Category: Investors

Maria heads up the investment arm of the Partnership for New York City, which invests in local ventures to create jobs and grow the Big Apple’s economy.

Back in 2009/2010, she was instrumental in creating and launching the FinTech Innovation Lab with partner Accenture, which was the first accelerator program to have corporations as explicit partners. The programme operates in London and Hong Kong, and was the model for the FinTech Hive in Dubai.

Despite being the world’s financial capital and home to an otherwise robust technology sector, New York had yet to become a major player on the fintech scene. The Fintech Innovation Lab has been a key factor in the growth of NYC's fintech sector. Initially the programme was supported by 10 banks and now there are 44 of some of the largest banks & financial institutions.

Maria has spearheaded the creation and operation of the Transit Tech Lab; New York Digital Health Accelerator; NY Fashion Tech Lab; seed financing for IT/digital media companies, proof-of-concept funding for university-based biomedical research, low cost loans for mid-size arts groups and ReStart Central and Financial Recovery Fund (assistance and funding for small businesses impacted by 9/11).