Sonam Velani is passionate about connecting the dots between cities, climate, and capital. She is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Streetlife Ventures, an early stage venture fund investing at the intersection of cities and climate.

From New York to Barcelona to Mumbai, she has collaborated with businesses and governments to deploy multi-billion dollar investments in climate-smart infrastructure. With experience at Goldman Sachs, The World Bank, the New York City Mayor's Office, and Zipline, she is skilled at structuring financial transactions, operating large-scale projects, and leading public-private partnerships. Across her career, she has invested in cities and the infrastructure and technology that drives them forward.

Sonam’s interest in urban development is rooted in her lived experience. Growing up in a working class family in Chicago, she understands how inadequate housing, transportation, and environmental protections limit upward mobility. The first in her family to attend college, Sonam received a full scholarship to Harvard University and earned a BA in Government, Economics, and Visual & Environmental Studies. She loves being active in her community and volunteers with the Girl Scouts, the Women’s Impact Alliance, and Climate Tech Cities.

In her free time, Sonam enjoys Citibiking, museum-hopping, watching reruns of the West Wing, and getting lost in new cities and new conversations - 70 countries, thousands of people, and still counting on both fronts!