Hayden Simmons

Hayden Simmons is the Founder and General Partner of Rally Cap Ventures, a venture capital firm based in San Francisco that focuses on early-stage fintech investments in emerging markets. His career has primarily revolved around fintech, particularly in emerging markets, where he has held various strategic roles.

Career Background

• Rally Cap Ventures: Founded in March 2020, Rally Cap Ventures aims to empower top-tier founders in emerging market financial services. The firm has completed over 70 deals across regions including Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia, and has recently expanded its focus to include climate technology investments.123

• Previous Roles:

  • Venture Partner at Lateral Frontiers VC: He worked here from April 2020 to January 2022, focusing on innovative investments in challenging geographies.2
  • Business Development and Strategy at Facebook (Novi/Calibra): From August 2019 to September 2020, he led projects related to Facebook's blockchain-based mobile money ecosystem.12
  • Director of Global Business Development at Migo: He played a key role in expanding Migo's services beyond Nigeria into Latin America.12
  • Director of Business Development at Juvo: He led strategic partnerships across Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia during his tenure.12

Education

Hayden graduated from Colorado College in 2007, where he majored in Economic Development and Spanish. His thesis focused on collectivized remittances in Mexico, reflecting his early interest in financial systems and their impact on communities.12

Current Focus

Under Simmons' leadership, Rally Cap Ventures has not only invested in fintech but has also launched a climate-focused fund, Rally Cap Climate, which aims to support software-centric solutions in the climate tech sector. This reflects a strategic shift to address the growing demand for climate adaptation solutions alongside their fintech investments.34

Simmons' extensive experience in both fintech and venture capital positions him as a significant player in the investment landscape, particularly in emerging markets.