Yoel Waisberg
Impacta VC Founding Member
Commercial Engineer and Master in Finance from the Adolfo Ibáñez University in Santiago, Chile.
He is the Founding Member & Head of Growth at the startup Wheel The World, and has also worked as a Team Building Coach and Lecturer at The Kabbalah Centre. In addition, he is the Co-Founder and CEO of Blankspace Strategies, and a Co-Founder of Future Ventures. Yoel joined Impacta VC because, due to his background in spirituality, he is certain that everything we do impacts others, and that deep down we are all seeking powerful personal fulfillment.
For him, business is a way to leave a mark in this world, which is why they can either be a source of satisfaction or chaos. He also believes that Impacta can be a platform to help entrepreneurs and startups connect with the root of what drives us as human beings, and that always involves serving others and having a positive impact on the world, so that what we do has purpose.
Cata Taricco Zañartu
COO - CMO
Commercial Engineer from the Adolfo Ibáñez University, and holds a Master's degree in Marketing from the same institution, as well as a Master's in Hospitality Management from University College Sant Pol de Mar in Barcelona.
She has extensive experience and knowledge in commercial, marketing, and operations areas, both in multinational companies and in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
She is committed and motivated to work with purpose, generate change and impact in the world, and drive the development of the companies that the planet needs.
I have lived in different countries, and my greatest passion is traveling. I love outdoor life, trekking, scuba diving, and good food.
I love people and am passionate about creating, building strategies, and finding solutions.
Dominique Molina
Finance Assistant
She is an adventurous woman who is passionate about outdoor life, a nature lover who enjoys visiting mountains and discovering new places.
My approach is collaborative, and I am always looking for new challenges to learn and create new things. My interest lies in building meaningful experiences in my interpersonal and work relationships. I actively work on my personal and spiritual growth to have an impact on my professional life.
I am adaptable to change and I help people fulfill their dreams by safeguarding the finances of their purpose-driven companies.
Currently at Impacta VC, my commitment lies in the development of a global market that is kind to nature, with sustainable, renewable, and adaptable economies that meet human, social, and environmental needs.
Iván Paez
Venture Partner
At the age of 22, I participated in the creation of the technology behind Google Wallet, after playing a fundamental role in the IT area of Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD). I worked as a Manager of New Business at Kuapay Inc, creating "PagoClick" for Copec (the third largest fuel company in LATAM). In 2013, I was selected by StartUp-Chile to give talks on innovation and entrepreneurship throughout Chile. In 2016, I graduated from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, and in 2017, I was awarded by MIT as one of the "5 Most Influential Visionary Innovators in Latin America" under the age of 35.
I believe that purpose is everything in my work, which is why I founded Kappo in 2013 (until 2022) with the goal of making it possible for my children to ride their bikes to daycare without fear (we even had the government of Denmark as a client, where I lived for a year). Now, my dream is for my children to be educated, not just to attend school - which are not the same thing - and that's why my role at Impacta is not only to lead the technology area but also to develop the entire Impacta Academy.
Diego Morales
Impacta Partner
Amateur marathon runner, happily married, father of two daughters, his M&M's. He has lived in more than 7 countries, enjoys a good conversation over coffee or beer. He is happy to live life to the fullest and always willing to support others.
I am passionate about life and working in collaborative and innovative spaces where companies truly have impact as part of their DNA. I am a Commercial Engineer by profession, linked to technology companies. I have 12 years of experience working in commercial areas, as an entrepreneur, in the public sector, and startups.
Currently as a Venture Partner, I lead the Impacta Partners Program (mentors and coaches) for the startups that interact with Impacta VC.
Silvina Garcia
Director of Art & Designer
Person first and foremost, and woman second. Extroverted, curious, and I firmly believe that travel is the best money investment, which makes you grow and see life from a new perspective. Eternal enjoyer of sharing moments with friends and family, cultivating lasting and sincere relationships.
Passionate graphic designer from Argentina who tries to break every physical barrier and work freely for everyone around the world for the past 16 years. My life is a constant learning experience and I hold nothing back. I collaborate with anyone who needs me.
I love teamwork. I am a natural problem solver and I am very willing to help, learn, and further improve my skills to grow both professionally and as a human being.
I was a Yoda (university teacher) for 11 years of the Graphic Design career at the Faculty of Architecture, Design and Urbanism of the University of Buenos Aires.
Maria Ester Zaha
Directora de Impacto
An economist with a master's degree in International and Development Economics (FHTW Berlin) and a specialization in Renewable Energy (Earth University Costa Rica / RENAC Berlin). She worked for almost 10 years in microfinance, managing the SME portfolio of a bank in Madagascar and implementing various green and rural credit consultancy projects in Ghana, Madagascar, Tanzania, and Peru. Without a doubt, the part she enjoyed the most was visiting clients on their motorcycles and understanding the functioning of SMEs.
After settling with her family in Montevideo, she traded her motorcycle for a bicycle and became a consultant in economic incentives, circular economy, and waste valorization technologies, both for the Uruguayan government and the United Nations. She participated in co-creating and supported the implementation of the Circular Opportunities Program in Uruguay, and designed a similar program in Paraguay. In her free time, she rides bicycles with her family along the Montevideo waterfront, enjoys the beach, or takes care of her garden and green roof.
