David Vélez is a Colombian-born American entrepreneur, the self-made billionaire founder and former CEO of Nubank (NYSE: NU), Latin America's largest and most valuable digital bank. Born in Medellín, Colombia, in 1981, his family fled cartel violence and migrated to Costa Rica when he was nine years old. His upbringing in an entrepreneurial family, coupled with this early disruption, instilled in him a resilient spirit.

Vélez secured an elite education, graduating from Stanford University with a Bachelor's degree in Management Science & Engineering and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business in 2012. His career began in investment banking at Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs, followed by private equity at Sequoia Capital in Brazil. This background in finance and venture capital provided him with the crucial insight: Latin America's banking system was ripe for technological disruption.

David Vélez's motivation for founding Nubank in 2013 in São Paulo was intensely personal: as a foreigner in Brazil, he found opening a bank account bureaucratic and expensive, convincing him that technology could make banking more accessible. He partnered with Cristina Junqueira (a Brazilian banking expert) and Edward Wible (an engineer) to create a wholly digital solution.

Nubank's initial product was a zero-fee, purple credit card managed entirely via a mobile app. The company achieved phenomenal, viral growth, attracting 1 million customers in under two years and surpassing 100 million customers across Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia by 2024. The successful IPO (via Nu Holdings) on the NYSE in December 2021 secured Vélez's multi-billion dollar fortune, making him the richest person in Colombia at one point. He and his wife, Mariel Reyes Milk, signed the Giving Pledge in 2021, committing to donate the majority of their wealth to charity.

David Vélez is a dedicated philanthropist, having signed the Giving Pledge, committing to donate the majority of his wealth to charity. His structural social impact is the democratization of financial services in Latin America, providing access to credit and banking for millions of previously underserved consumers.

His VelezReyes+ foundation is focused on structural change through education and entrepreneurship in the region. His career is a testament to the fact that immense financial success can be achieved by solving major, systemic social problems through technology.

David Vélez maintains the dynamic, intellectual style of a fintech founder. His attire is consistently professional and pragmatic, favoring comfortable business casual wear. His aesthetic reflects his deep focus on product and culture, which he believes is built during the early years of development, much like raising children.

His luxury is the autonomy and security derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to his commitment to high-impact philanthropy and his role as the leader of the company that is transforming Latin America's financial landscape.