Rebeca Hwang
About Rebeca Hwang
Rebeca Hwang is a partner and educator with extensive experience in entrepreneurship and technology. She currently holds positions at Thunderbird School of Global Management, Stanford University, and several advisory boards, while also being a co-founder of multiple ventures focused on innovation and social impact.
Work at Kalei Ventures
Rebeca Hwang serves as a Partner at Kalei Ventures, a firm that focuses on investing in early-stage technology startups from Latin America. She has held this position since 2019, contributing her expertise in entrepreneurship and innovation to the firm's mission. Her role involves identifying promising startups and supporting their growth through strategic investments.
Education and Expertise
Rebeca Hwang has an extensive educational background, having studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where she earned degrees in Chemical Engineering and Civil and Environmental Engineering. She also pursued doctoral work at Stanford University, where she is currently studying for a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Additionally, she completed an Executive Education Certificate at Harvard Kennedy School, further enhancing her expertise in leadership and management.
Background
Born in Korea and raised in Argentina, Rebeca Hwang has a diverse cultural background that informs her work in entrepreneurship and innovation. She currently resides in Silicon Valley, where she actively engages with the startup ecosystem. Hwang has co-founded several organizations, including Rivet Ventures and YouNoodle, which focus on empowering women-led markets and fostering open innovation, respectively.
Achievements
Rebeca Hwang has received several accolades for her contributions to entrepreneurship and innovation. She won the MIT IDEAS PRIZE and the Lemelson Prize in 2002. In recognition of her impact, she was named a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader in 2012. Hwang has also been honored with the MIT 35 under 35 Award for Argentina and Uruguay in 2012 and globally in 2013. She holds twelve awarded US patents with more than nine pending, showcasing her role as an innovator and inventor.
Current Roles and Contributions
In addition to her role at Kalei Ventures, Rebeca Hwang is actively involved in various organizations. She is a Professor of Practice at Thunderbird School of Global Management and a Lecturer in Technology Entrepreneurship at Stanford University Graduate School of Business. Hwang also serves on the Board of Advisors for Imagine H2O and White Oak Global Advisors, and is a Board Member for the Global Entrepreneurship Network, contributing to the advancement of entrepreneurship globally.