Larta Institute announces engagement with Avenida Advisors
February 23, 2026 – 03:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time
Los Angeles, CA — 2/23 — Larta Institute, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit accelerating science and technology innovation for a sustainable planet, today announced a new engagement with Avenida Advisors to support the development and launch of the Larta Impact Fund — a patient, mission-aligned capital platform designed to expand access to catalytic investment for enterprises enabling underserved communities. Avenida Advisors brings deep experience structuring mission-driven capital at scale and strengthening financing pathways for underserved entrepreneurs.
Avenida is a strategic advisory and consulting firm led by Isabel Casillas Guzman, entrepreneur, government innovation leader, economic policy expert, and former Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration. The firm specializes in empowering business, government and community leaders with advice and practical solutions that drive measurable outcomes.
“Avenida Advisors is focused on empowering businesses and communities for sustainable economic growth,” said Isabel Casillas Guzman, Founder and President of Avenida Advisors. “Larta has built a powerful platform for inclusive innovation. We are excited to help structure a targeted, gap-filling fund that combines commercial rigor with community impact to strengthen Los Angeles’ life sciences ecosystem.”
“Larta’s mission has always been to foster innovation that delivers measurable social and environmental outcomes,” said Rohit Shukla, CEO and Founder of Larta Institute. “Our collaboration with Avenida Advisors strengthens our ability to translate that mission into disciplined, catalytic capital that supports long-term community impact.”
The Larta Impact Fund enables solutions that positively impact moderate-income communities. The initiative is supported by $3.3 million in State of California funding through the California Jobs First initiative, including $1.8 million in seed capital for the Fund, and $1.2 million in enhanced development assistance to companies in Larta’s Heal.LA program.
The Larta Impact Fund will build on Larta’s decades of experience guiding innovators from early-stage development to measurable real-world outcomes. Returns will be reinvested to strengthen Larta’s programs and expand long-term support for mission-driven entrepreneurs.
Additional details on Fund structure, investment priorities, and investor engagement opportunities will be shared in the coming months.
About Larta Institute
Larta Institute is a Los Angeles-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit accelerating science and technology innovation for a sustainable planet. Since 1993, Larta has supported more than 6,500 innovators who have collectively raised over $7 billion in external funding. Through its mission to “feed, fuel & heal the world,” Larta cultivates entrepreneurs, builds ecosystems, and deploys solutions that create economic opportunity and community impact across the globe.
About Avenida Advisors
Avenida Advisors is a strategic advisory and consulting firm specializing in helping organizations—including businesses, impact institutions, and governments—navigate complexity, leverage partnerships, and unlock opportunities for sustainable market and economic growth.
For media inquiries, contact:
Ilaria Ghelardoni
Office of Brand, Marketing, & Communications
BMC@larta.org