Antonella Perrone
2025-2026 Columbia University Scholar
Argentina
Chief Operating Officer, Xcapit
Developing digital tools to foster financial autonomy and deliver aid to underserved communities without internet access
Antonella Perrone is the COO at Xcapit, where she leads the development and implementation of blockchain-based solutions to promote financial inclusion among communities with limited or no access to financial services and humanitarian aid. As a UNICEF-backed startup, Xcapit makes financial tools accessible for people who don’t have internet, smartphones, or bank accounts. This technology also enables local NGOs to deliver funds more transparently, efficiently, and at a lower cost to optimize last-mile delivery in cases of humanitarian crises. Antonella has overseen pilot programs, such as Xcapit's SMS-based smart wallet that allowed remote, nondigital communities to receive funds in real time over SMS, successfully disbursing funds to 100% of their target community in Cusco, Peru. Antonella aims to scale Xcapit's impact by expanding financial inclusion solutions and reaching more people across Latin America. As her work grows rapidly and garners the attention of high-level stakeholders in the region, she hopes the Scholars program will help her develop systems-level thinking skills, enabling her to leverage this expanding network and position herself as a collaborative partner.
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More About the Scholars Program
The Obama Foundation Scholars program gives rising leaders from around the world who are already making a difference in their communities the opportunity to take their work to the next level.
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