Ricardo A. Bertolotti
Venture Partner
Trained in science and lost in the world.
Actively pursuing several dreams, including figuring out how to help entrepreneurs who are determined to solve problems that affect people or the environment.
Being the most junior of the Venture Partners at Impacta VC, he enjoys learning every day from this extraordinary team.
Currently interested in implementing a quantitative risk analysis that allows us to discern which elements can be strengthened to generate the expected success among startups.
Occasional reader of Borges, former chess addict, terrible golfer.
Marcus Dantus
Venture Partner
Renowned serial entrepreneur and angel investor with two decades of experience creating, operating, investing, and advising startups in Mexico, the United States, and Latin America.
Currently, he leads Startup México, founded and was Managing Partner of the seed fund Dux Capital, Managing Partner of Camp IV Ventures in Miami, led the Angel Labs program in Latin America, and directs the Global Entrepreneurship Network program representing Mexico. He participates as a "Shark" on Shark Tank MX and was named President of the Latin American and the Caribbean Business Angel Network (LACBAN).
He obtained a bachelor's degree in Computer Science and Business Administration from ITESM and a B.A. in Communications from the University of Pennsylvania. In 2021, he was awarded the Doctor of Doctors degree by the Claustro Doctoral Honoris Causa and a second honorary doctorate degree by the Inter-American Institute for Research and Teaching in Human Rights.
Marcus is about to celebrate three decades of marriage with his high school sweetheart and has two children, Jacky and Alan. He is a fan and practitioner of martial arts and boxing, plays the guitar, and enjoys good cinema.
Daniel Becker Kleiman
Director of Communications
A sports enthusiast and lover of the outdoors, especially when it's with family and friends.
Entrepreneur since I was a kid, I always liked to generate my own income in search of youthful independence.
Working since the age of 21 in marketing areas, focusing on the development and positioning of major international brands and companies.
I have had great achievements and failures in my career as an entrepreneur, understanding that it is a constant learning process in professional life to improve day by day in what I do.
Since 2017, I have been the founder of Ant Comunicaciones, an agency specializing in external communications where we work with international brands, startups, and SMEs in their different strategies.
Currently, we are focused on supporting Latin American startups and entrepreneurs in amplifying their messages and purposes as companies to help them achieve their goals.
Javier Garibaldi
PR Partner
Aspiring father, happy husband, grateful son, loyal friend (hopefully), and eternal student.
I am originally from Argentina and I am not a fanatic of anything, although I am enthusiastic about countless small daily pleasures.
I have 10 years of experience in strategic communication in the areas of Public Affairs and Marketing, as well as in television and digital journalism. I have an extensive track record in consultancy regarding media relations, design of communication strategies, content creation, research, and analysis of current issues relevant to clients at national and international levels.
In the last 2 years, I have specialized in the strategic positioning of startups and SMEs, where I found an additional motivation to accompany the growth of these emerging companies in their quest to make their dreams and purposes come true within the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Outside of the office, I enjoy the outdoors, drinking mate (a traditional South American drink), watching movies, and traveling. I value experiences more than possessions, especially if I can share them with my family, who supports me in (almost) everything.
Macarena Mertens
Community Partner
Periodist from Universidad de Los Andes with a minor in international politics.
Passionate about traveling, learning and discovering new places, cultures and languages from the perspective of its inhabitants. Winter lover at heart. A tea lover, dancer, and outdoor sports enthusiast. I enjoy being in touch with nature and animals.
I easily integrate into new environments. I enjoy having meaningful conversations and listening to other points of view. I am enthusiastic, grateful, and happy to live.
Professionally, I always strive to be in places where I can learn new things and help impact primarily the youth. I believe that communication is an essential pillar to achieve great changes in society.
I seek to be a better person every day, stay connected with my spiritual side, and not remain silent in the face of injustice.
Catalina Taricco Zañartu
COO - CMO
Ingeniera Comercial de la Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Magister en Marketing UAI Master Hospitality Management - University College Sant Pol de Mar, Barcelona.
Extensa trayectoria y conocimiento en áreas comerciales, marketing y operaciones, tanto en empresas multinacionales, como en pymes.
Comprometida y motivada por trabajar con propósito, generar cambios e impacto en el mundo, impulsando el desarrollo de las empresas que el planeta necesita.
He vivido en distintos países, mi mayor pasión son los viajes. Me encanta la vida outdoor, el trekking, bucear y la buena mesa.
Amo las personas, me apasiona crear, armar estrategias y encontrar soluciones
Jimena Ortiz
Entrepreneur in Residence
Regenerative communicator. Passionate about marketing, communication, and positive impact business management.
Project manager of programs that accompany companies and entrepreneurship in their path, collaborating to reinforce their potential, mitigating their obstacles and articulating with other actors in the ecosystem throughout the process.
Strongly committed to the care and conservation of nature, as well as the regeneration of the social fabric of our planet.
Designer of programs that contribute to the professionalization of business management.
Eternal learner.
