Puerto Rico has become the international destination for blockchain enthusiasts, not only in the Caribbean, but around the world. Web 3 brings new arrivals and locals together to BUILD projects. From venture funds to launching tokens, minting NFTs to developing dapps, the community continue to grow and HODL in Puerto Rico.
Contributing to the blockchain community
Over 200 speakers and attendees participated in “HODL Here” PRBTA’s first conference. Keynote speakers included SEC Commissioner Hester Pierce and Francis Hogan.
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HODL Speakers
Filmmaker/CEO/Creative Director Alana Mediavilla has spent the last decade at the intersection of emerging technology and storytelling. As one of the few female CEOs in the creative and media industry, Alana has built and grown an award-winning production company producing both original and corporate content for clients such as Google, Apple, Paypal, Volkswagen, and Volvo.
Alana's latest project, consulting with Roundtable Media, hopes to create a remote production workflow that will enable the company to create content at scale, in a decentralized platform.
In front of the camera, Alana has created an online course to teach people how to create their own video content and enjoys participating in podcasts and Youtube shows encouraging people to follow their entrepreneurial spirit.
Alana's latest project, consulting with Roundtable Media, hopes to create a remote production workflow that will enable the company to create content at scale, in a decentralized platform.
In front of the camera, Alana has created an online course to teach people how to create their own video content and enjoys participating in podcasts and Youtube shows encouraging people to follow their entrepreneurial spirit.
In addition to her creative work, Alana is a mother of three and enjoys contributing her pictures to Unsplash where her work has been downloaded over 10 million times.
Erika Medina-Vecchini is the Founding Managing Director of Endeavor Puerto Rico. Her mission is to serve as a catalyst to sustainable economic growth by identifying, connecting and mentoring the best entrepreneurs in the island with global scale-up capacity.
After five years in New York City, Erika returned to Puerto Rico in 2017 to join public service, determined to help boost the local economy. As Chief Business Development Officer for Puerto Rico's Department of Economic Development & Commerce and Industrial Development Company, she focused on strengthening the island’s economic value proposition, attracting new investment and diversifying Puerto Rico's economic activity. She also became the main liaison to the fast-growing entrepreneurial ecosystem and investors, promoting cross-sectorial collaboration and supporting programs, tax incentives and startups enhancing innovation in the island.
With a Bachelor Degree in Public Communication from American University in Washington DC, Graduate Studies in Education & Public Policy from Columbia University in New York City, and 20 years of global experience in strategy, marketing, and business development, Erika is fully committed to leveraging her global network to position Puerto Rico as a competitive destination to do and grow innovative businesses.
After five years in New York City, Erika returned to Puerto Rico in 2017 to join public service, determined to help boost the local economy. As Chief Business Development Officer for Puerto Rico's Department of Economic Development & Commerce and Industrial Development Company, she focused on strengthening the island’s economic value proposition, attracting new investment and diversifying Puerto Rico's economic activity. She also became the main liaison to the fast-growing entrepreneurial ecosystem and investors, promoting cross-sectorial collaboration and supporting programs, tax incentives and startups enhancing innovation in the island.
With a Bachelor Degree in Public Communication from American University in Washington DC, Graduate Studies in Education & Public Policy from Columbia University in New York City, and 20 years of global experience in strategy, marketing, and business development, Erika is fully committed to leveraging her global network to position Puerto Rico as a competitive destination to do and grow innovative businesses.
Juan Carlos Pedreira partner of SBH Digital, a company focused on digital transformation, analytics and e-commerce in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Bachelor's degree in communications and marketing from Syracuse University Newhouse School of Public Communications and juris doctor degree from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico. Has worked in digital marketing, social media and content marketing projects for multinational companies in Puerto Rico, Caribbean and Central America.
As Managing Partner at DARMA Capital, Andrew spearheads investing and product strategy. Prior to joining DARMA, Andrew was Head of Global Business Development at ConsenSys—the world’s leading Ethereum blockchain software company.
During his tenure at ConsenSys, Andrew demonstrated the importance of blockchain technology in digitizing the global economy to central banks and Fortune 500 companies. In doing so, Andrew created the first Ethereum Blockchain-as-a-Service offering with Microsoft and launched the Enterprise Ethereum Alliance (EEA), a cross-industry initiative that has grown into the largest open-source blockchain consortium on Earth.
Andrew comes to DARMA Capital with a wealth of capital markets, technology, and entrepreneurial experience. Previously, he worked for UBS in equities analysis. Later, he led the creation of alternative asset insurance products for various insurers and hedge funds. Andrew then co-founded a healthcare revenue cycle management company, where he encountered the inefficiencies of legacy databases and payment processing systems. This experience led Andrew to blockchain, Ethereum, ConsenSys, and finally to DARMA Capital.
