"BUIDL HERE" is an invitation to come to Puerto Rico to BUILD, work, collaborate, and to utilize emerging tech not just to create "the future" but also find solutions to the challenges Puerto Rico faces. Top conference sponsors included Filecoin, DLTx, Tea, DARMA Capital, and Casper. “BUIDL Here” was the first of four conferences that took place as part of Puerto Rico Blockchain Week.
Contributing to the blockchain community
Over 300 attendees and 30 speakers, including investors, government officials, students, web 3 companies, and those interested in learning more about blockchain and crypto. This year, the conference was themed around building and highlighting the contributions of the local blockchain community. Panels included “Why BUIDL Here?” “Can Government Ban Open-Source Protocols?” “Disrupting Centralized Cloud Storage,” “Post Fiona: Community Microgrids,” and “Puerto Rican Women of Web 3.
400+
Attendees
30
Speakers
"BUIDL HERE" is an invitation to come to Puerto Rico to BUILD, work, collaborate, and to utilize emerging tech not just to create "the future" but also find solutions to the challenges Puerto Rico faces. Top conference sponsors included Filecoin, DLTx, Tea, DARMA Capital, and Casper. “BUIDL Here” was the first of four conferences that took place as part of Puerto Rico Blockchain Week.
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BUIDL Speakers 2022
Co-Founding Managing Partner - Digital Asset Risk Management Advisors (DARMA Capital)
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.
Shirley is the Director of Crypto Curious, the Puerto Rico Blockchain Trade Association’s Education and Community outreach program. Shirley is a medievalist with a deep passion for the humanities, cybernetics and interactive media. She holds two Master Degrees in comparative studies, one in cultural semiotics and a second one in narrative and communications. Her research in these topics is focused on reception, popular culture and interactive design, fictional worlds and gender theory.
Shirley has been part of the crypto space since 2020, her theoretical background and experience in academic research have allowed her a privileged vantage point and a deep understanding of some of the most complex concepts in this field, such as NFTs and the Metaverse. Through CryptoCurious, Shirley advocates for the average person to participate in building Web 3.0 by making the understanding necessary to get started free and easy to access.
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.
Fizza Khan is an expert on regulations governing investment advisers, broker-dealers and registered and private funds. As a hands-on leader across the firm’s flagship service lines – Regulatory Compliance, ESG and Due Diligence Preparation – Fizza ensures Silver’s clients are fully prepared to withstand regulator and investor scrutiny.
Prior to founding Silver, Fizza was the Chief Operating Officer for U.S. Compliance Consulting and a Managing Director at Duff & Phelps. She joined Duff & Phelps in January 2016 as a result of their acquisition of CounselWorks LLC where she was a Partner. At both Duff & Phelps and CounselWorks, Fizza managed the day-to-day provision of compliance services to firm clients and built the foundations upon which advice was given.
Fizza received a Bachelor of Science in Business from Drexel University, where she concentrated on Finance and Economics and published a thesis on the effects of derivative trading regulation. She earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Maryland School of Law.
Hyunsu is currently a product manager at DARMA Capital, an investment fund registered with
the CFTC as a CPO, CTA and swap firm focusing on the blockchain asset class.
the CFTC as a CPO, CTA and swap firm focusing on the blockchain asset class.
He leads the development of FAUS, the Filecoin Asset Use System, a product designed to promote the growth and availability of decentralized data storage capacity around the globe. Previously Hyunsu was at EY-Parthenon where he completed M&A transactions within the Digital, Aerospace and Defense sectors.
Clara Tsao is the founding director of Filecoin Foundation and Filecoin Foundation for the Decentralized Web. She is also co-founder and on the board of the Trust & Safety Professional Association and the Trust & Safety Foundation.
Clara previously was the Senior Advisor for Emerging Technology (IoT and Blockchain) at the Department of Homeland Security and a Chief Technology Officer focused on countering foreign influence, election security, and homegrown extremism. She has spent a decade working in the technology industry across global teams at Microsoft, Apple, Sony PlayStation, AT&T, and also as a Google and Mozilla Technology Policy Fellow.
Clara is also the Board Chair and President of the White House Presidential Innovation Fellows Foundation and a Senior Advisor at Tech Against Terrorism.
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.
