Grace Garey

Listen up about Grace Garey, she’s the real deal in the social impact and startup world. This girl jumped into the scene straight outta UCSB, where she was already vibing with ethics and doing her thing with the Capps Center. But her story? It’s not just about school stuff. She’s been all over the place, working with orgs like Kiva, the IRC, Breakthrough NY, and even living in a hospital in India and studying post-conflict development in Ghana. She’s got that global hustle, you know?

Her big break came when she co-founded Watsi, the nonprofit crowdfunding platform that’s been crushing it. Under her leadership as COO, they funded over $18 million for more than 30,000 folks across 33 countries, that’s some serious impact. Watsi was the first nonprofit to get into YC, which is a huge deal because it means they’re the real deal in the startup world. And she was named one of Elle’s top women in tech, no cap, that’s just how influential she’s become.

What’s crazy is, her whole vibe is about using tech and human connection to get basic needs met, healthcare, education, whatever, and make social progress happen. She’s all about breaking down barriers and jumping into problems headfirst, whether it’s raising millions for entrepreneurs at Kiva or working in conflict zones. She even launched a student outreach program at Kiva that pulled in over five mil in its first year. That’s not just hustle, that’s real impact.

Now, after spending eight years running Watsi as COO, she’s still on their board, showing she’s in it for the long haul. Her story? It’s about turning passion into action, about seeing a problem and jumping in with both feet. She’s proof that if you care enough, you can use tech and heart to change lives. Honestly, she’s a reminder that starting something isn’t just about making money, it’s about making a difference, and she’s out here crushing it at scale.