Fernando Carranza

Fernando is a proud Mexican-American and lifelong Chicagoan. He earned his BS in Finance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and later completed his MBA at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management, where he became a Youn Impact Scholar, Toigo Fellow, and ICM Mosaic Fellow. Today, Fernando lives in Chicago with his wife, newborn daughter, and their scrappy Boxer-Chihuahua mix. Outside the office, he competes in Ironman 70.3 races, pursues mountaineering expeditions, and is a purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Fernando Carranza is a venture professional with experience investing in Seed to Series B companies across future of work, fintech, and enterprise technology. He is currently a Venture Investor at Cleveland Avenue, where he backs early-stage, tech-driven businesses through the firm’s CAST US Fund, supporting overlooked founders driving systemic change.

​

Prior to Cleveland Avenue, Fernando was Director of Venture at Digital Currency Group / HQ Digital, where he helped launch four funds and invested across blockchain, DeFi, and Web3 infrastructure. Earlier in his career, he led the first Latinx-focused incubator in the U.S. in partnership with the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, helping entrepreneurs raise catalytic capital. He also worked as an impact investor with Agora Partnerships in Mexico City, backing social enterprises across LATAM. Fernando began his career at Société Générale, advising industrial and consumer clients on cross-border financings and M&A across the U.S. and EMEA.

​

Fernando is deeply committed to building more inclusive ecosystems. He serves as a Braven Professional Mentor, is a member of the Turner MIINT Alumni Council, Chicago Lead for La Familia Foundation, and a mentor for P33’s TechRise program. In 2024, he was recognized as one of the Toigo Foundation’s Top 35 Rising Leaders in Finance.