Maria De Santis is a Principal at Muse Capital, a consumer technology venture fund investing in companies that should exist, especially those reimagining how we care, live, and play. With a multicultural background and early-stage operator experience across Europe and the U.S., Maria brings a global lens to identifying emerging consumer trends and supporting founders.
Her favorite role?
Spotting clarity in the chaos, and helping founders turn it into momentum.
Maria's Career
Maria began her career in Madrid as Head of Business Development for a venture-backed mobility startup, where she led international expansion and developed top-of-funnel strategies across Europe - particularly in Italy. Her work focused on scaling consumer platforms through strategic partnerships and market growth.
She graduated in the top 10% of her class from IE Business School, one of Europe’s top institutions, before earning a Master’s in Entrepreneurship and Innovation from the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business. While at USC, she served on the investment team at the Marshall Venture Fund, conducting diligence and pitching to an investment committee that included partners from Kleiner Perkins, Index Ventures, Y Combinator, and Upfront.
At Muse Capital, Maria supports sourcing, diligence, and platform strategy across the fund’s care, live, and play verticals. She is particularly focused on the intersection of technology, cultural behavior, and shifting consumer expectations, especially in women’s health, a space she is deeply passionate about.
About Maria
Born in Italy and of Taiwanese heritage, Maria is fluent in multiple languages and brings a dynamic, cross-cultural perspective to the Muse team.
“In the noise of trends and headlines, I’m drawn to what’s quietly (or loudly) urgent, what people actually need, not just what everyone’s talking about.”
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