Antonio Potenza - MBA (Oxon); BSc BA, CISL University of Cambridge (CISL)
FOUNDER / managing partner
business development & investor relations
Antonio is the Founder and Managing Director of Proodos Capital. With more than 30 years of senior leadership experience in corporate finance and investment banking, Antonio specialises in venture finance, venture creation, ESG-aligned investment strategies, blended finance, and regenerative finance mechanisms.
Antonio holds an MBA from the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School, where he is affiliated with Balliol College, and has completed the High Impact Leadership programme at the University of Cambridge. He also earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the Zurich School of Economics. His academic foundation informs his deep expertise in structuring innovative financial solutions to drive sustainable, impact-driven investment projects.
In addition to his leadership at Proodos Capital, Antonio is actively engaged with the University of Oxford, where he tutors in Venture Finance and Venture Creation, contributing to the development of future entrepreneurial leaders. He is also involved in the delivery of programmes in Business, Entrepreneurship, and University Preparation with Oxford Summer Courses.
Antonio is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) and sits on the board of various organisations aligned with sustainable development goals. His work reflects a strong commitment to mobilising capital towards initiatives that combat social injustice and address climate change through innovative, scalable solutions.
Dr. Phyllis Santamaria - PhD
head of social innovation and impact
Dr. Phyllis SantaMaria is a distinguished leader in social impact and financial inclusion, with over five decades of global experience. She is a co-founder of the Financial Inclusion Forum UK and has dedicated her career to advancing access to finance for underserved communities worldwide.
Her journey began in the 1960s as a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer in Guatemala, where she founded the country’s first women’s weaving cooperative. Since then, she has delivered enterprise and microfinance training across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas, earning recognition from the United Nations and the World Bank.
She holds a BA in History from Wellesley College, Massachusetts, and both an MA in Linguistics and a PhD in Education from the University of Exeter, UK.
Dr. SantaMaria is the co-creator of the award-winning Social Impact Game and heads that branch of the Proodos Capital Enterprise Support engagements. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA), she continues to champion applied technology, social finance, and purpose-driven innovation.
Fei Gan - MBA
PARTNER / INVESTOR AND PARTNER relations
20+ years of experience in business consulting, investment banking and venture capital. Has advised start-ups and established businesses in business model design, operational efficiency, risk management, financial strategy and deal origination. Impact investment work include green energy technologies, fintech, green solutions for real estate development. Social impact initiatives include children's charities and gender and disability inclusion. Holds a Bachelors and a master's in economics from London School of Economics, and is an alum of Oxford University, UK for Impact Investment and Business Negotiation.
Industry Expertise: Impact Investing, Blended Financing, Impact Measurement, Corporate Finance, Risk Management, Business Strategy.
Felicity Jones - MA (Hons), History
HEAD OF FUND RAISING AND ENTERPRISE SUPPORT
Felicity has worked in fundraising and innovative resource mobilisation for equitable development and innovation for over 20 years. For over a decade she was Head of Foundation and Corporate Partnerships at the London School of Economics and Political Science, working on transformational funding including £65million to establish the International Inequalities Institute. She was part of the team at the African-founded and led NGO mothers2mothers which worked with the private Bank LGT and the South African government to develop the first impact bond in sub-Saharan Africa, followed by consulting to shape m2m's new impact investment strategy and for-profit ventures. She now consults globally on impact investment strategies and on establishing trading, investment and social enterprise functions for purpose-driven organizations, including the Start Network, NATIV platform for African creatives, Lancaster University, Equal Care Co-operative, and community-led conservation in Kenya and Madagascar supported by development finanace and impact investment.
Gabriel Flores - BSc (Hons) ECE
CHIEF INNOVATION AND STRATEGY OFFICER
Gabriel Flores is a seasoned technology strategist and social impact innovator with over 25 years of international experience. Originally from Texas, USA, he was the first in his family to earn a university degree, graduating with high distinction in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Massachusetts. He began his career at Accenture in Boston, where he led major technology and business transformation projects for global financial institutions including Barclays, UBS, and Bank of America. Notably, he established and managed a delivery centre in India that generated £7 million in its first year.
Since 2008, Gabriel has coached and trained professionals across more than 15 countries, helping businesses achieve up to 200% annual growth. As Co-Founder and CEO of Learning Without Borders, he co-created the award-winning Social Impact Game and has delivered capacity-building programs across five continents. His expertise spans FinTech, EdTech, SocialTech, and social impact measurement. An award-winning speaker and ultra-marathoner, Gabriel brings a unique blend of strategic insight and purpose-driven leadership to Proodos Capital.
Catherine Young - BCOM University of South Africa
COUNTRY MANAGER SOUTH AFRICA & REST OF AFRICA / ENTERPRISE SUPPORT
Catherine Young is an experienced fund management and venture capital professional based in South Africa. She is a Partner at Knife Capital, a leading venture capital firm that accelerates the international expansion of African innovation-driven businesses. Catherine is also the Founder of Thinkroom Consulting, a company focused on entrepreneurial development and ecosystem growth across the continent.
With over 25 years of leadership experience, Catherine specialises in building high-growth businesses, fund strategy, investor relations, and scaling ventures through structured support programmes such as Grindstone Accelerator, which she manages. Her approach combines deep operational insight with strategic investment expertise, enabling her to successfully drive fund projects and portfolio company growth.
Catherine holds a Master of Management in Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation and a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration from Wits Business School. Her career reflects a strong commitment to advancing entrepreneurial ecosystems and delivering sustainable, impact-driven investment outcomes
Eddie Sembatya - MBA
COUNTRY MANAGER UGANDA & KENYA
ENTERPRISE SUPPORT / GM Finding XY
15+ years impact investment, economic and business development working with MSMEs, investors and development agencies.
Previously at United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF).
Finding XY is an innovation centre with registered offices in Uganda and Kenya supporting the growth of small and growing businesses. It supports MSMEs and ecosystem builders by providing business advisory and investment services in Africa.
Through the enterprise support programs it creates communities where there is no poverty, with gender equality by creating opportunities for economic growth, with descent work and empowering MSMEs through innovation. This is achieved through building global partnerships for social impact and green growth.
Dr. Vasiliki Kiparoglou, MSc, MBA (Oxon), PhD
healthcare innovation MANAGER
Dr. Vasiliki Kiparoglou is a distinguished healthcare executive with extensive experience in research and healthcare industries. She holds a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Nottingham and an Executive MBA from the University of Oxford's Saïd Business School, where she is also affiliated with Balliol College .
In her role as Healthcare Innovation Manager at Proodos Capital, Dr. Kiparoglou applies her expertise in strategy, operational management, clinical research, and health economics to drive scalable healthcare solutions, particularly in underserved communities. Her entrepreneurial ventures include co-founding EvZein Limited, a platform leveraging digital technologies to combat loneliness.
Dr. Kiparoglou's leadership is further exemplified by her tenure as Chief Executive at The Griffin Institute, where she has demonstrated a strong history of working within the research and healthcare industry. Her contributions to healthcare innovation are instrumental in advancing Proodos Capital's mission to develop and support impactful healthcare initiatives.