��������

Cris Mercado is the Founder and CEO of GrantAnswers, leading the company since July 2013 and achieving significant year-over-year profitability through business development and partnerships. Under Cris's leadership, the organization has supported over 50 companies and helped student cohorts secure more than $1 million in scholarships, resulting in a substantial increase in funding from the NYC Department of Education. Additionally, Cris serves as the Head of Career Success and Lead Instructor at The Knowledge House, where professional development initiatives have benefited over 600 participants and facilitated over 200 tech employment placements. Previous experience includes roles at Define American, where engagement efforts contributed to a wide-reaching documentary campaign, and at the Research Foundation of CUNY, where Cris facilitated substantial grant allocations leading to high student graduation rates. Cris holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from The City College of New York and is a Ph.D. candidate in Criminal Justice at The Graduate Center, City University of New York.