Andrew graduated from Loyola University in Maryland and the University of Auckland with degrees in economics and computer science.
Cleve Mesidor leads the National Policy Network of Women of Color in Blockchain and is an Advisor to the Blockchain Association. Recently, she collaborated to convene a Blockchain Symposium at the Embassy of Haiti. Mayor Muriel Bowser has appointed her to the DC Innovation and Technology Inclusion Council. A Washington insider, Cleve previously served as an Obama Presidential Appointee, a senior staffer in Congress, and in the leadership of national political campaigns. She hosts the annual Congressional Briefing of Women of Color in Blockchain in the nation’s Capitol. Cleve is author of “THE CLEVOLUTION: My Quest for Justice in Politics & Crypto.”
Hester M. Peirce was appointed by President Donald J. Trump to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and was sworn in on January 11, 2018. Prior to joining the SEC, Commissioner Peirce conducted research on the regulation of financial markets at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. She was a Senior Counsel on the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, where she advised Ranking Member Richard Shelby and other members of the Committee on securities issues. Commissioner Peirce served as counsel to SEC Commissioner Paul S. Atkins. She also worked as a Staff Attorney in the SEC’s Division of Investment Management. Commissioner Peirce was an associate at Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering (now WilmerHale) and clerked for Judge Roger Andewelt on the Court of Federal Claims.
Commissioner Peirce earned her bachelor’s degree in Economics from Case Western Reserve University and her JD from Yale Law School.
A Puerto Rico native, Ella brings 20 years of experience in strategic marketing and management consulting to strengthen Invest Puerto Rico’s endeavors. She played an instrumental role in the organization’s creation, helping establish InvestPR’s mission, objectives, and roadmap to accomplishing them. A true believer in the island’s potential as a world-class investment destination, Ella ensures that all stakeholders – internal and external – are aligned to InvestPR’s vision of being a transformational and results-oriented accelerator of economic development in Puerto Rico. Her 20-year career spans successful runs working with Fortune 500 companies in strategic sectors like financial services and life sciences, as well as counseling an array of leading public and private sector clients. Ella is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics.
Shirley is an active member of the LatAm video game industry and community, and co-founder of the Puerto Rico Game Developers' Association (PRGDA). In the past few years, she has organized and participated in a diversity of forums related to video games, interactive media, and most recently, NFTs, “crypto gaming” and the Metaverse in both PR and abroad. She currently works at the Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust as part of the Cultural Heritage Innovation Program, where she focuses on initiatives, events and projects that integrate or advocate for the use of digital creative technologies.
Giovanni Mendez has extensive experience as a corporate and tax attorney, including compliance, financial reporting, tax preparation, and regulatory matters. Admitted to the Puerto Rico Bar and United States Tax Court, Giovanni has advised clients at both the State and Federal levels. His clients have included Fortune 500 companies, pharmaceutical companies, telecommunications firms, financial services companies, e-commerce, technology and software companies, private equity investors, blockchain technology companies, and high net-worth individuals.
Giovanni’s practice includes structuring of tax exempt and taxable operations in Puerto Rico, structuring of complex business transactions, transfer pricing consulting, entity formations, negotiation of tax exemption decrees, tax planning and counsel for Puerto Rican and United States federal international income tax matters, and accounting services.
During the past years, Giovanni has served as advisory counsel for many investors and businesses seeking grants of tax exemption under Puerto Rico’s Acts 20 and 22. As a blockchain technology investor and advisor, Giovanni has played a key role in the development of Puerto Rico as an investment destination for the industry. Giovanni’s unique access to the burgeoning global and local cryptocurrency industry provides his clients with invaluable insight.
Medha Parlikar is co-founder and CTO of CasperLabs. Medha has more than 30 years of tech experience and is considered one of the top women in blockchain. She started working with technology in the early 1980’s, building computers in the basement. For the past two decades, she has been delivering production SaaS software for large companies including Adobe, Omniture and Avalara. Medha excels in building high-functioning technical teams, and inspiring them to deliver solutions that solve customer problems. Medha holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Information Systems and Programming from Coleman College.
Humberto Mercader Pérez is the Assistant Deputy Secretary of Strategic Sectors of the Puerto Rico’s Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC). Before DDEC, he spent two years at Red Ventures, an international digital marketing and technology company, where they were focused on, connecting consumers to brands. Before joining Red Ventures, he spent two years working in V2A Consulting, a Management Consulting firm based in Puerto Rico, where he worked on Telecom, Banking, Healthcare and Government sector. Humberto holds a B.S in Electrical Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico - Mayagüez, where he co-led HackPR while being a student, a non-profit that organized the biggest student hackathons of the Caribbean. While in Red Ventures, heled efforts to expose young students to the professional world, specifically in Digital Marketing and Technology.
