions (M&A)

From Barbara's professional profile.

Deals · 11

ChurpySolo GP

via Unicorn Growth Ventures · filed Mar 2022

IndicinaSolo GP

via Unicorn Growth Ventures · filed Sep 2021

AppzoneSolo GP

via Unicorn Growth Ventures

BitmamaSolo GP

via Unicorn Growth Ventures

CredrailsSolo GP

via Unicorn Growth Ventures

FonbnkSolo GP

via Unicorn Growth Ventures

ThankUCashSolo GP

via Unicorn Growth Ventures

Touch and Pay Technologies LimitedSolo GP

via Unicorn Growth Ventures

VertoSolo GP

via Unicorn Growth Ventures

Fig FinanceSolo GP

via Unicorn Growth Ventures

SavaSolo GP

via Unicorn Growth Ventures

Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters. Some rows are inferred. Not right? Tell us.

Colleagues at Unicorn Growth Ventures

Anthony Oduwole
Investor at Unicorn Growth Ventures
John Kiptum
Investor at Unicorn Growth Ventures
Kennedy Mukuna
Investor at Unicorn Growth Ventures
Ola Oyetayo
Investor at Unicorn Growth Ventures

Frequently asked questions

Where does Barbara Iyayi work?
Barbara Iyayi is Founding Partner and CEO at Unicorn Growth Ventures and Founder at Churpy.
What does Barbara Iyayi invest in?
Barbara Iyayi invests in Crypto & Web3, Enterprise Software, Fintech, Impact & Social Good, SaaS.
What check size does Barbara Iyayi write?
Barbara Iyayi typically writes checks of $500K – $2.5M.
What companies did Barbara Iyayi found?
Barbara Iyayi founded Churpy.

Founder mafias

Harvard Business School mafia312

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Mike Maples JrMBAFounded Pattern BreakersNoubar AfeyanVisiting LecturerFounded ProFound Therapeutics +12Wade MyersMBAFounded RealManage +5Harry GrunerFounded Hilos +2Spencer RascoffVisiting Executive ProfessorFounded HeyLibby +2Bharat KilaruMaster of Business Administration (MBA)Founded Verano Health +2

+ 305 more

Columbia University mafia194

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Ben HorowitzBAFounded OpswareChris DixonMaster of Arts - MAFounded HunchKevin M. SlawinB.A.Founded Perseus SENOLYTIX +2Trevor PriceMasters of Science CandidateFounded Docent Health +2Joey LevyBachelor of Arts (B.A.)Founded Draftpot +2Inaki BerenguerM.A.Founded InfiniteWatch +2

+ 187 more

Unicorn Growth Ventures mafia5

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Anthony OduwoleFounded VertoOla OyetayoFounded VertoJohn KiptumFounded ChurpyKennedy MukunaFounded Churpy

Lateral Capital mafia2

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Lorraine Kageni MainaVenture PartnerFounded Pngme

Same school

Also attended Harvard Business School1,969

Brad GerstnerFounder & CEO of Altimeter Capital; architect of Invest America; BG2 co-hostAileen LeeFounder & Managing Partner of Cowboy VenturesJim BreyerFounder & CEO of Breyer CapitalTim DraperFounder of Draper AssociatesMike Maples JrCo-founding Partner at FloodgateMamoon HamidPartner at Kleiner Perkins

+ 1,963 more

Also attended Columbia University687

Ben HorowitzCo-founder & General Partner at Andreessen HorowitzDoug LeonePartner at Sequoia Capital; former Global Managing PartnerChris DixonFounder & Managing Partner of a16z crypto at Andreessen HorowitzGabriella GiglioHR & Executive Talent at General CatalystScott BillerInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Erica VanInvestment Director at Intel Capital

+ 681 more

Shared employers

Also worked at Lateral Capital5

Hayden SimmonsGeneral Partner at RaliCap VenturesRob EloffManaging Partner at Lateral CapitalSamakab HashiPartner at Lateral CapitalSteven GrinManaging Partner at Lateral CapitalShreyas MishraAnalyst at Lateral Frontiers

Also worked at J.P. Morgan330

Alexandra FarmerPrincipal at Intel Capital, North AmericaErica VanInvestment Director at Intel CapitalEricAdvisor at Clear VenturesDavid GoldenManaging Partner, Revolution VenturesTodd KleinManaging Partner, Revolution Growth at RevolutionNick ZurickTalent Lead at Pantera Capital

+ 324 more

Also worked at UBS Investment Bank600

Paul KwanInvestment Team at General CatalystMartin MignotInvestor at Index VenturesBirgitteInvestor at InvestinorSauvanne Saint-LégerInvestor at DaphniElena PantaziPartner & Head of Platform at NorthzoneDaniel LiCEO of Plus and venture partner at Madrona

+ 594 more