Maria Rotilu

Founding Partner

2023

At OpenseedVC we are first investors in experienced operators with up to $150k cheques as they start their technology companies. But that's not all, we also bring an incredibly experienced and diverse global operator network to support from start to launch. Our focus is on the future of commerce (ai, b2b software, fintech), health, and work for Europe and Africa. Builders build. Tell us what you’re building at www.openseed.vc

Principal & Fund Manager - Octopus First Cheque

2021 - 2023

At Octopus Ventures we invest in the people, the ideas and the industries that will help change the world. Our investment team is built to specialise in the five areas where we see the most potential for growth and innovation: health, fintech, deep tech, consumer and B2B software. Since 2008 we have backed over 130 teams, including Zoopla Property Group, Secret Escapes, Depop and Cazoo. With £1.7 billion under management and investing over £200 million a year, Octopus Ventures is one of the largest and most active venture investors in Europe. We tend to invest from £100k in pre-seed to £10 million for Series B with the ability to fund the companies backed right through to IPO.

Investor (MBA Internship)

2021 - 2021

Hustle Fund is a VC fund that invests $25k - $100k in pre-seed software startups across United States, Canada, and Southeast Asia.. We are often the first check into a startup or in the first round of funding. Beyond the usual criteria that VCs typically look for, we prioritize founders' speed of execution above all else. Per our name, we also make a fast decision after speaking with a company.

Managing Director

2020 - 2021

The Oxford Seed Fund (OSF) is a select international team of entrepreneurs, investors, and industry specialists. Every year, we invest up to £50,000 in the top Oxford-affiliated startups and provide them with the network and support they need to scale. OSF has invested in twenty (20) companies over the last eight (8) years including Onfido and Go1.

General Manager

2017 - 2020

Branch.co is a global android-powered mobile lending company in Nigeria, India, Kenya and Tanzania that uses cutting-edge data science on data from smartphones to credit score customers and disburse microloans and offer other financial services

Country Manager

2016 - 2017

Joined Uber as an Operations Manager focusing on data analytics, incentives design and driver partner engagement, and a few months later became the Country Manager where my role pivoted into partnerships design and regulator engagement among other roles.

Senior Consultant | Strategy and Innovation

2016 - 2016

Carried out several consulting projects not limited to the following: - Business Transformation for a Newspaper Publishing Company -Strategy Facilitation for a leading commercial bank -Customer Experience Assessment for a leading financial services provider -Assessment of the Board for a Primary Health Care Development Agency -Process mapping and improvement project for a container terminal Led the training of the entire firm for a strategy facilitation tool - ThinkTank

Management Consultant

2013 - 2016