Santi Subotovsky is a General Partner at Emergence Capital, where he has been a driving force behind some of the firm’s most successful investments since joining in 2010 including Chorus and Openpath. He led Emergence’s investment in Zoom (NASDAQ: ZM) when it was a little-known startup and remains on its board as the company stands as a $24 billion market cap giant. He also serves on the boards of leading companies like Crunchbase, Logik.io, Zipline, Tundra, and Class, and works closely with startup studio and accelerator High Alpha, and Quasar Ventures, which helps Latin American entrepreneurs bring disruptive ideas to life.

For Santi, venture capital is deeply personal. His investment philosophy centers on building genuine partnerships with founders, rooted in trust and respect. When Zoom’s Eric Yuan faced the challenge of balancing business demands with travel to meet investors, Santi told him he’d go wherever Eric was, no matter the time or place—a small gesture that reflected his people-first approach and helped forge a bond of mutual respect. It’s this mindset that defines every investment Santi makes.

Santi’s path to venture capital is a story of resilience and self-reliance. Growing up in Argentina, he thought he’d follow in his father’s footsteps as a mechanic. But when no jobs were available, he decided to create his own. With little more than his wits and a knack for problem-solving, Santi co-founded AXG Tecnonexo, a SaaS e-learning platform that grew operations across Latin America and the U.S. His entrepreneurial journey, from navigating the challenges of scaling a business to exiting successfully, shaped his approach to supporting founders today.

After moving to the U.S., Santi discovered venture capital and the pivotal role it could play in helping startups scale globally. He channeled this experience into co-founding Puente Labs, which supports high-growth Latin American entrepreneurs as they expand internationally. A Kauffman Fellow and Endeavor Entrepreneur, Santi is passionate about helping founders from underrepresented markets access the resources and networks they need to succeed.

Santi holds a BS in economics from Universidad de San Andrés in Argentina and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Santi is a three-time member of the Midas List and one of the first three Latin American VCs to achieve this distinction.

Outside of work, Santi is a father of four, an avid opera and classical music enthusiast, and, like every Argentine, a devoted soccer fan. His passion for building relationships, empowering entrepreneurs and creating lasting impact continues to define his legacy in venture capital.