Melissa Frakman

Melissa Frakman is a leading futurist, business strategist and venture capitalist, with expertise at the intersection of macroeconomy, policy, financial services, and cutting-edge technology in fintech, AI, and commerce. She frequently is invited to brief Fortune 500 boards as well as highgrowth global startups on these matters.

Frakman is a sought-after advisor to global business executives and government leaders on the India-US bilateral relationship and India's role as a global innovation leader. She was one of the first to predict and discuss how countries around the world are following in India's footsteps on digital infrastructure, identity, payments, and other technology.

With over a decade in Asia, Frakman has led Asia investments, new market strategy, and partnerships worth over $1 billion for Fortune 500 companies and top funds, including supporting those companies in the development of products in digital banking, payments, identity, infrastructure and insurtech.

Her pragmatic and engaging style has been appreciated in her role as a speaker at worldleading conferences such as the the G20, Milken Institute Conference, Money 20/20, Global Fintech Fest as well as by media outlets such as NASDAQ, Bloomberg, Global Finance, The Washington Post and many more.

Frakman is CEO & Founding Partner of Emphasis Ventures (EMVC), a global early-stage venture capital firm investing in the future of fintech and commerce. EMVC’s portfolio companies include unicorns in the payment, wealthtech and business financial management.

Previously, Frakman was Vice President of Zomato prior to its landmark IPO, India Senior Director at Albright Stonebridge Group, Financial Services Director of the US-India Business Council, and program manager with early microfinance institutions. She has been a product advisor to companies including Amazon, Uber, Principal Financial, and Remitly (IPO 2021) and served as guest lecturer on fintech at Harvard Business School, Cornell, and New York University.

Frakman has been honored as Global Fintech Person of the Year 2024 at the Global Fintech Fest - a prestigious award celebrates visionary leaders driving innovation, inclusion, and progress within the fintech ecosystem. She is also a member of Milken Young Leaders Circle and a recipient of the Financial Times Innovation Asia Awards, Colin Powell Leadership Fellowship, Ward Medal for Economics, Global Women in Fintech Powerlist, and mentor to Techstars and the Government of India's Atal Innovation Mission.