Village Capital Appoints New Board Members to Advance Mission and Global Impact

Liezl Van Riper, Rilwan Meeran, and Oscar Robles appointed to Village Capital’s board

Washington, DC (May 27, 2025) — Village Capital, a leading global nonprofit unlocking early-stage social and financial capital for entrepreneurs building emergent solutions for environmental, social, and economic challenges, announced the appointment of three new members to its Board of Directors: Liezl Van Riper, Rilwan Meeran, and Oscar Robles.

With deep expertise in philanthropy, impact investment, and founder-led innovation, the new board members will play a pivotal role in advancing Village Capital’s bold 2030 goals: to unlock USD 50B in investment capital and reduce barriers for 50,000 impact-creating and locally-led startups. Their leadership will help scale solutions that expand access to capital and support for early-stage entrepreneurs solving some of the world’s most urgent problems.

“Our board’s strength lies in its encompassing perspectives and deep roots in the entrepreneurial ecosystems we serve,” expressed Allie Burns, CEO at Village Capital. “Liezl, Rilwan, and Oscar embody our mission to rethink how capital flows and to build founder-focused and sustainable systems.”

“Honored to welcome Liezl, Rilwan, and Oscar – fellow VilCap alumni and peer selected company – to our board,” said Michal Eynon-Lynch, Chair of the Village Capital Board. “Each brings a unique perspective and deep understanding of the social and financial capital entrepreneurs need, and their guidance will be instrumental as we chart bold new paths to support the next generation of impact-creating founders.”

Meet the New Board Members

  • Liezl Van Riper, Co-Founder of Raise Up, brings deep philanthropic development expertise and a bold vision for capital mobilization in underserved communities globally. Her work supporting early-stage social entrepreneurs, along with their funders and investors, aligns with Village Capital’s commitment to support locally-rooted solutions.
  • Rilwan Meeran, Head of Impact Investments at American Student Assistance, offers significant experience in fund design and investment strategy. A close advisor to Village Capital on its evolving investment model, Rilwan brings an institutional lens and hands-on insight that will strengthen the board’s financial strategy and oversight. With an extensive background in the edtech ecosystem, Rilwan is a champion of innovative technologies that connect communities with the resources they need.
  • Oscar Robles, VilCap LatAm alum and CEO and founder of ePesos, is a serial entrepreneur and angel investor. His experience scaling startups in emerging markets and his continued support for early-stage founders offer a critical global perspective and direct connection to the communities Village Capital serves. He brings two decades of experience as a board member, helping define strategy, build leadership teams, raise equity and debt financing, and develop strong governance practices.

Since 2009, Village Capital has supported nearly 1,800 entrepreneurs across 70+ countries; they have collectively raised USD 7.5B in investment capital. Additionally, the organization has trained over 230 locally-led Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs), who have supported over 9,000 entrepreneurs and collectively raised more than USD 120M post-program. Through these efforts, the organization has become a recognized leader in strengthening entrepreneurial ecosystems and driving access to capital for early-stage entrepreneurs.

To explore full bios or learn more about Village Capital’s board of directors, visit www.vilcap.com.

For media inquiries, contact: Sofía Cándano, Director of Communications, Village Capital (sofia.candano@vilcap.com).

About Village Capital 

Village Capital is reinventing the system to back the entrepreneurs of the future. Known for its groundbreaking approaches to supporting founders who are building solutions to emergent environmental, social, and economic challenges, VilCap unlocks critical social and financial capital for early-stage startups to maximize business and impact growth. 


Since 2009, Village Capital has supported close to 1,800 startups that have raised USD 7.5B in investment capital. It has made more than 150 investments through its various affiliated funds, including Vilcap Investments, which has invested in 110 peer-selected companies. Additionally, more than 25,500 members actively engage on Abaca, their web app that equips entrepreneurs, ESOs, and capital providers with tools for learning about, assessing suitability and expanding access to financial capital. Its latest feature, Capital Explorer, helps founders identify the most appropriate funding options for their businesses. Learn more at www.vilcap.com and follow @villagecapital.