Esma Choho

Co-Founder

Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands33 yrs 8 mos experience

Most Likely To SwitchAI ML Practitioner

Key Highlights

Pioneered systemic shifts in media and policy.
Raised over €800M for innovative ventures.
Co-founded IBM's global Banking & Sustainability practice.

Stackforce AI infers this person is a leader in Fintech and Sustainability, driving innovation through strategic investments and AI solutions.

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Skills

Core Skills

LeadershipBusiness StrategyFinancial AnalysisInvestment StrategiesFinancial Services

Other Skills

Investment ManagementStartup DevelopmentOperational ExcellenceCorporate FinancePolicy AnalysisC-LevelStrategic ThinkingExecutive ManagementEmployee EngagementMergers & Acquisitions (M&A)Financial MarketsFinTechAngel InvestingSocial EntrepreneurshipSales Operations

About

I’ve spent three decades operating ahead of institutional consensus, repeatedly building what later became unavoidable. Since the 1990s, I’ve pioneered systemic shifts across representation in media and policy; gender empowerment across religion, boardrooms, and regulation; early digital mental-health infrastructure; and one of Europe’s first female-owned strategy firms with proprietary research and models advising Fortune 500 companies. In the 2010s, that work expanded into ESG and CSRD avant la lettre through behavioral governance research (Index Walk the Talk). In 2019, I moved into neurotech. I later co-founded IBM’s global Banking & Sustainability practice, building AI products that automate sustainability across both risk and revenue. Across these cycles, the pattern is consistent: I build where language, capital, and governance arrive later. Today I’m Founder & General Partner at Growathon Ventures, building Human x AI infrastructure and system innovation through HUP.AI and selected portfolio companies. Backing founders who operate with the same anticipatory instinct. Strategic sessions: https://www.hubble.social/esmachoho LP’s: lp@growathon.co Follow for Mission Impossible moves.

Experience

33 yrs 8 mos

Total Experience

13 yrs 8 mos

Average Tenure

33 yrs 8 mos

Current Experience

Growathon ventures

Founder, General Partner

Dec 2025 – Present · 5 mos

Building a €100M fund focused on system innovation and pattern-breaker founders in Europe.
Over 30 years, I’ve raised €800M+ to create white-space innovation across 11 industries, generating €5BN+ in new market value. The model has consistently delivered an average of 6.25x returns every 5 years.
Now applying that methodology to early-stage venture: backing founders in the future of finance, food, work & life.

LeadershipBusiness StrategyFinancial ServicesInvestment ManagementStartup Development

Ibm

Global Co-Founder Banking & Sustainability

Jan 2022 – Sep 2024 · 2 yrs 8 mos

Built IBM’s sustainability-aligned AI products across the global banking vertical.
Co-led global ESG Reporting automation toolset (Scope 1–3)
Developed AI-native product for nature-based trading and regulatory compliance
Originated and accelerated white-space GTM pipeline across emerging verticals, delivered at 5x speed vs. industry benchmark

Financial AnalysisOperational ExcellenceInvestment StrategiesCorporate Finance

Pc hooft groep, verzekeraar en verzorger van uitvaarten

Interim CEO

Aug 2020 – Apr 2021 · 8 mos

Appointed during COVID crisis to modernize a €20M (funeral services) legacy institution.
Led €60M AUM + transition across product, finance, and organizational governance
Directed 200+ FTE, delivered 12.5% sustainable growth in four months

Hup.ai

Founder

Jan 2019 – Present · 7 yrs 4 mos

We’re building the HumanOS. Lab mode.

Index walk the talk

Creator, Strategist

Jan 2010 – Dec 2018 · 8 yrs 11 mos · Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands

Developed the first board-behavior analytics platform for ESG alignment.
Influenced national board diversity law (Act on Gender Balance in Business Leadership, January 2022)

Muslimunlimited.org

Founder, CEO

Jan 2006 – Dec 2018 · 12 yrs 11 mos · Online

Built a digital mental-health and resilience platform adopted by governments, NGOs and experts as infrastructure for cohesion, leadership, and crisis response.

Financial AnalysisOperational ExcellenceInvestment StrategiesCorporate Finance

Choho.com

Founder, System Architect, Strategic AI Advisor

Jan 2001 – Present · 25 yrs 4 mos

Financial AnalysisOperational ExcellenceInvestment StrategiesCorporate Finance

Growathon ventures

Founder, Principal

Jan 2001 – Dec 2018 · 17 yrs 11 mos · Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands

Growathon Ventures was a Strategy firm first.
Built public-private growth platforms aligned with infrastructure, culture, and digital scale.
Deployed integral economic infrastructure across civic, education, and innovation domains
Mentored scale-up founders and institutional leaders through transition plays

Financial AnalysisOperational ExcellenceInvestment StrategiesCorporate Finance

Ser topvrouwen

Board Advisory, Institutional Roles

Sep 1992 – Present · 33 yrs 8 mos

Initiated and led cross-institutional work across public, private, and sovereign contexts on multi-decade transition challenges.
Founding Member, SER Topvrouwen (2016–present)
Strategic Advisor, Brainport Development (2014–2016)
Mandates across Dutch national ministries, EU-aligned embassies, and major municipalities (1992–2011) — policy design, capital transition, and social infrastructure
Advisory Board, Amnesty International (1993–1996)
Program Council Member, NPO (1992–1996)

Financial ServicesInvestment StrategiesCorporate FinancePolicy Analysis