Our Team
Our core investment group and advisor team leverages a deep network of operators across the global tech community to support portfolio companies.
Melissa Frakman
CEO & FOUNDING PARTNER
Melissa Frakman is an entrepreneur, investor, and global market strategist. She is the CEO & Founding Partner of Emphasis Ventures (EMVC), a global venture capital firm that invests in trailblazing founders building at the intersection of digital infrastructure, commerce, and AI-enabled financial systems, with India as both a laboratory and launchpad for global innovation. With a strategic portfolio that includes startups serving more than 200 million individuals and small businesses, EMVC has established itself as a trusted partner to India's local tech ecosystem as well as corporate leaders worldwide.
Before founding EMVC, Melissa spearheaded Asia investments, market strategy, and partnerships valued at over $1 billion for Fortune 500 companies and high-growth startups, with specific expertise developing cross-border products across digital banking, payments, and insurtech. Her executive experience includes serving as Vice President at Zomato prior to its landmark IPO, India Senior Director at Albright Stonebridge Group, and Financial Services Director of the US-India Business Council, where she deepened bilateral innovation partnerships.
Melissa began her career working with microfinance institutions, establishing her commitment to financial inclusion that continues to inform her investment thesis today. She has provided product advisory to market-defining companies including Amazon, Uber, Principal Financial, and Remitly (IPO 2021), and shares her expertise as a guest lecturer on digital economy topics at institutions including Harvard Business School, Cornell University, Columbia Business School and Indian Institute of Management-Bangalore.
Melissa's contributions to global digital innovation were celebrated with the prestigious "Fintech Person of the Year 2024" honor at India's Global Fintech Awards—the industry's definitive gathering that was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and drew over 100,000 professionals. She is also a recipient of the FT Innovation Asia Awards, Colin Powell Leadership Fellowship, Ward Medal for Economics, and the Global Women in Fintech Powerlist. She is a member of the Milken Institute's Young Leaders Circle. Her insights have been featured in leading publications including the Washington Post, Financial Times, Forbes, Times of India, NASDAQ Trade Talks, and the New York Times.
With more than 20 years in India, Melissa has built a reputation as a visionary who bridges innovation ecosystems across continents, championing digital transformation that fundamentally reshapes commerce and business operations in the new connected era. Outside of work, Melissa is an avid champion of the performing arts from around the world.
Ashwini Joshi
SENIOR ASSOCIATE, INVESTMENT
Ashwini is an experienced investment professional focused on early-stage fintech in India. Prior to EMVC, Ashwini was a founding member of the Digital Group at ICICI Securities where he evaluated fintech startups for investment and partnership within the asset manager’s innovation strategy, and led the development of ICICI’s first fintech incubator.
Previously, Ashwini worked in ICICI’s Private Wealth Management Group and as an Analyst with a Mumbai-based investment bank. A graduate from IIM Indore, Ashwini is particularly interested in the intersection of behavioral finance and emerging technology.
Alessandro Di Battista
senior Associate, Operations and insights
Alessandro is a manager and consultant with experience across the technology and financial sectors. In his role at EMVC he supports fund and portfolio operations and the network effect of its fintech insights, by working alongside a team of experienced investors, industry advisors, and visionary entrepreneurs.
Before joining EMVC, Alessandro was a Project Leader at The Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where he was a member of the Financial Institutions and Technology practices. Additionally, he contributed to the successful launch of the digital ventures arm of a large UK media business and has been a strategy consultant to organizations around the world.
Advisors
AP Hota
SENIOR PORTFOLIO MENTOR
AP Hota was the founding CEO & MD of the National Payments Corporation of India, responsible for the world’s first and largest biometric-enabled real time national payments platform: Unified Payments Interface (UPI), RuPay, and BHIM. Previously, he was Chief General Manager of the Department of Payment & Settlement Systems at the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
Krishnan Venkatchalam
ADVISOR
Krishnan is a global leader in insurtech distribution and product innovation. He was the global head of microinsurance at AIG and founding executive of Blue Marble Microinsurance, a consortium of the world’s top insurers. Responsible for launching AIG’s business in India, he is a Chevening scholar at the London School of Economics and a fellow of the Insurance Institute of India.
Thomas Hyland
advisor
Thomas is an active investor in India and was the co-founder of Aspada, an early-stage, impact venture capital fund based in Bangalore backing innovative models in financial services, agricultural supply chains and logistics, healthcare, and education. Anchored by the Soros Economic Development Fund, Aspada was sold to the LGT Group of Liechtenstein in late 2019 where it now anchors LGTs global sustainable fund effort, Lightrock.
Kiran Shetty
Advisor
Kiran is the CEO of SWIFT India leading both national and cross-border banking payments. As CEO & Regional Head, he led Western Union’s growth in South Asia. He is the recipient of National Award for E-Governance Driving Financial Inclusion from the Government of India and has participated for 20+ years in the evolution of digital finance in India.
Alex Acree
Advisor
Alex Acree is a regtech and legal expert, advising and investing in companies in highly regulated industries. He is the Chief Legal Officer of Unit. Previously, he served as Managing Director & General Counsel at Fenway Summer, a U.S. fintech fund. Alex was an attorney for financial institutions at a global law firm and held a series of senior positions at technology startups. He holds a J.D. and MBA from Yale University.
Rumi Morales
Advisor
An early specialist in digital currency, blockchain, AI, and distributed ledger technologies, Rumi is a partner at Outlier Ventures, and previously led the ventures investments for CME Group. She is an early investor in many of the world’s most iconic blockchain companies and applies a truly international lens to working with founders in South Asia and other markets.
