Daniela Pacheco: Pioneering The Future Of Impact-Driven Venture Capital

Closing the gap between impact investing and venture capital (VC) is very beneficial since it allows money to flow into companies that want to make a good social or environmental impact, in addition to aiming for financial gains. Through this combination, previously unattainable capital is now available to entrepreneurs and businesses with compelling impact-driven objectives. There is a new generation of fund managers in LatAm, specifically in Colombia, which has a rich history of inspiring leaders with significant contributions across politics, arts, social movements, and business. Daniela Pacheco's unique combination of education and experience serves as an excellent example of this.

Driven by a love for entrepreneurship, she started her path in 2009 at Babson College in Boston, where she studied business administration with a focus on economics. She took user experience training at the General Assembly in Seattle in 2018 to hone her digital efficiency and product creation knowledge. With a master's degree in innovation and entrepreneurship from the University of Southern California in 2019 and Stanford's VC Unlocked executive program for venture capital partners in 2023, she further cemented her competence. She enjoys working with business owners to overcome obstacles and create significant innovation.

In an exclusive interview, Daniela shared insights into her professional journey, the organization, and her role within it.

Can you share a bit about your early years? What were some key influences during that time that helped shape who you are today?

Hailing from a family of many inspiring personalities, I have always had the right guidance provided at all walks of my life. My first insight towards business started when my father exposed me to the success and failures of running a firm from a very tender age. My father was a man who had seen the entrepreneurship cycle in the full sense and had dealt with the importance of problemsolving, taking risks, and being ambitious. His hard work allowed us to face our challenges with a great sense of courage as young women in the world. My colleagues and fellow entrepreneurs have been the other key influences who have helped me garner and step up my business game. Working with amazing leaders has also been a great learning experience for me, especially at Endeavor Colombia and Tvalley, where I learned valuable lessons on inspiring and supporting entrepreneurs.

Can you share your experience as a Venture Capitalist? What were some pivotal moments that shaped your professional journey?

My first job that introduced me towards entrepreneurship was in New York after college. I started working as a business development analyst at Tribeca for a content marketing startup. This is what paved me way for my journey towards Endeavor Colombia, where I supported high-impact entrepreneurs and learned the critical role of network effects, including connections and shared knowledge that empower entrepreneurs beyond capital. This helped me come to a realization that my interest lies in building efficient solutions, which allowed me to leverage my technical expertise and add a golden feather to my venture capital profile in Latin America. For the next 13 years, I witnessed serious growth in Colombia's and LatAm's VC ecosystem and have been consistently inspired by the exceptional talent of Latina and Latino founders. This has been a transformative power in the equality of business and I have been able to efficiency and impact investing, driving meaningful and lasting change.

Could you tell us about New Ventures Capital? What inspired the creation of the venture, and what are its main areas of expertise?

New Ventures Capital (NVC) bridges the gap between venture capital and impact investing, blending financial returns with social and environmental impact. We collaborate with family offices, foundations, and institutional investors to create thematic funds that address market gaps and connect them with entrepreneurs tackling global challenges. In the past two years, we’ve focused on three key mandates, including investing in startups that support youth education, health, employability, financial access, and health through a gender lens. It was incubated within New Ventures Group, where we work every day to create innovative solutions. For more than two decades, New Venture Group has spearheaded the impact investment movement. To fill gaps in the investing environment and promote significant solutions, NVC was established. We help investors deploy capital efficiently by using our knowledge of Latin America to develop investment plans that promote impact and innovation.

As the Managing Partner, what are your main roles and responsibilities at New Ventures Capital? What key areas do you focus on to drive growth for the firm?

To increase the effect and reach of the most creative and powerful business leaders in the area, I want to build a vibrant and progressive venture capital firm. At NVC, we are committed to reimagining the role of venture capital by providing value-added services and fostering partnerships that not only support organizations' expansion but also effect permanent change. I believe that our objective is to remove the obstacles that divide impact investment from traditional venture capital. The goal is to enable entrepreneurs to combine profit and purpose in their businesses and bring about significant change.

"I combine impact investing and venture capital to integrate monetary gains with social and environmental advantages"

NVC has created cutting-edge tools, structures, and pathways to accomplish this, and they continuously produce better results. To create more resilient, egalitarian, and sustainable companies that can prosper in the current competitive environment, we support entrepreneurs. NVC is committed to helping entrepreneurs overcome obstacles and realize their full potential while genuinely changing the world, whether it be through operational support, strategic advice, or matching founders with the appropriate networks.

Daniela Pacheco, Managing Partner, New Ventures Capital

Daniela has worked with high-impact entrepreneurs for more than 13 years. She has experience managing portfolios at venture capital funds, working with tech businesses, and receiving a Master's in Entrepreneurship and Innovation from USC.