David Johnston is a serial tech entrepreneur and early contributor to the blockchain ecosystem since 2012. In May of 2013 he co-founded the first angel investment group in crypto, BitAngels, and in August of that year served as a Foundation board member to the first ever token sale Mastercoin. In December of 2013 he authored “The General Theory of Decentralized Applications,” which defined the "DApp" term for the industry. The following year, David co-founded the first crypto venture fund, the DApps Fund. In 2017, David was the first investor in Multicoin Capital, which today is a multi-billion dollar fund.
Today he serves as the COO of DLTx, a publicly traded company listed on the Oslo Børs exchange and is focused on building web3 by deploying infrastructure for blockchain at scale. David also serves as Board Member of Polymath and Silicon Valley Blockchain Society.
Giomar is a full time uber driver and yield farmer. Formerly he worked disaster relief for DHS on the mainland but returned last year to Puerto Rico. He is passionate about building a local crypto community and large supporter of CryptoCurious.
Juan Carlos Stolberg is a corporate and transactional attorney with experience in cross-border tax structuring, Puerto Rico tax incentives, mergers and acquisitions, private equity, venture capital, startup law, art law, hospitality law and general corporate matters. He has advised numerous clients across a variety of industries on the tax efficiencies of doing business in Puerto Rico.
Juan Carlos also owns and operates a real estate management and investment group in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where he has coordinated and carried out conversions and other turnaround strategies to maximize asset appreciation. In October of 2013, Juan Carlos co-founded Piloto 151, San Juan’s first co-working space, dedicated to the strengthening of the entrepreneurial and startup ecosystem in Puerto Rico via educational workshops, industry seminars, networking events, exchange programs and other collaborative initiatives.
Max has been creating open source communities for nearly 20 years, most famously with Homebrew the indispensable package manager used by tens of millions of developers and the open source project with the most unique contributions of all time.
Attorney Carlos M. Fontan obtained a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Puerto Rico Río Piedras Campus in 2006 and a Juris Doctor from the same educational institution in 2009. Mr. Fontan is admitted to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Court and the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico.
Carlos began his law career in 2010 at the local firm, Iguina Oharriz Attorneys and Counselors at Law. Mr. Fontán went on to the Justice Department of Puerto Rico where he became the leading attorney for multiple high-profile cases in tax and expropriation law. In 2015 he started working at the Office of Industrial Tax Exemption of the Department of Economic Development and Commerce and (“DDEC”) and in 2021 he was appointed Director of the Office of Incentives for Businesses in Puerto Rico of the DEDC. Carlos has vast experience in the evaluation, granting and administration of tax exemption cases, was responsible for the implementation of Act No. 14-2017 and has been an integral part in the drafting of the Puerto Rico’s Incentive Code for Puerto Rico and its corresponding regulations.
Carlos began his law career in 2010 at the local firm, Iguina Oharriz Attorneys and Counselors at Law. Mr. Fontán went on to the Justice Department of Puerto Rico where he became the leading attorney for multiple high-profile cases in tax and expropriation law. In 2015 he started working at the Office of Industrial Tax Exemption of the Department of Economic Development and Commerce and (“DDEC”) and in 2021 he was appointed Director of the Office of Incentives for Businesses in Puerto Rico of the DEDC. Carlos has vast experience in the evaluation, granting and administration of tax exemption cases, was responsible for the implementation of Act No. 14-2017 and has been an integral part in the drafting of the Puerto Rico’s Incentive Code for Puerto Rico and its corresponding regulations.
Michael Terpin, blockchain investor and founder and CEO of Transform Group and BitAngels among others, is a true legend in the blockchain and crypto space.Mr Terpin became the CEO of Terpin Communications (previously The Terpin Group, prior to 2001 sale to Morgen-Walke/Lighthouse, now Financial Dynamics) in January, 1990.In 1994, Michel Terpin founded Internet Wire, now known as Marketwired the first Internet-based company newswire.He later went on to found Transform Group in January, 2014, a holding company which owns three companies, SocialRadius, Transform PR, and Transform Events.
Martín Pirillo is the managing member of the Firm. He has become a leader in the field of international financial entities, banks, financing and factoring companies, and a distinguished attorney among securities broker-dealer firms, investment advisers, private fund sponsors, real estate developers, start-ups and growing enterprises entering growth equity or financing transactions. Clients trust him as a service partner for their high-stake business deals, and also with their personal transactions in tough issues and projects. Martín has over 21 years of experience successfully handling complex issues in the areas of corporate structuring, consumer lending, banking and corporate finance, international commercial and finance transactions, real estate, and securities matters. He regularly assists clients with the development of corporate structures, transactional strategy and risk assessment, ensuring that all of these and applicable law work together for client’s protection. Martín served early in his career as a law clerk in the Puerto Rico Court of Appeals. He was also appointed Senior Legal Counsel for several Citigroup entities in Puerto Rico. Martín also previously participated in numerous securities offering transactions, including the creation of the first largest investment company complex in Puerto Rico. He is well known for his pragmatic and hands-on approach to business counseling, providing not only comprehensive legal advice, but also acting as strategic advisor on transactions and on day-to-day situations. Martín’s extensive experience helping businesses and financial enterprises have proven to add value as a business partner to assist clients in accomplishing their objectives in a cost-efficient manner.
