Hi there!

I am Kelly Ifill, a social entrepreneur, speaker, and advocate for financial equity.

I’m the founder and CEO of Guava, a platform that empowers large institutions and brands to better support and grow underrepresented small and medium businesses (SMBs). My journey began as an educator and administrator in schools in NYC, Brazil, and Dubai. After nearly a decade, I transitioned to business school and then into consulting and strategy roles at some of the largest Fortune 100 companies.My experiences at these companies were eye-opening and my subsequent work in venture capital illuminated the challenges Black entrepreneurs face across all industries. These experiences, combined with my upbringing in a family of small business owners, inspired me to found Guava.

Guava is a testament to my commitment to a more equitable financial ecosystem. I’ve been recognized as Crain’s New York 40 Under 40, one of “52 Black women who raised $1 million or more in VC funding since 2021” by Insider, and one of “5 Black founders working to make the financial system more equitable” by Inc.

I’m a proud Brooklynite and hold a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Baruch College, an MA in Education in Mathematics from St. John’s University, and an MBA from Columbia Business School.