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New York, NY (November 10, 2026) — 2Gether-International (2GI), a global organization and network unlocking the potential of founders with Disabilities, is proud to announce the appointment of two new members to its Board of Directors: Allie Burns, former CEO of Village Capital and social impact executive, and Karen Little, award-winning social impact leader and Global Lead, Rapid Response & Strategic Partnerships at PayPal.
Together, Burns and Little bring decades of experience in impact investing, philanthropy, economic empowerment and strategic partnerships. Their expertise will help guide 2GI’s efforts to expand access to capital, resources and opportunities for Disabled Founders worldwide, while strengthening the organization’s capacity to scale its impact.
“As 2GI enters its next chapter, we’re focused on building the partnerships, resources and infrastructure needed to create more opportunities for Disabled Entrepreneurs,” said Diego Mariscal, Founder and CEO of 2Gether-International. “Our board plays a critical role in shaping that future, and Allie and Karen bring valuable perspectives and leadership experience that will help guide our continued growth. We’re thrilled to welcome them and look forward to what we can accomplish together.”
Allie Burns brings 25 years of experience in philanthropy, impact investing, and social enterprise, with a track record of designing capital strategies that advance economic inclusion for underrepresented founders. As a senior advisor and independent consultant, she works with organizations on catalytic capital strategies, investment fund development and ecosystem building. Burns spent nearly a decade at Village Capital, serving in leadership roles including CEO (2019–2025). Under her leadership, the organization operated in more than 70 countries, more than tripled its revenue and supported over 1,800 entrepreneurs in accessing capital and investment opportunities who have subsequently gone on to raise more than $8B in follow-on capital. She also helped scale Village Capital’s investment model to more than 150 portfolio companies. Earlier in her career, Burns served as Senior Vice President at the Case Foundation and Revolution, where she helped launch the Startup America Partnership and Rise of the Rest initiative. She also serves on the advisory board of LendforGood and the board of Foundations in Learning, the edtech company behind WordFlight. She previously co-led the Access to Capital Workstream for the U.S. Economic Development Administration's National Advisory Council on Entrepreneurship and advised the Obama Foundation's Inclusive Capital Working Group.
“Throughout my career, I’ve seen the extraordinary potential of entrepreneurs and the transformative impact that access to the right capital, resources and networks can have on their success,” said Allie Burns. “2Gether-International is tackling a critical gap in the entrepreneurial ecosystem and creating opportunities that have been overlooked for far too long. Joining the board at such a pivotal moment is an honor, and I’m eager to help unlock new pathways to investment, growth and long-term success for Disabled Founders.”
Karen Little is an award-winning social impact leader dedicated to bridging the gap between the for-profit and non-profit sectors, and leverages her background in international relations, economic empowerment, and human development to drive positive social and environmental impact. With a focus on equalizing the birth lottery, Karen has launched strategic mission-driven partnerships and built high-impact programs at PayPal, Kiva and the American Heart Association. At PayPal, Karen oversees charitable contributions, Chairs the Rapid Response Committee and has served as past Co-Chair of the external Tech Sector Disaster Working Group, while overseeing fund management for the PayPal Social Impact team’s donor-advised fund. She also leads collaborations with ecosystem and internal stakeholders, focusing on small-business resilience, racial and gender equity, rapid response, disaster philanthropy, climate resilience, industry memberships and thought leadership. In 2026, Engage for Good named Karen its inaugural Impact Leader of the Year at the Halo Awards, the social impact sector’s longest-running recognition of excellence in corporate-nonprofit partnerships, recognizing her collaborative leadership and her talen for building partnerships that mobilize quickly and at scale. Karen holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Development from UC San Diego, a Master’s Degree in International Relations from the SIT Graduate Institute, and has completed the altMBA program and IDEO U’s Creative Leadership program. She also sits on the board of Save Sight Now.
“I’m excited to join the board of 2Gether-International at such an important stage in the organization’s growth,” said Karen Little. “Some of the most meaningful impact I’ve seen has come from people and organizations rallying around a shared purpose. 2GI has built an incredible community globally and established itself as a leading voice in advancing Disability entrepreneurship. I look forward to working alongside the board and leadership team to build on that momentum, expand the organization’s reach and help create more opportunities for Disabled Entrepreneurs.”
For more information about 2GI, visit www.2Gether-international.org.
About 2Gether-International (2GI):
2Gether-International (2GI) is a global organization and network unlocking the potential of founders with Disabilities. 2GI turns Disability-led innovation into an engine for growth across entrepreneurship, capital, and workforce systems. As the world’s largest startup accelerator run by and for entrepreneurs with Disabilities, 2GI is redefining Disability as a competitive advantage in business. 2GI has supported over 2000 entrepreneurs, helping them raise over $84 million dollars in investment, revenue, and acquisitions. The organization itself has given more than half a million dollars in non-diluted capital to founders with Disabilities. 2GI was named to the first-ever Forbes Accessibility 100 list in 2025 and recognized again in 2026.
