Shivani Siroya, CEO & Founder

Shivani began developing InVenture in late 2008, with the aim of unlocking the immense potential for micro-businesses to pursue their dreams, create jobs and alleviate poverty within their surrounding communities.

She has a wide array of professional experiences in global health, microfinance, and investment banking. Prior to InVenture she worked health costing at UNFPA and Mergers& Acquisitions at Health Net. Additionally, Shivani is a 2011 Unreasonable Fellow and also is currently teaching Mobilizing Communities at the Graduate School of Education and Psychology at Pepperdine University.

Shivani holds a M.P.H in Health Economics and Policy from Columbia University and a B.A. in International Relations from Wesleyan University.

She lives in Los Angeles and when she's not InVenturing, she keeps herself busy and optimistic by heading outdoors, kick boxing, practicing yoga and using as many exclamation points (!) as possible!

Jon Blackwell, Director of Product Development

Jon has spent his entire career working with entrepreneurs and loves figuring out how to use the latest technologies to create a positive change in the world.

Prior to joining InVenture, Jon worked at SVB Financial Group funding and evaluating early stage technology companies. Following his passion for international development he left to work at a microfinance institution in Kenya where he helped distribute loans and provide business guidance to microentrepreneurs. Returning stateside, he helped found Let’s Do This, a mobile technology company with a mission to cure boredom.

Jon is responsible for InVenture’s product line including the deployment of InSight, InVenture’s mobile application. He holds a MPP from the University of Southern California and a B.A. in Economics from Virginia Tech.

When Jon isn’t playing on his iPhone he’s busy organizing iron chef style cook offs and planning his next travel excursion abroad.

Bonnie Oliva, Global Operations Director

Bonnie is passionate about small business growth and has worked with small business owners for the last six years. She is a go-to consultant – having most recently worked with GOOD on The Pepsi Refresh Project. She has also lent her skills to the Empowerment Group, New York City Department of Small Businesses Services and programs for the American Recovery and Reinvestments Act (ARRA).

Bonnie holds a BA in International Politics from Wesleyan University and a certificate in Finance and Accounting from Wharton. She is a StartingBloc Fellow (NY '09) as well as one of InVenture's 2011 Echoing Green Fellows.

Bonnie is a Bronx native through and through – no matter where she is in the world that calls her away and causes her to cheer for her hometown Yankees from a distance she always finds her way back home! In addition to all the amazing things she's doing with InVenture, Bonnie loves to travel, cook, and practice pilates.

Ami Gosalia, Director of Strategy

Ami enjoys developing and executing transformational growth plans, with an emphasis on teamwork, efficiency, and social impact. Before InVenture, she worked as a project manager at Green Ideas, a sustainability consulting firm with clients all over the world. She has also worked in lending and business development at Accion and in business and strategic planning at Urbane Development, a community development venture based in New York City.

Ami is responsible for developing InVenture’s global operations strategy, implementing internal operational and communication measures, and coordinating marketing and branding efforts.

She holds a M.A. in Urban Planning from USC and a B.A. in International Development, Financial Economics, and Spanish from Vanderbilt University.

In her free time, Ami can be found practicing + teaching yoga, surfing in the freezing cold Pacific Ocean, and exploring + photographing foreign lands.

Dasami Moodley, India Director of Business Development

Dasami loves building great companies with great people. She is passionate about creating sustainable and inclusive growth by leveraging innovative business models and women leadership.

Prior to working at InVenture Dasami worked as a business and community outreach leader for the multinational corporation lululemon atheletica in both Montreal and New York. Most recently, she worked in India as part of the organizing team of the Sankalp Forum, the largest platform to catalyze impact investments in Asia. Dasami has also created and led several HIV/AIDS awareness and advocacy campaigns in Canada and South Africa and initiated her own goal-setting program that aims to empower young women.

Dasami is responsible for developing InVenture’s business development strategy in addition to assisting in the overall launch and management of InVenture’s India office and managing field operations across InVenture’s various project areas. Dasami holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from McGill University in Political Science and Psychology.

When Dasami is not InVenturing, she is backpacking somewhere across India’s countryside, flowing through a yoga class or planning a trip to an upcoming indie music festival. 

Jagan Selvaraj, India Field Trainer

Jagan is interested in social and economic development and finding creative ways of facilitating entrepreneurs.  One of his main career goals is to help at least 1000 families in his lifetime through his work.

Prior to InVenture, Jagan worked at Muthoot Fincorp and other NGOs conducting seminars on social issues.  He received his Masters in Social Work from Loyola College in Chennai, India.

When he is not InVenturing, he enjoys spending time with friends and practicing and teaching fitness.

Carol Mugure, Kenya Operations Manager

Carol has been told time and again that she is too ambitious and that her goals are sometimes far from achievable. She agrees!  Unlike many dreamers, she likes to face challenges and take risks. In her own words, “challenges make life interesting and you never know just how strong you are until you are faced with one.”  She is passionate about social change and loves to work on projects that serve BoP communities to make a difference.

Prior to InVenture, Carol worked at Ecotact as a Project Officer for water and sanitation for schools and was in charge of the Community Empowerment Programme, a partnership with KIVA Zip Kenya.

Carol is responsible for the development and management of InVenture’s operations in Kenya. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Social Sciences from Kenyatta University - Kenya.

When she is not InVenturing, she is spending time with family and friends and trying out new recipes.