Grace Almendras-Castillo

Founder and CEO, Gifftid

Grace Almendras-Castillo is a recognised AI and tech entrepreneur, a tech and impact investor, and an award-winning innovation leader with decades of global experience across consumer healthcare, life sciences, technology and impact ecosystems.

As the Founder of Gifftid, she is building an AI data, intelligence and analytics platform that mobilises capital, data, and partnerships to scale underserved SMEs and impact-driven enterprises. Her mission is clear: to transform how we identify and fund untapped entrepreneurial talent, to help close the opportunity gap through inclusive finance innovation, and to ultimately drive invisibility to investability. 

Previously, Grace led Self Care Catalysts to acquisition, having pioneered digital patient-driven technologies. She holds patents for Health Storylines and was recognised as one of Canada’s Top 50 Women in STEM, a Springboard Enterprises Alum, EY Entrepreneur of the Year Nominee, and a fellow of JLabs and MaRS Discovery District in Toronto.

Grace is a lifelong learner, with advanced training in impact investing and sustainable finance from the University of Oxford, Wharton, Rotman, and Yale. She proudly comes from a legacy of women entrepreneurs and microfinance pioneers.

Grace is currently based in London and holds a UK Global Talent visa, awarded for her exceptional contributions to innovation and entrepreneurship. She is always open to collaboration with fellow impact leaders, founders, investors, and ecosystem builders.

Why do you support the work of The Entrepreneurs Network?

Entrepreneurship has long been a significant contributor to economic growth, yet limited in research that informs policy.

The Entrepreneurs Network works on this challenge by providing a holistic and diverse range of initiatives that gather information and unlock insights through annual organic surveys, roundtable discussions, and active engagement with government.

What research should more people read?

I promote any research or publications that are evidence-based and include real-life stories and accounts of people, including:

  • Longitudinal data and intelligence that understands and monitors inclusion, risks, resilience and growth that will provide opportunities for ‘invisible entrepreneurs’ to become investible;

  • Information on the ‘whys’ behind the ‘whats’ which lead to underfunding for SMEs beyond tech, AI, women, minorities, and regional economies outside Greater London;

  • Financial metrics on investment and financing decisions for SMEs, women, minorities, businesses outside Greater London that can lead to policy on credit or finance-worthy small businesses;

  • Finally, information on businesses that thrive financially when they embed growth and impact in their business model or other business model constructs that can be generated from real-world, longitudinal data from SMEs with potential to scale. 

Why is the UK an attractive place to grow a business?

As an exited entrepreneur, it is important to start and grow a business where you live, where there is a developed ecosystem with growth levers – capital, commercial relationships, supportive infrastructure and ecosystem embeddedness.

I am a resident of London under the UK Global Talent visa and fully committed not only to start Gifftid AI – an enablement, intelligence and analytics company to enable invisible entrepreneurs to become investible.

The UK offers legacy while being forward looking, with progressive businesses and infrastructure that is rich with historical and real-world experiences of small businesses that are sources of data and intelligence that can power growth and investment decisions, from both public and private institutions. With 5.5 million SMEs, the challenge of moving the needle to uplift more entrepreneurs to become investible and scalable is appealing to Gifftid AI.

Lastly, the UK has a highly educated, intelligent community that also engage in a wide range of cultural, social and creative pursuits. Overall, it fits the environment where I can participate in innovation, creation and make a contribution to society.