As a Latina immigrant to the United States, her journey has been defined by her entrepreneurial acumen, unwavering commitment to social impact, and impressive academic achievements.

Patricia’s comprehensive understanding of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Central America, cultivated over the past three years, has provided her with profound insights into the nuances of emerging markets. This knowledge, coupled with her awareness of the region’s challenges and opportunities, has led her to create a model that supports the investment readiness of startups through the services provided by the nonprofit Global Development Advisors. This approach aims to execute impactful and meaningful investments in startups that propose social and environmental impact in their communities.

Patricia’s commitment to staying at the forefront of industry trends and best practices is evident in her studies at Ivy League universities, including Impact Investing at Oxford University and Global Business and Sustainable Investing at Harvard Business School. Her fundraising skills, showcased through her previous nonprofit endeavors in the Washington DC Metro area, speak volumes about her capacity to mobilize resources and secure crucial financial support for her initiatives.

Ms. Funegra’s experience in speaking at prestigious platforms like TED and the White House underscores her strong ability to communicate and advocate for meaningful change. This talent will build rapport with potential investors, portfolio companies, and other stakeholders, enhancing Moon Dancer Fund’s visibility and influence within the industry.

Her work with the Inter-American Development Bank and the US Department of State Speakers Bureau demonstrates her capacity to identify and execute strategic initiatives that drive economic development. Ms. Funegra’s dedication to supporting entrepreneurs and fostering economic impact in the United States and developing countries underscores her commitment to making a meaningful difference in people’s lives.

As a Speaker for the US Department of State’s Bureau of International Information Program in 2018, Patricia traveled to developing countries to promote economic development through workforce and entrepreneurship and was able to build global economic impact in communities in Honduras, Brazil, Bolivia, Iraq, and Equatorial Guinea. This work in supporting social entrepreneurs, particularly in Central America, prompted her to establish Global Development Advisors. 

Patricia is also the Founder and CEO of La Cocina VA, headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. With the vision to tackle global social issues such as unemployment, food insecurity and food waste, her organization offers vocational and technical education to members of the local Hispanic community supporting regional workforce and small business development strategies. She has worked tirelessly to educate and empower women, immigrants, and minorities by building a comprehensive support network to assure their successes. Paty has built and expanded La Cocina VA to become a nationally and internationally recognized institution. 

From 2010- 2014 Patricia worked at the Strategic Planning and Development Effectiveness department at the Inter-American Development Bank in Washington DC as part of a multidisciplinary team that supported the design of projects and strategies promoting growth in Latin America and the Caribbean.

By investing in others, Patricia is able to mobilize financial, human and technical capital to social entrepreneurs, companies and organization in order to address social and or environmental impact, alongside achieving profitable returns and surpassing milestones. With her unique abilities and skill set as a visionary leader, Paty evangelizes social causes, and generates social awareness and engagement to cultivate pivotal partnerships and lead stakeholders to soaring heights.

Patricia has a degree in Business Administration and has attended Harvard Business School Executive Program, Georgetown University Nonprofit Executive Program and Oxford University Social Finance Program. She currently lives in Maryland.