Speakers & Panelists

Rafael Pimentel Pinto is a distinguished professional with a degree in Computer Information Systems. His academic excellence has earned him prestigious honors, including the San Francisco de Asís medal from Universidad Simón Bolívar—awarded to the top students in his graduating class—and the El Diario de México medal from CONACYT and ATENALCYT, recognizing the nation’s best students.

Committed to continuous learning, Rafael has pursued advanced education throughout his career. He completed an Executive Advanced Certification for CIOs at Universidad de las Américas Puebla and, between 2022 and 2023, furthered his expertise with a Cybersecurity Certification from the Mexican Academy of Cybersecurity and a Digital Transformation Certification from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

His professional trajectory includes several high-profile roles, such as Director of Computer Centers at the Office of the Attorney General of the Republic and CIO for leading organizations, including Media Specialists, Mexico’s Graphic Workshops, Yannini Group, the Mexican Space Agency, and MVS Capital. He currently oversees IT operations at the Texas State Board of Pharmacy.

Recognized as a thought leader in the tech industry, Rafael has been invited to speak at international events, contributed articles to prominent technology publications, and consistently ranked among Mexico’s top 100 CIOs in 2019, 2020, and 2021. In 2022, he received the CIO 100 Award for the fourth time and secured second place in the Top 50 Netmedia’s Innovators ranking. That same year, Forbes Mexico honored him as one of the country’s Digital Transformation Geniuses, featuring him on the cover of its October issue.

His achievements continued in 2023 when Mundo Ejecutivo recognized him as one of Mexico’s best CIOs. In 2025, his biography was included in the prestigious Marquis Who’s Who in America: Top Executives list.

As Chief of Staff at Improving, Susan plays a pivotal role in shaping and executing the company's strategic vision. She is entrusted with the responsibility of driving strategic, operational, and managerial initiatives directly with the CEO. In addition, she serves as a crucial link between the CEO and the senior executive team, ensuring seamless communication, coordinated efforts, and accountability at the highest levels of the organization.

Previous to this role, Susan was Senior Vice President of Operations and has also has leadership roles within the Dallas enterprise as VP of Consulting with over 20 years of experience in consulting.

She joined Improving as a founding member in 2007 and is passionate about creating a great company culture with the strong processes that contribute to our delivery excellence.Susan started her career as a software engineer at Raytheon E-Systems, and later worked as principal consultant and director of global sourcing for Valtech Technologies.

Susan earned an MBA from the University of Texas at Dallas and a B.S. in Computer Science from Texas A&M University. She serves as vice-chair of the Texas A&M Computer Science & Engineering Department Advisory Council. She is a recipient of the Silver award for Stevie Women in Business in the Maverick of the Year category.

Carolina Barcenas is an executive with over 25 years in high-tech, currently serving as Head of Platform Data Science at Airbnb. Previously, she was SVP at Visa Inc., leading research in AI, Blockchain, and Security, and has experience in various Fintechs.

Passionate about increasing female representation in STEM, she actively sponsors diversity and inclusion programs, including serving as the executive sponsor of Juntos, Airbnb’s LatinX affinity group.

Carolina has received multiple accolades, including the Top 100 Most Influential Women in Tech, the HITEC 100 award, and the “Premio Trayectoria Exatec” in 2022 for professional achievements. She serves on the board for the School of Engineering at the Monterrey Institute of Technology and is on the advisory board for ALPFA.

She holds a B.S. Summa Cum Laude in Industrial Physics Engineering and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Operations Research and Applied Statistics from Georgia Tech, and has seven granted/patent pending patents in AI applications.

Ariel Gamiño is a leader in artificial intelligence at Cognite, specializing in AI Agents and their application in industrial settings. With deep expertise in AI, machine learning, and data analytics, he drives innovation at the intersection of technology and business.

Passionate about education, Ariel has taught data analytics for four years, including three at UT Austin’s McCombs School of Business in partnership with eDX, helping professionals transition into data-driven careers.

He holds a Master of Science in Predictive Analytics from Northwestern University, a Master in Software Engineering from Harvard University, and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from UT Austin. A frequent speaker at global tech and educational conferences, he advocates for AI adoption, workforce development, and upskilling professionals for the AI-driven economy.

As President of the Harvard Extension Alumni Association, he fosters a dynamic, engaged community of 40,000 members across 150 countries, championing lifelong learning and professional growth.  