Jeanelle Alemar-Escabí, CPA, CGMA, JD, LL.M. has been a tax practitioner for the past 20 years. Since 2005 she has assisted more than three hundred businesses and investors to relocate their operations to Puerto Rico and/or obtain tax benefits in various industries, including financial services, manufacturing and tourism.She is also an adjunct professor of the Law School at the Universityof Puerto Rico teaching Business Operations in Puerto Rico an dparticipates from several Commissions and Board of Directors,such as the Judicial Appointments Commission as appointed by the Governor of Puerto Rico. On December 2020, Ms. Alemar was awarded the 2020 International Tax Portfolio Author of the Yearaward at The 2020 Bloomberg Tax Author Awards Reception.Ms. Alemar worked as part of the tax practice group of the law firmPietrantoni, Mendez & Alvarez LLC from 2005 to 2015. In addition,she served as tax adviser for the Secretary of the Puerto RicoTreasury Department from 2001 to 2004. Her certifications include: Certified Public Accountant and CharteredGlobal Management Accountant affiliated to the AICPA; CertifiedPromoter by the Puerto Rico Department of Economic Developmentand Commerce to promote Puerto Rico’s incentives program;Certified Mediator by the Puerto Rico Supreme Court and a NotaryPublic.Ms. Alemar is the Co-author of Bloomberg BNA Tax ManagementPortfolio 995: “Business Operations in Puerto Rico” T. M. 7320 andof various articles, including Bloomberg BNA Tax ManagementWeekly State Tax Report, Volume: 2012 Issue: 22, 06/01/2012;“Investment Destination: Puerto Rico New Tax Incentives to LureBusiness and Individual Investment”, and Daily Tax Report ®INSIGHT: "Puerto Rico Source Income as an Opportunity toGenerate Tax Efficiencies".
Scott was an early Bitcoin miner (2012), launched the first ever ICO (MSTR), and was an early investor in ETH, FIL, Coinbase and others. He is the co-founder of CasperLabs and general partner of Deus Fund, Coral Capital, and Blockchain Capital. He is a founding member and co-chair of the Puerto Rico Blockchain Trade Association.
Co-founder of DevXDAO, an innovative grant organization with over €250m to distribute to the Open Source community. Co-founder and CIO of Ikigai Asset Management, a L/S, multi-strategy crypto asset hedge fund. With nearly 20 years in IT & digital security, Tim is a developer, systems network engineer, technology architect and inventor holding multiple patents.
Born in Iowa City, Iowa, Frances is the daughter of two professors and grew up attending the Iowa caucuses with her parents, instilling a strong sense of pride in democracy and responsibility for civic participation.
Frances holds a degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Olin College and a MBA from Harvard. She is a specialist in algorithmic product management, having worked on ranking algorithms at Google, Pinterest, Yelp and Facebook. She was recruited to Facebook to be the lead Product Manager on the Civic Misinformation team, which dealt with issues related to democracy and misinformation, and later also worked on counter-espionage. During her time at Facebook, Frances became increasingly alarmed by the choices the company makes prioritizing their own profits over public safety and putting people's lives at risk. As a last resort and at great personal risk, Frances made the courageous decision to blow the whistle on Facebook. Frances fundamentally believes that the problems we are facing today with social media are solvable. We can have social media that brings out the best in humanity.
Frances holds a degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Olin College and a MBA from Harvard. She is a specialist in algorithmic product management, having worked on ranking algorithms at Google, Pinterest, Yelp and Facebook. She was recruited to Facebook to be the lead Product Manager on the Civic Misinformation team, which dealt with issues related to democracy and misinformation, and later also worked on counter-espionage. During her time at Facebook, Frances became increasingly alarmed by the choices the company makes prioritizing their own profits over public safety and putting people's lives at risk. As a last resort and at great personal risk, Frances made the courageous decision to blow the whistle on Facebook. Frances fundamentally believes that the problems we are facing today with social media are solvable. We can have social media that brings out the best in humanity.
James Haft is Chairman of DLTx, a public company listed on the Oslo Børs Stock Exchange of Norway that is the enterprise vendor for DAOs & blockchain protocols. He has over 30 years of experience in founding and financing businesses in emerging markets and technologies. Haft co-founded PALcapital LLC, in 1996, a merchant bank focused on businesses leveraging the digitization of information, as well as the largest decentralized blockchain-based meetup worldwide, CryptoMondays.
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