SEASON 5 EPISODE 5
Bridging Tech, Policy, and Venture Capital
FEATURING: Maria Salamanca, General Partner at Ulu Ventures
In this episode, we’re joined by Maria Salamanca, General Partner at Ulu Ventures, the largest Latina-led venture fund in the U.S. With an impressive background in both venture capital and public policy, Maria has spent her career supporting underrepresented founders and advocating for systemic change. As the former Partner at Unshackled Ventures, Maria focused on empowering immigrant entrepreneurs, funding teams that often get overlooked in traditional VC. Maria was named Forbes 30 Under 30 in Venture Capital and has been recognized as one of the 2022 NVCA Venture Forward Rising Stars for her impact in the industry.
We’ll chat about Maria’s work with SomosVC, an organization she founded to increase Latino representation in venture capital, and her role as an elected board member in Orange County Public Schools. Maria opens up about how she drives impact, the challenges immigrant founders face, and how she sees venture capital as a powerful tool for social advocacy. She also shares her vision for a more inclusive future in the venture capital ecosystem and offers advice for those looking to make an impact across multiple sectors at once.