SparkLabs Global Ventures

Jessica Jackley is a venture capital investor and entrepreneur best known as the co-founder of Kiva, a pioneering micro-lending platform that enabled small loans to entrepreneurs globally and helped establish modern crowdfunding models. She is currently a founding general partner at Untapped Capital, an early-stage venture fund that focuses on supporting "unexpected founders," often at the pre-seed and seed stages. Her investment approach is strongly influenced by her background in financial inclusion and social entrepreneurship, emphasizing capital as a tool for empowerment and access rather than purely financial return. Beyond investing, she has held academic roles and advisory positions in entrepreneurship and social innovation, particularly at USC Marshall School of Business. Her work spans venture capital, fintech, and impact-driven startup ecosystems with a consistent focus on early-stage founders and mission-led innovation.