Saarthak Gupta

Research & Capital

Saarthak runs ESF’s Operations, Capital, Fundraising, and Research programs. He previously researched new cause areas across different growth strategies and evaluated pilot grants at Coefficient Giving. He subsequently advised sovereign wealth funds and pension funds on portfolio strategy at Bridgewater Associates, as well as working on the firm’s trading systems. He holds an A.B. in Economics from Brown University and is an alumnus of Deep Springs College.

Niklas Piringer

People & Partnerships

Niklas manages ESF’s Partnerships, People, Ground Operations, and Buyer relationships. He previously worked at McKinsey Nairobi advising governments and philanthropies on economics and sustainability, has conducted research at the Overseas Development Institute and Harvard's Growth Lab, and directed a research initiative for Ambitious Impact on cost-effective development interventions in Senegal. He holds a degree in Development Economics from Harvard University and a BSc from LSE, and speaks 9 languages including Arabic, French, Portuguese, Swahili, and Wolof.

Ricardo Hausmann

Ricardo Hausmann is the director of Harvard’s Growth Lab, the former Venezuelan Minister of Planning and former Chief Economist of the Interamerican Development Bank (IDB). His research on economic self-discovery is the theoretical inspiration for ESF.

Thomas Kehler

Thomas Kehler, as part of a team of 4, kickstarted Colombia’s multi-billion cut flower industry in 1969. A decade later, he did the same for Chile’s smoked salmon industry. His entrepreneurial work is the practical inspiration for ESF.

Kartik Akileswaran

As Co-Founder of Growth Teams, Kartik builds the government machinery that turns growth strategy into exports and jobs. This leverages his 15 years of experience at organizations such as the World Bank, Millennium Challenge Corporation, and Tony Blair Institute - where he supported LMIC governments to attract foreign investment and promote structural transformation, including tens of millions in FDI across manufacturing and services.

Abdramane Diabate

Abdramane is a member of Dalberg’s Africa leadership team, advising leaders across government, business, and philanthropy. Founder of the Malian nonprofit Faso Sanu, Abdramane leverages a broad continental network and a rich background - including time in the military and as a cowboy - to accelerate Africa's economic transformation.

Richard Nerland

Richard manages a multi-billion-dollar book as a quantitative trading portfolio manager. His ambition is to manage one just as large aimed at modernizing Africa. He started via investing in Malengo and serves on its board, and advises the African Urban Lab and Global ISA alliance.