Rafaella Fontes in

Rafaella Fontes

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Director of Strategy and Operations at BackEngine
📍 Santa Monica, California, United States

Rafaella is the Director of Strategy & Operations at BackEngine, focusing on their GTM approach. She is also a Venture Partner at Fulcrum Venture Group, investing in deep tech sectors like AI, energy, and cybersecurity. She holds an MBA from MIT Sloan and a BA from Columbia University.

Originally from a family of physicians and entrepreneurs, Rafaellas path has been shaped by diverse experiences, including living in Bologna, Italy. Her passion for innovation is influenced by her fathers medical work and her partners dedication to national security, sparking her interest in defense-adjacent technology.

Her professional journey began in the wine industry, where she worked across production, marketing, and sales before transitioning into venture capital.

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Current Role
Director of Strategy and Operations
Job Level
Mid-senior
Location
Santa Monica, California, United States
Personality Overview

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Communication Style
Decision Approach
Work Preference

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Priorities

Topics Rafaella cares about

Go-to-Market Strategy
Her current role at BackEngine involves driving a new GTM approach via a community-first ecosystem, and she recently hosted a dinner for GTM leaders.
Deep Tech Investing
As a Venture Partner at Fulcrum Venture Group, she invests in breakthrough technologies including AI, energy, advanced manufacturing, and cybersecurity.
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Career

Work history

11-2025
Director of Strategy and Operations
BackEngine
11-2025
Executive Member
Pavilion
1-2025 - 1-2026
Defense & Space Tech Vertical Lead
Emerging Venture Capitalists Association (EVCA)
7-2024
Venture Partner
Fulcrum Venture Group
6-2024
Member
Global Women in VC
In the press

Media appearances

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Education
2020 - 2022
Master of Business Administration - MBA
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2-2022 - 6-2022
Cohort 10
GoingVC
Social presence
in
Behavioral profile

DISC profile (public)

DISC behavioral profile

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