UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Carlos Fernando Chacón is the Penn State Smeal College of Business summer 2025 student marshal, “advancing” and “allez”-ing into success with his entrepreneurial spirit, research and fencing success.
Chacón will graduate with degrees in finance and economics on Aug. 16. But, being student marshal for the Smeal College of Business is just one of his many achievements.
As a cofounder for two different companies, Prospera FinTech and Golden Jaguar Mining, he has dedicated his studies and career to growing business in Latin America.
Golden Jaguar Mining, which he co-founded in 2021, connects gold producers in Bolivia and Colombia with international buyers, handling exports and logistics for clients in Spain and Dubai. He found this opportunity after interning with Banco Mercantil Santa Cruz.
As his expertise with Latin American markets grew, Chacón and his cousin saw that Mexico’s credit crisis was heavily impacting young people and students. They then created Prospera FinTech to provide the financial tools and education that students in Latin America needed.
As chief financial officer, Chacón leads financial strategy and capital allocation, implements AI-powered financial and risk assessment tools and manages investor relations.
The start-up has already earned recognition as finalist in the 2025 Hult Prize Mexico & Central America Regional Summit and the VCiLat 2025 in the Product-Market Fit category. And, Chacón has ambitious plans for Prospera.
“I plan to move to Mexico to lead the national expansion of Prospera, with the goal of scaling it across Latin America. I will also continue growing the strategic partner network for Golden Jaguar, expanding its reach in the gold export industry,” he said.
His entrepreneurial spirit also inspired his research. As a part of the Schreyer Honors College, he wrote his thesis on crowdfunding and financial gaps in Bolivia, Paraguay and Ecuador, using data from Prospera.
“There is absolutely no doubt that Carlos will be an incredible success in both his personal and professional life,” said Brian Davis, clinical assistant professor of finance and one of Chacón’s thesis advisers. “I would not be surprised at all if Carlos becomes one of Penn State’s most famous graduates. Because of Carlos’ entrepreneurial talent, work ethic and generosity of spirit, there is no limit to what he may achieve.”
A man of many talents, Chacón has fenced on the Penn State fencing team for three years and has been the national team captain of the Bolivian Senior National Fencing Team since 2022. His success in the sport has made him a recipient of the Penn State Athletics State of Excellence recognition and the Bolivian Chamber of Deputies Award for Best National Athletes in 2023 and 2024. And, he is hoping to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics after training with the Spanish and Hungarian national teams back in 2023.
Despite these big goals and tremendous workload, fencing and business certainly did not get in the way of his academics.
Matthew Restall, Edwin Sparks Professor of Colonial Latin American History, Anthropology, and Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies, remembered Chacón taking his class a few years ago.
“He told me he'd be missing a few sessions due to his fencing commitments, but that he was determined that would not impact his performance in the class,” Restall said. “And he really meant it.”
Restall said Chacón stayed after class to talk about the class content, gifted him a history book and truly excelled in the course.
“He did all he could to keep up, so much so that he excelled in the class,” he said. “Carlos didn't just take the class, he embraced it with an open mind and a thirst for knowledge and a determination to master the subject.”
That same academic dedication led to his induction in Phi Beta Sigma National Honor Society and Schreyer Honors College.
After graduation, he will not be done with Penn State quite yet. He will be pursuing a master’s in finance, competing another year with the fencing team and deepening his expertise and impact in Latin America’s financial sphere.
“I cemented that, yes, this is the place I need to be. I have a purpose here, and I’m doing my best to fulfill it. And, I think that’s what we all have to do – find our purpose at Penn State and how that connects to our purpose in life,” he said.
His decision to stay is just one of the many opportunities he has had at Penn State, He shared the impact these opportunities have had on him.
“Penn State has taught me that the opportunities around you mean nothing unless you consciously choose to take action with them,” he said.
“Here, I learned that no matter how many tools or opportunities you’re given, it’s your decision to use them that shapes your life. You have to be willing to fly with the wings you’re gifted, and even more importantly, to help others and theirs.”