Carlos Gutiérrez is a renowned producer, director, and innovator in the audiovisual industry, specializing in animation, visual effects, and artificial intelligence. With over 25 years of experience, he has worked on more than 20 feature films, 500 commercials, and numerous animated series.

He is the founder of Metacube Tecnología y Entretenimiento, vice president of Creative Industries at CANIETI, and head of the Cinematography Unit at the University of Guadalajara. Previously, he directed Ciudad Creativa Digital, promoting the development of Mexico's audiovisual and tech ecosystem. His work has been transformative in Latin America, blending AI, film, education, and politics.

As a director, he created the award-winning animated film Día de Muertos. Gutiérrez holds a Master’s in Business Administration, is a PhD candidate in High Technology Management, and is certified in AI, data science, and cybersecurity. He currently leads initiatives in AI-generated content and digital distribution

Matt Pasienski co-founded Pact after roles as a Data Scientist and Product Manager at Ooyala, co-founding Wizeline, and serving as CEO of Wize Services. He holds a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Illinois and a BA in Physics and Math from UC Berkeley. His background is in applying data-driven approaches to solve complex problems.

Antonio Rodríguez is an inventor, innovative visionary, entrepreneur, and recognized technologist with extensive experience leading successful tech ventures in Latin America and the U.S. As the Founder and CEO of Pretty Smart Labs, he spearheads a team dedicated to developing cutting-edge IoT, Wireless, and Machine Learning technologies.

His career highlights include creating PortalBlocks Networks, serving as CTO of Grupo Reforma where he co-founded Infosel en Línea, and being named iBest Entrepreneur of the Year in 2001.

He has made significant contributions to global conferences and served as a jury member for the Stockholm Challenge, reflecting his commitment to the advancement of technology.

With a Bachelor’s degree in Electronic and Communications Engineering from ITESM, he is passionate about innovation and eager to connect with fellow visionaries to shape the future of the digital realm.

Antonio's role as one of the founding members of TechMex was pivotal, and he also held the position of its first president.

Eduardo was born and raised in Monterrey, Mexico, but Austin’s breakfast tacos and live music scene convinced him to stick around. Co-founder & Head of Product at Coba.ai, a YC-backed cross-border fintech simplifying USD-MXN financial operations as smooth as a two-step at The Broken Spoke. Coba is backed by Goodwater Capital, the first Mexican investors in Nubank, Banco Base (a regional FX leader), and fintech pioneers from Monzo and Remitly. Previously, he was CEO of Icalia Labs, a bootstrapped software firm that grew to $10M+ in revenue, serving global brands like Microsoft, Pepsico, and TopGolf.

He co-founded Codeando Mexico, an NGO in civic tech securing grants from Omidyar Network (from eBay cofounders) and winning the Transparency LatAm Award in 2015. Eduardo holds a Computer Science degree from Tec de Monterrey and has contributed to academia as a professor of Informatics and a board member for the Computer Science curriculum at his alma mater.

Marcos Cervantes, Founder & CEO of Q-Branch, is an accomplished Army Officer with 23 years of experience specializing in technology development efforts. Having excelled in leading cutting-edge projects during his military career,

Marc possesses deep expertise in government research and development (R&D) procurement. Now serving as the CEO of Q-Branch, a dual-use global business accelerator, he applies his extensive experience to support companies navigating defense and commercial markets worldwide.

Marc leverages this knowledge to identify and invest in promising startups, particularly those with a focus on dual-use innovation. Marc's strategic vision and understanding of government contracts and procurement processes allow him to guide these startups in securing lucrative contracts and establishing a strong market presence.

His ability to bridge the gap between private sector innovators and government agencies has positioned him as a trusted and influential figure in the technology and defense community. 

Passionate about products, business, and technology, Aníbal Abarca is a technologist and entrepreneur driving innovation at the intersection of artificial intelligence and creativity. As the founder of Neuforce.ai, he leads the development of solutions that transform how companies integrate AI to enhance efficiency and unlock human potential.

Previously, he served as Chief AI and Technology Officer at Wizeline, spearheading global initiatives to create scalable and innovative products.

Beyond his professional work, Aníbal is a columnist for WIRED en Español, where he shares insights on AI, technology, and creativity. He also writes the LinkedIn newsletter Random Curiosity, exploring how technology expands human capabilities and fosters innovation.

With a career spanning leadership roles at Wizeline and Microsoft and entrepreneurial ventures like Innku and Aventones, Aníbal blends technical expertise with business acumen to tackle complex challenges and create meaningful impact. He holds an MBA from The University of Texas at Austin and a degree in Software Engineering from Tecnológico de Monterrey, embodying a lifelong commitment to learning and innovation.