Monica is the founder of CryptoConexión, a Spanish-language platform to drive
awareness and engagement in the decentralized economy. Today her platform is attracting users in Latin America who are new to blockchain, crypto, Web3, NFTs and the Metaverse. Her team is located in Buenos Aires, Madrid, Mexico City and New York. Monica is passionate about diversity, gender equality, and entrepreneurship. She has been an advisor for the Google Launchpad and has offered workshops on positioning for Morgan Stanley’s Multicultural Innovation Lab.
awareness and engagement in the decentralized economy. Today her platform is attracting users in Latin America who are new to blockchain, crypto, Web3, NFTs and the Metaverse. Her team is located in Buenos Aires, Madrid, Mexico City and New York. Monica is passionate about diversity, gender equality, and entrepreneurship. She has been an advisor for the Google Launchpad and has offered workshops on positioning for Morgan Stanley’s Multicultural Innovation Lab.
She is currently an advisory council member at the Blockchain Council. Previously Monica built and led communications teams at Vrio Corp, a leading digital entertainment provider in Latin America; ADT, the security provider; Univision, the Spanish-language media company. She also served as Chief Mission Officer of EdTech startup Genius Plaza and co-founded her consultancy, working with startups and consumer brands. Before Univision, she spent ten years at Fleishman-Hillard working with leading organizations including AT&T, ONDCP, and Procter & Gamble. Originally from Mexico City, she grew up in Laredo, Texas. Monica has a Bachelors in Journalism from the University of Texas at Austin. She currently lives in Austin, Texas.
A life-long learner, she has completed MIT Executive Education online programs on Artificial Intelligence in Business, Cryptocurrencies, and Blockchain Technologies. She also has certification from the Blockchain Council and from Realm Academy in crypto trading, NFTs and the Metaverse.
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.
Gustavo Diaz Skoff is an entrepreneur born and raised in Puerto Rico's startup ecosystem. Gustavo has over a decade of experience leading non-profit organizations, administering real estate ventures, and consulting small family-owned businesses. Gustavo completed his Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Babson College. Currently, he serves as the president & founder of BASED.
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.
Heather Lowe is a Senior Attorney at Gravis Law, PLLC. Heather brings 18 years of legal experience working in international finance, AML/OFAC/anti-corruption compliance, and as in-house counsel to her role supporting companies innovating in the web3 space. She draws on that experience to be able to see the trends ahead and help keep her clients operating as efficiently and effectively as possibly in a rapidly shifting regulatory environment.
Currently living in Boston, MA, Heather enjoys being out on the water, playing pool, sampling new restaurants, and traveling the world.
Daniel Spuller is the Head of Industry Affairs for the Blockchain Association in Washington, DC. Since 2012, Spuller has been an advocate of decentralized digital assets, bitcoin, and blockchain-based technologies.
In 2019, he was named Co-Chair of the North Carolina Blockchain Initiative by the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, and in 2021 was appointed to the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond's business and payments advisory council. From 2016-2020, Spuller led membership and growth at the Washington-based Chamber of Digital Commerce growing it from 38 to over 200 members at its peak.
He previously worked for North Carolina’s Department of Commerce and was instrumental in facilitating industry negotiations with the Commissioner of Banks, successfully driving a multi-stakeholder campaign leading to the legislative passage of America’s first comprehensive blockchain-related legislation through the North Carolina Money Transmitters Act of 2016.
Iris “Chiqui” Santos has more than 25 years of global corporate, consulting, and government experience in organizational transformation, facilitating the development of leadership skills, the creation of high performing organizations, and cross boundary strategic partnerships. Chiqui’s strong business and leadership background comes from having worked for Hewlett-Packard’s (HP) Ink Supply Business for the Americas Region for over 20 years.
She was the first Latin Woman to hold the position of Vice President/General Manager in HP’s global hierarchy group, where she was responsible for leading manufacturing operations in Puerto Rico, Boise, South Africa, Singapore, and Ireland, and leading the design and implementation of HP’s Commercial Ink Global Strategy. As a consultant, her clients included Coca Cola, Humana, Horizons Corp, Honeywell, among others. She has worked with the Economic Development group of the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Costa Rica.
Chiqui has a B.A. in Computer Science from the University of Puerto Rico. Following her career in the private sector, she paused her retirement to help the Government of Puerto Rico.
Lorena Molina-Irizarry serves as Senior Advisor for Puerto Rico Strategy and Implementation to the Department of Commerce and liaison to the White House Puerto Rico Initiative integrating the Biden-Harris administration’s efforts around economic growth for Puerto Rico. She also serves as Senior Advisor for Puerto Rico for the U.S. Census Bureau and supports the American Rescue Plan (ARP) implementation team at the White House in the implementation ARP equities in Puerto Rico, particularly the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit.
