ST. PETERSBURG, FL – May 15, 2025 – NESsT, a leading global impact investor and venture philanthropist, announced today that Renata Truzzi has been named Chief Impact & Operations Officer. Truzzi – who joined the organization in 2012 – has served in multiple capacities within NESsT, most recently as Global Acceleration & Impact Director. Her background in impact investing, business development, marketing, and fundraising will further support NESsT’s organizational effectiveness and operational excellence.
“Renata’s contributions to NESsT have helped us grow tremendously over the last 13 years,” said Chad Sachs, NESsT CEO. “With her commitment to NESsT’s social and environmental values, her creativity in program management, and her perseverance in balancing the social and commercial impact of our portfolio enterprises, I am excited to see her lead and optimize many of our teams and our ways of work.”
Truzzi first joined NESsT as Country Director in Brazil. Under her leadership, NESsT’s acceleration portfolio in Brazil grew to support 50 entrepreneurs, positively impacting 1.6 million people. She launched the NESsT Racial Equity Initiative in 2022, a multi-year business acceleration program that provides funding, mentorship, and business assistance to impact-driven enterprises led by Black entrepreneurs in Brazil, supporting them to access capital and scale their businesses. The initiative has funded 6 businesses to date, deploying over $500,000 USD to Black-led businesses, training and upskilling 5,236 individuals – over half of whom are from Black communities – and positively impacting more than 124,500 lives.
She also oversaw NESsT’s global impact measurement in 2023 and 2024 as Global Acceleration & Impact Director, including efforts by NESsT portfolio managers to complete its biannual Dignified Employment Survey. The survey included 531 respondents who reported statistics such as 90% job satisfaction and average income 192% above minimum wage. A key statistic for 2024 was that NESsT nearly doubled its reach of people positively impacted from 1.8 million to 3.4 million.
“I am excited to lead NESsT’s acceleration investments and operations in this new role. With my background as country director and acceleration director, I look forward to working closely with NESsT’s regional teams to develop strategies that encourage sustainable growth for our portfolio of high-impact enterprises,” said Truzzi.
For more information about NESsT and its mission to support entrepreneurs and communities, read the NESsT 2024 Annual Report.