Gabriela Mendoza is a Food Engineer from UAM with a Master's and Ph.D. in Bioprocess Sciences from IPN. Her doctoral research, recognized with the National Food Science and Technology Award (CONACyT-Coca Cola) and IPN’s Best Thesis Award, included a research stay at the University of Alberta. She later completed a postdoctoral fellowship at CINVESTAV.

Gabriela served as a Professor at UAEM, Mexico. Transitioning to industry in 2018, she joined Park Systems, advancing from Applications Scientist to General Manager for Latin America. She now works as a Technical Account Manager at Protochips, specializing in advanced microscopy and software solutions.

Beyond her technical expertise, Gabriela is deeply committed to community well-being and professional development, actively volunteering in women’s health associations. Her impact extends across academia and industry, with scientific publications and conference contributions on three continents.

Alex leads venture capital partnerships and startup business development at AWS for Startups. With extensive experience supporting high-potential technology startups across Latin America, Alex connects entrepreneurs with AWS’s global resources, enabling them to scale effectively. He previously played key roles in regional initiatives like Mexico Tech Week, focused on fostering vibrant tech communities in emerging markets.

Héctor specializes in digital transformation, solutions architecture, and scaling startups with innovative technology. At Disrupt, he focuses on solving complex tech-and-business challenges.

He is also a co-founder of Inventa AI Solutions, an agency providing AI implementation solutions tailored for business growth. Additionally, Héctor serves on the board of TechMex, supporting Mexicans working in tech in the Austin area.

With over two decades of experience in strategic communications, Mónica Talán is an entrepreneur and award-winning leader in communications and innovation.

She is the founder of CryptoConexión, a Spanish-language platform promoting blockchain and AI, and TechTranslators.ai, which makes technology more accessible through workshops. The platform demystifies complex concepts like AI, Web3, blockchain, and AR/VR, with a diverse team of experts.

Mónica previously led communications teams at Vrio Corp, ADT, and Univision, and served as Chief Mission Officer at EdTech startup Genius Plaza. She also co-founded her consultancy, working with startups and brands. Before Univision, Mónica spent ten years at Fleishman-Hillard, working with top clients like AT&T and Procter & Gamble.

Passionate about diversity, gender equality, and entrepreneurship, she has advised Google Launchpad and led workshops for Morgan Stanley's Multicultural Innovation Lab. Mónica holds a Bachelor's in Journalism from the University of Texas at Austin.

As CEO of TXM, a leading telecommunications and information technology company, Victor spearheads the company's strategic vision and growth trajectory.

With over 20 years of experience in the industry, along with expertise in IT management, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence, he has been instrumental in driving TXM's success across multiple markets since its inception as a founding partner.

Additionally, Victor serves as CISO for Omnifon, a call center operations company, where he is responsible for developing and implementing information security strategies to ensure compliance, data protection, and operational resilience.

Alfonso Garcia has almost 20 years of experience in engineering, software development, product strategy, leading and building technical teams and tech products. Entrepreneur and mentor of tech startups and angel investor.

Fluent in Spanish, English, and German, in his career he has worked with multidisciplinary teams in Mexico, Germany and the USA in companies such as Siemens, Continental, and for the United States Air Force. Alfonso co-founded Parlevel Systems in 2012 in San Antonio, Texas, a tech startup that established itself as one of the lead providers of technology for the unattended retail industry such as vending and micro markets, reaching businesses in over 30 countries and with a team that grew to almost 100 people before being acquired in 2022. The exit of Parlevel Systems is considered one of the great success stories of the San Antonio startup ecosystem.

Alfonso has been invited multiple times as panelist and as a judge and mentor for startup competitions, currently mentoring companies from the portfolio of Geekdom, Capital Factory, Techstars, 3 Day Startup, Y Combinator, Alamo Angels, Founder Institute, and others.

He is also an active member of the Alamo Angels network, as an Angel Investor he has invested in over 15 tech startups in the USA and LATAM.

Member of the board of directors of Tech Bloc, a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering the growth of the tech ecosystem in San Antonio, by coordinating government, the private industry, and academia through networking, economic development, and advocacy.

Currently, Alfonso continues to pay it forward by investing his resources and time into contributing to strengthen the ties between the tech startup scene in Mexico (Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey) and the South Texas Triangle.