Previously, she served as Director of Operations at the Census Open Innovation Labs within the U.S. Census Bureau, bringing together technologists, government and communities through open-tech collaboration and innovation models, tapping into the power of open data tech for good, implementing open-innovation initiatives like the Open Data for Good Grand Challenge and scaling The Opportunity Project. In this capacity she also managed strategic partnerships with Big Tech, media, entertainment and civic-tech organizations to protect the integrity of the 2020 Census, creating data-sharing initiatives through public-private partnerships, and scaling innovation programs to address issues like dis/misinformation about the decennial census and increasing data-driven decision making at all levels, across sectors and industries. Previously, she served as the Deputy Chief of the National Partnerships Program, creating and implementing infrastructure for engaging and collaborating with national and local partners in industry, tech community and the civil sector to increase open data use and awareness, promoting the importance of the 2020 Census as the cornerstone of our democracy, and other Census Bureau economic, demographic, geospatial programs. Prior to the decennial census she also served as the Technology Communications Liaison for the Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) of the U.S. Census Bureau, leading technology, cybersecurity, innovation communications and public relations for the Census Bureau.
She has been instrumental in architecting and implementing innovation strategies across government and in local communities, implementing strategic workforce planning initiatives and building civic digital talent pipelines within government.
Simon is a multilingual entrepreneur, investor, and advisor/mentor. He set up and scaled six businesses before pioneering the "Business Builder" model with The Sandpit in 2010. Based in Barcelona for eight years prior, then London for ten, Simon has founded and launched successful companies into the Tech, Sports, Advertising, Publishing, and Fashion sectors in both Spain and the UK.
Based in the US since 2018, Simon first spent 18 months helping Procter & Gamble Ventures to shape its next phase of operations as interim COO, before co-founding DSM Tech Enterprises Inc ("DSM"), a web3 operating and investment business. DSM merged with DLTx in March 2022, combining their existing joint ventures and providing a platform for significant growth. Simon initially assumed the role of Chief Commercial Officer and now serves as Chief Operating Officer.
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.
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.
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.
Matt is a Founder of Bespoke Services, a multi-family office exclusively serving crypto-affluent individuals and families. As Executive Managing Director, Matt oversees the strategic development of Bespoke and its subsidiaries. Matt also serves on various committees within clients' private trust companies and provides ongoing strategic estate & wealth planning guidance for Bespoke’s clients.
Matt is also a founding partner of Evergreen Legacy Planning LLP, a law firm based in Evergreen, Colorado. ELP serves ultra-affluent clients worldwide with an exclusive focus on complex, multifaceted estate planning. Solutions typically include multigenerational dynasty trusts, other sophisticated charitable and noncharitable trusts, multi-jurisdictional planning for complex assets, mitigating tax in all its forms, private trust company formation and operations, domestic and international privacy and asset protection, and extensive planning for large cryptoasset holdings and related blockchain- and other emergent assets.
Amanda is the Founder & CEO of Serotonin, the leading web3 marketing agency and product studio. Amanda is also co-founder & President of Mojito, the first venture to spin out of Serotonin. Mojito is an NFT commerce suite that is the top choice by Sotheby's, CAA, and major brands for engaging in d-commerce on web3. Amanda is also a soon-to-be author, with the world's first Web3 Marketing book hitting bookstores early 2023.
Amanda is a notable web3 product builder and master marketer who has helped bring some of the leading blockchain companies to market and advised global institutions on how to adopt NFTs and crypto.
From 2016 to 2019, Amanda brought Ethereum to market as the CMO of ConsenSys, supporting its growth to become the largest and most robust blockchain ecosystem. Prior to joining ConsenSys, Amanda co-founded media startup Slant, which she launched after working under Arianna Huffington at The Huffington Post where she learned about the challenges for creators in web2 that she would spend her subsequent career addressing.
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.
Co-Founder and CEO Max Howell created the open-source software package management system Homebrew, also known as “brew,” which grew into the most contributed‐to open source software program in the world.
Homebrew has been used by tens of millions of developers worldwide and has served as the backbone for the largest technology corporations to build their products without directly contributing to its development.
