Michael Belles
2024-2025 Obama Foundation USA Leader

Co-founder and Manager, Catalyze
Atlanta, Georgia
Michael Belles is the co-founder of Catalyze, which works to democratize access to capital, networks, and resources for entrepreneurs. In his role, he manages annual convenings for first-time fund managers, Catalyze’s Runway Fund, and cultivates external partnerships. He also developed the Innovative Finance Playbook, a digital resource that aims to make information surrounding innovative and non-traditional financing methods more accessible to a greater diversity of entrepreneurs. Before Catalyze, he held various roles in impact-focused investment organizations, including at a private equity investment firm focused on opportunity zones and a community development finance institution.
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