Maria Gracia Agurto

María Gracia is a passionate entrepreneur, investor, and community builder with extensive experience in venture capital and startup ecosystem development. As the Founder & CEO of Golden Circle, she bridges the gap between early-stage startups and venture capital, empowering founders to successfully navigate the complex fundraising landscape. Golden Circle specializes in investment readiness programs, fractional fundraising services, and pitch deck support, with a mission to democratize access to capital and foster diversity in entrepreneurship.

With a career spanning multiple continents, María Gracia has screened over 1,500 startups and contributed to raising over $400K in investments. She has worked with venture capital firms like OurCrowd (Israel’s most active VC), Magma Partners, and Ganas Ventures, bringing her deep expertise in investment strategy to the forefront. As a YLAI Fellow and a Globant Awards Rising Star, she has been recognized for her commitment to supporting underestimated founders and fostering innovation.

María Gracia co-founded WIIE Ventures, a global community for women entrepreneurs, where she continues to serve as a board member. She has managed diverse startup communities, designed programs for accelerators, and mentored founders through initiatives like Seedstars, USAID, and Collaborativo VC. Her consulting portfolio includes clients in cybersecurity, edtech, retail, and sustainability, hailing from cities like San Francisco, Paris, and Mexico City.

In addition to her entrepreneurial work, María Gracia is an angel investor with Hustle Fund's Angel Squad and has planned over 100 events, including major pitch competitions and conferences like the OurCrowd Summit. She is fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, allowing her to connect across borders and cultures.

María Gracia holds an MBA from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a Bachelor’s in Industrial and Commercial Engineering from ESAN University. Her leadership and unique experiences in startup ecosystems across LATAM, the U.S., and MENA position her as a catalyst for driving impactful entrepreneurship worldwide.