Stefaan Vervaet is the Head of Network Growth on the Filecoin Project, a global storage network with the mission of creating a decentralized, efficient, and robust foundation for humanity’s information, where he is responsible for growing the storage provider and web2 client ecosystem.
He is also a leader at Protocol Labs, a research, development, and deployment institution for network protocols. Stefaan has 20+ years of product and marketing infrastructure experience in the enterprise space. He successfully helped build out multiple startups in the distributed storage and private cloud space. Today holds a masters from the University of Ghent.
Coming from a civil engineering background and with an MBA in Finance, Nicolas has combined 15+ years of experience in the financial trading and listed derivatives markets, with a focus on peer-to-peer exchanges. Within the last 9 years, he has been very active in the blockchain space and founded DexGrid, a Puerto Rican company.
The community microgrids program, DexGrid’s software and application stack, enables both non-energy experts and developers to pre-launch their microgrids, sell their electricity to their neighbors and scale onto their neighborhoods.
Focused on Puerto Rico at the moment, deploying the energy alternative in the form of locally centralized generation and storage assets decentralizing the communities away from the expensive and unreliable utility grid.
Background in Finance, Accounting, Strategy and Decision Sciences (MBA, Kellogg School of Management) as well as Economics (Bachelor’s Degree, Fairfield University). Richard has over 16 years of experience in the Banking sector working for Banco Popular North America in the Chicagoland area and Banco Popular in Puerto Rico.
Initially worked as a credit analyst underwriting many C&I transactions for the middle market sector followed by managing the franchise lending portfolio. In Puerto Rico, he led the Commercial Banking division (small and middle market customers) for the Metro Area consisting of over $500 Million in loans and $500 Million in deposits. Afterwards, he formed part of the bank’s corporate division where he was tasked with increasing the customer base of Law 20/22 customers as well as establish relationships outside Puerto Rico (mainly Dominican Republic, Central and South America).
Katherine Hammack is an energy and environmental consultant who works with organizations such as Green Business Certification Inc (GBCI), an organization that provides third-party credentialing and verification for several rating systems relating to the built environment. She focusses on enhancing resilience, sustainability, and modernization of power infrastructure through the PEER rating system, climate change adaptation and climate change mitigation strategies.
With over 35 years of experience in energy, sustainability and infrastructure operations she has worked in the strategic and technical aspects of smart cities, resilience and energy/water security.
From 2010 to 2017 she was the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment under President Barak Obama. Under her leadership, the Army instituted a net zero program for energy, water and waste. As an ASHRAE Fellow, she currently chairs ASHRAE Standard 189.1 - Standard for the Design of High-Performance, Green Buildings, which is the basis for the International Green Construction Code. She also leads the ASHRAE Decarbonization Task Force Working Group on Grid-Building Intersection.
Katherine is a graduate of Oregon State University where she received a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering. Her MBA was awarded from the University of Hartford. She is a founding member of the USGBC and serves on the boards of Slipstream and MK Advisors.
Benjamin M. Brown, founder of Chainwave, has 20 years of experience in software engineering. He is a thought leader in blockchain with 10 years experience in the blockchain space and 7 years of experience with Smart Contract development. Benjamin has worked as a software engineer and team leader in numerous industries including manufacturing, healthcare, risk management, and blockchain.
Benjamin graduated from DePauw University with a B.A. in Computer Science in 2006, and graduated from Loyola University of Chicago with an M.S. in Large Scale Software Engineering in 2008.
Ben has been featured in Caribbean Business Journal and El Nuevo Dia publications for his work on bringing Blockchain expertise to Puerto Rico. His first born Son, Adler David Brown, was born at Ashford Hospital in Condado in 2019.
Jill Williamson is a Managing Attorney and Principal at Gravis Law, where she leads the compliance and regulatory team. Jill has been working in Web3 since 2016, and uses her 20 years of legal experience to navigate the complex legal environment launch and grow their companies.
Jill started her career in Washington, D.C. working for international law firms, specializing in corporate compliance and white collar defense. She then served in compliance roles in house, including as Deputy Chief Compliance Officer at the global insurance company Cigna, where she build their global anti-money laundering, sanctions and anti-corruption compliance programs, and represented the company in government investigations around the world.
Timothy Lewis is the Co-Founder and CSO of tea, a new company building an open-source software platform on the blockchain.
Open-source developers interested in contributing code or verifying contributed code can register with tea’s authentication tool and receive rewards once verified as open-source contributors.
2022 Sponsors
