Lara Metcalf

Lara Metcalf has deep experience in the public and private sectors, focused on driving better outcomes for low income and vulnerable populations using innovative investment capital approaches to solve our nation's most pressing problems. She is currently a Partner at TSEF: The Social Entrepreneurs’ Fund, an early stage (series A+) venture fund investing in healthtech, fintech, and human services tech, including “Future of Work”, to improve access and economic opportunity for low income communities. Two-thirds of the companies in their portfolios are led by women or minorities. Lara believes that we can use capital and markets to drive sustainable positive change in the world. Prior to joining TSEF, Lara was a Fellow at The Engine, a VC fund founded by MIT that aims to bridge the gap between discovery and commercialization of “tough tech” solutions. Lara previously played a leadership role in building the Pay for Success field during her five years as the Managing Director of Social Finance, an innovative 501c3 social enterprise, where she led the creation of $80M+ in project finance impact investments around issues ranging from refugee and immigrant employment, to child welfare, to maternal and child health, to recidivism. Prior to Social Finance, Lara was the Chief Financial and Administrative Officer at the Harvard Kennedy School. Lara spent the first 18 years of her career on Wall Street at Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, and Credit Suisse, where she achieved the title of Managing Director. Lara currently serves on the board for Longfellow Investment Management, an $11 billion MWBE fixed income and alternative institutional investment manager. She has been an active volunteer in a number of education, microfinance, and refugee-focused organizations. She and her husband are both proud alumni of Northwestern’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management, and live with their children in the Boston area.