"Maria served as Uplink's Fractional CMO for approximately 18 months, joining at a pivotal time when we needed to refine our brand identity and expand community outreach to drive adoption in underserved areas. She led a comprehensive rebrand, including logo and visual updates, while educating our team on maintaining brand consistency across all channels; additionally, she spearheaded brand awareness campaigns, laptop distribution programs, and key partnerships with organizations like BEAM, Delta Access, and Digitunity, alongside enhancements to our website and social media presence. These initiatives resulted in increased awareness, higher engagement metrics, more device installs, strengthened partnerships, and better-equipped internal teams for sustained growth. Working with Maria was seamless—her communication was prompt and clear, her strategic insights were precise, and she balanced high-level planning with efficient execution. I highly recommend her for any organization seeking a results-oriented marketing leader."

Brian Smith, CEO, Uplink Internet
“I was lucky enough to work with Maria for almost two years and see her marketing and strategy expertise in action. Maria brought her deep professional expertise to help the early-stage entrepreneurs in our Builders + Backers programs and it was exceptionally valuable for them. She could help them navigate the earliest of questions to the later, more in-depth strategy. Maria was not afraid to ask hard questions, challenge assumptions and encourage big thinking. She also had a deep respect and empathy for the people she was mentoring, regardless of the stage of their journey they were in. Maria also was reflective and iterative in her work, sharing adjustments she was making and encouraging our team to think about new approaches. Her expertise and experienced voice would be an asset to new, growing and established companies alike.”

Kathleen Hale, Partner - Builders + Backers
“I highly recommend Maria for branding, digital marketing strategy and execution. She is creative and knowledgeable and has made a huge difference in my business. From developing my social media strategy and editorial plan, to designing landing pages, dynamic PowerPoint presentations and materials, and beyond, she has been a tremendous partner. My company has seen the positive impact and results of her work. #branding #marketing "

Jackie Kindall, President & Founder, Kindall Evolve Consulting
Maria possesses a passion for digital marketing strategy. She brings an innovative approach to how to use data to tell a compelling story that resonates with clients. In addition, she listens to them and identifies the primary questions that need to be answered while recommending solutions that are tactically on the money. Maria is hands-on, analytical and energetic in pursuing the right path for any given challenge. Highly responsive and very knowledgeable, Maria is a real asset to digital marketing strategies .

Angela Villalba, Sprout Social, Senior Field Marketing Manager
“Maria is one of the smartest, savviest women I’ve ever worked with. She is a true world class digital media strategist. Maria lead powerful business partnerships at the Weather Company through cross-platform stories that leveraged leading edge technology to deliver client ROI. I highly recommend Maria and hope we work together again soon.”

Michelle LoGalbo, Global Marketing Advisory Executive, Accenture Song

Empowering founders with clarity, purpose & impact

Currently mentoring founders with Techstars Global, W.E.Build, and Daya; previously with Builders + Backers, ACT House.

I’ve partnered with 200+ founders, entrepreneurs, and startups across industries and geographies.

My Story

From Media to Marketing Leadership

Maria began her career in the production department for Univision’s flagship station Channel 23 before moving to New York to work on Madison Avenue at FCB and Grey Advertising. She went on to become an Executive Producer, delivering campaigns and launches for global brands and networks such as Nickelodeon and SKY across Latin America.

In 2009, she earned her MBA in Global Management at Thunderbird in Geneva, with field studies in China, India, and Switzerland — sharpening her ability to navigate international business environments. In 2011, she launched FWD Action, a consultancy, working with entrepreneurs and businesses worldwide.

The Entrepreneur’s CMO

For over 13 years, Maria has partnered with entrepreneurs, founders, and investors to turn ideas into market-ready businesses. She has advised and mentored 200+ founders through programs like Techstars, Builders + Backers, and ACT House, while holding leadership roles with global startups as Fractional CMO.

Her value lies in her ability to:

Position startups for growth with brand clarity and marketing roadmaps.
Embed as a C-level leader without the overhead of a full-time hire.
Bridge the gap between venture capital expectations and entrepreneurial execution.
Translate vision into investor-ready strategy.

Whether working with a VC portfolio company or a founder scaling their first venture, Maria brings the combination of creativity, market research, analytics, and technology needed to accelerate growth.

Committed to Impact

Beyond business, Maria is passionate about creating pathways for underrepresented entrepreneurs. As a Latina founder, she understands the inequities in business and actively works to democratize opportunities for women, Black, and Latino entrepreneurs. She advises nonprofits such as The Copperbridge Foundation and has volunteered with programs like Reading Partners and ACT House, supporting community growth from the ground up.

What’s Next

Maria continues to look ahead — helping startups and VCs explore opportunities in AI, Web3, and the future of work. She is currently developing courses and resources for entrepreneurs on marketing, personal branding, and building sustainable businesses.

For venture capital companies, entrepreneurs, and founders across the UK and EU, Maria Botta MBA is more than a consultant. She is a strategic partner, growth driver, and trusted advisor who helps businesses scale smarter, attract investment, and thrive in competitive markets.

How can I help your business?

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