About
Maria Paula Gomez leads the Climate Venture Lab at Mercy Corps Ventures, where over two years the team has launched 11 pilots with climate tech startups—covering AI for resilience, water security, and climate risk management—reaching more than 100,000 users including farmers, small merchants, and SMEs. She previously built a digital development portfolio that mobilized over $12M in funding across 20+ initiatives in six countries, and earlier worked as a consultant at Dalberg advising more than 40 clients on market entry strategy. She has over 15 years of experience across emerging markets.
Experience
- Mercy Corps VenturesClimate Venture Lab Leadcurrent2024 — presentRaleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill Area
- Food Systems ForesightProject Managercurrent2024 — presentMexico City, Mexico
- Polymath VenturesIndependent Consultant2024Mexico City, Mexico
- Career BreakRelocation2023
- USAIDRegional Economic Growth Advisor / Digital Development Advisor2021 — 2023Bangkok, Bangkok City, Thailand
- DalbergSenior Project and Operations Manager2020Bangkok City, Thailand
- DalbergProject Manager2017 — 2019Bogota, D.C., Capital District, Colombia
- DalbergSenior Consultant2015 — 2017Washington DC
- DalbergConsultant2013 — 2015Bogota, D.C., Capital District, Colombia
- LateriteConsultant2012 — 2013Kigali, Rwanda
- International Growth CentreConsultant2012Kigali, Rwanda
- Harris School of Public Policy, University of ChicagoResearch Assistant2012Chicago, IL
- Innovations for Poverty ActionResearch Intern2011Mexico City, Mexico
- La Nota EconomicaResearch Director2010
- Econcept and Global Source Partners ColombiaJunior Economist2007 — 2010
Education
- University of ChicagoMA Public Policy, Economics
- Universidad de Los AndesM.A. in Economics, Economics
- Universidad de Los AndesB.A. in Economics, Economics
- Universidad del CEMAExchange Program, Economic Policy and Finance
- Colegio Anglo ColombianoInternational Baccalaureate Diploma, High School/Secondary Diploma Programs
- Terra.doTerra Fellow - Climate Change: Learning for Action, Environmental Studies2023 — 2024
Skills & more
Strategic Initiatives2Research SkillsEntrepreneurshipStorytellingStrategic PartnershipsManagement ConsultingStart-up ConsultingStart-up EnvironmentHuman centered designBusiness StrategyBusiness DevelopmentTeam Building
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EconometricsStatistical Data AnalysisPolicy AnalysisEconomicsPoliticsInternational DevelopmentQualitative ResearchPublic PolicySkilled Multi-taskerAttention to DetailWritingInterpersonal Skills- Mastering Design Thinking — Emeritus
From Maria's professional profile.
Colleagues at Mercy Corps Ventures
Alpen Sheth
Investment Partner at Borderless Venture
Armelle Patoki
Finance Manager at Mercy Corps Ventures
Ayah Abulghanam
Program Officer at Mercy Corps Ventures
Dave Kim
Advisor at Mercy Corps Ventures
Ellen Maginnis
Advisor at Mercy Corps Ventures
Eugene Gikonyo
Investment Principal at Mercy Corps Ventures
Gabby Culver
Partnerships & Business Development at Mercy Corps Ventures
Kim Raath
Advisor at Mercy Corps Ventures
Frequently asked questions
- Where does Maria Paula Gomez work?
- Maria Paula Gomez is Climate Venture Lab Lead at Mercy Corps Ventures.
Same school
Also attended University of Chicago334
Mark SusterManaging Partner at Upfront VenturesShardul ShahInvestor at Index VenturesSam BlackmanEntrepreneur in Residence at GV (Google Ventures)Clay FisherInvestor at Spark CapitalJonas CiplickasPrincipal at Scale Venture PartnersJulia Gonzalez SandersPartner and General Counsel at Crosslink Capital
+ 328 more
Also attended Universidad de Los Andes81
Daniel Porras ReyesAssociate at Flybridge Capital PartnersJuan Pablo SoulierPartner at Prelude VenturesCarlos GarcíaVenture Partner at NazcaAlexander Joël-CarbonellInvestor at HV CapitalJulián MeloInvestor at Roble VenturesFelipe MejiaInvestor / Principal at Ardent Venture
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Also attended Colegio Anglo Colombiano6
Felipe MejiaInvestor / Principal at Ardent VentureHernando ForeroInvestor at Pegasus VCCristián SamperManaging Director and Leader of Nature Solutions at Bezos Earth FundChurchill George YongPartner, Co-Head of Infrastructure at Ara PartnersJulian TorresFounder at OntopMariana BaronaCo-Founder & CEO at Synthera AI
Also attended Terra.do20
Zoe PerretInvestor at Initialized CapitalGregory BillingtonResearch at Transform Capital ManagementBhaskar RameshConsumer & Marketing Infrastructure Leader at SenseAI VenturesShannon TanSenior Associate, Investment at Wavemaker PartnersPooja AnandPartnerships and Communications Manager at Circulate CapitalAshita GuptaPrincipal at Merak Ventures
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Shared employers
Also worked at Polymath Ventures9
Zach OschinPrincipal at Ardent VentureAlex UrdeaAdvisor at Reflect VenturesFrancisco PazFinance Advisor at Polymath VenturesShawn HillManaging Partner at Garden State Venture PartnersKrishna RamachandranInvestor at LG Technology VenturesSantiago Rojas MontoyaManaging Director at Cube Ventures
+ 3 more
Also worked at Dalberg23
Hady BarrySenior Investment Associate at Ventures PlatformAkash KhandelwalSenior Associate at B4 CapitalLily LymanPartner at Underscore VCMiu KumakuraCampus Lead at The MBA FundJonathan BermanBoard Member at Factor[e] VenturesEmilie AbramsInvestment Associate at The Yield Lab Europe
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