Melissa Frakman

Melissa Frakman is a prominent fintech investor with extensive experience in the US-India market for over 15 years, specializing in building products and partnerships for unicorns and Fortune 500 companies.

Currently serving as the Managing Partner of Emphasis Ventures (EMVC), a venture capital firm dedicated to supporting early-stage financial technology startups in India to expand locally and internationally in collaboration with global industry leaders.

Throughout her career, Melissa has spearheaded South Asia investments, crafted new market strategies, and facilitated partnerships valued at over $1 billion for Fortune 500 firms and top US funds, particularly focusing on innovative products in mobile payments and insurance.

Her impressive professional journey includes roles such as Vice President of leading ecommerce unicorn Zomato, Senior Director at Albright Stonebridge Group in India, and Financial Services Director at the US-India Business Council.

Melissa has also provided her expertise as a product advisor to major companies like Amazon, Principal Financial, and Remitly, while sharing her knowledge as a guest lecturer on fintech at renowned institutions like Harvard Business School, Cornell, and the Indian Institute of Management-Bangalore.

She has garnered prestigious accolades like the FT Innovation Asia Awards, Colin Powell Leadership Fellowship, Ward Medal for Economics, and recognition in the Global Women in Fintech Powerlist, showcasing her significant contributions to the industry.

Furthermore, Melissa is actively involved in mentoring programs such as Techstars and the Government of India's Atal Innovation Mission, demonstrating her commitment to fostering the growth of budding entrepreneurs.

With a solid educational background, Melissa pursued studies in Finance at Columbia University, Project Management at the Project Management Institute, and Economics at various esteemed institutions both in the US and India.

Her past affiliations include key positions at renowned organizations like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Sabre Systems Inc., Goldman Sachs, and Oxfam America, where she played integral roles in international business development, entrepreneurship programs, and microfinance projects.

To connect with Melissa or share startup ideas, she can be reached via email at hello@em.vc or followed on Twitter @MelissaFrakman.