AKAIO is powered by experienced founders and a collaborative group of subject matter experts.

The Founders

Juan Manuel Gutierrez

Co-Founder | CEO

Juan Manuel Gutiérrez, a seasoned business executive with over 25 years of professional experience, stands at the helm of AKAIO as its Co-Founder and CEO. His extensive background includes various executive roles internationally, notably in the financial sector, where he demonstrated solid results in company growth and profitability as the CEO of Axactor and Lindorff—leading debt management firms, as well as the setup CEO of CitiFinancial.   He’s successfully scaled large companies and make them public.  Before AKAIO, he founded Alsig Corporation. Juan Manuel's journey is underpinned by a robust academic foundation, including an MBA from the University of Dallas, a BBA and Law Degree from Spain, and diplomas from the prestigious MIT Sloan School of Management. With a deep understanding of both financial and technological trends, Juan Manuel is now reshaping the future of innovation, AI and entrepreneurship.

"My mission is clear: lead AKAIO to turn AI possibilities into scalable innovative solutions for the future."

Hitendra Patel

Co-Founder | Product

Hitendra is the CEO of IXL Center, a Cambridge-based global innovation management consulting firm. He has helped over 200 global companies and their executive teams drive transformation initiatives to build innovation capabilities and achieve new growth.  Professor of Innovation and Strategic Growth at Rotman School of Management.

"All of us have the potential to create new, great ideas and the capacity to make it reality one day. So if everyone has the potential to have great ideas, why aren't we all becoming genius inventors?"

Executive Team : Boston

Luis Arrechea

Partner | General Counsel & HR

Luis is an ICAM lawyer with 25 years of experience as a legal advisor on KPMG and as General Counsel of Abanca Corporation, Axactor and Jofemar Corporation. He has studied in Oxford, Michigan, Madrid and Chicago; is in possession of a Law Degree by ICADE, a PDG by IESE and a Brand Building Executive by the Kellogg School of Management. Now he is in his second year of an UPV/EHA PhD on Globalization, Data and AI.

"AI is the catalyst that propels innovation branding to new frontiers, where creativity and technology converge to shape the future"

Roberto Aguirre Díaz

Partner | Global Sales

Roberto Aguirre Díaz is a Global Business Executive with over 25 years experience successfully building and executing outstanding Sales results in Europe, Middle East, Africa, Latin America and Asia Pacific Regions. Strong acumen in International Sales, Business Development, Go-to-Market Strategy, Strategic Alliances, Global Sales Enablement, Channel Strategy and Management.

"Leveraging AI through Akaio enables us to identify and seize global market opportunities with unprecedented speed and precision, driving innovation and growth for our clients worldwide."

Josep Pique

Partner | Sales Europe & LATAM

Telecommunication Engineer from La Salle and UPC and MBA from ESADE. Doctor on Ecosystems of Innovation from Universitat Ramon Llull. Diplomas from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and University of California-Berkeley. Founding President XPCAT (Catalan Network of Science Parks), Vice-President of APTE (Spanish Network of Science Parks), Former President of IASP (International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation), and President of the Triple Helix Association.

"In the realm of AI, our challenge is to create symbiotic relationships -harnessing this transformative technology to cultivate rich ecosystems of innovation that respond not just to market demands but to societal needs."

José Antonio Vicente San Ceferino

Partner | Sales US & Europe

José Antonio Vicente San Ceferino is the Director of Recovery at Santander Consumer Finance E.F.C., S.A., with expertise in financial management since 2009. Formerly, he held executive roles at Banco Santander for nearly two decades. He holds an Economics degree from Universidad de Cantabria, an MBA from IE Business School, and a Master in International Trade from ESIC Business & Marketing School, underscoring his deep financial acumen.

"Integrating AI into our strategic framework transforms mere data into profound insights, enabling us to predict trends and adapt swiftly. For companies seeking resilience and innovation, AI is the cornerstone of decision-making in the ever-evolving financial landscape."

Ralph Levy

Partner | Sales LATAM & US

Graduate of Babson College, Massachusetts with degrees of Business Administration and Entrepreneurship. Worked in Colombia in the manufacturing industry and international trade and managing partner in United States of a global investment company.

"AI will carry us beyond our limitations as human beings"

Doralba Pacheco & William Perez

Partner | Sales LATAM

Doralba and William combine their extensive financial and managerial expertise to excel in driving sales and strategic growth. Doralba’s experience spans roles such as Financial Director and Controller in international and local markets, supported by dual MBAs in Project Management. William brings a solid foundation in fiscal auditing, corporate finance, and cost reduction, with a degree in Public Accounting and a track record of effective project oversight. Together, their diverse backgrounds create a powerful synergy for achieving impactful sales strategies and financial optimization.

"Integrating AI into our expertise allows us to develop more intelligent strategies and gain deeper insights, enabling businesses to tackle complexities and confidently pursue sustainable growth"

Alejandro Sabate

Partner | Investors Spain

Alejandro Sabate is Senior Advisor for the largest Alternative Investment manager in Spain ( AUM 8 Bil. ) he is also in the same role for a large renewable fund based in Madrid ( AUM 6 Bil. ). In 2005, as Head for the Latin American  he started and developed the local business Unit for Barclays Capital NY. Prior to that, he was Co-Head for Latin America at Credit Suisse First Boston in New York. Areas of business included: Structured Finance, Liability Management and also the Asset side for investors. Clients covered: Governments, Corporates and Financial Institutions across the region.

"Integrating AI into our platform is about more than just efficiency—it's about navigating complex financial landscapes with precision. By leveraging AI-driven insights, we can anticipate market shifts, make informed decisions, and build long-term partnerships that create sustainable value for both investors and society."

Kyra Engineering - Boston

Doug Sweeney

Partner | Vice President UX/UI

Doug Sweeney is the Vice President of User Experience at Kyra Group and has 14+ years of experience in user experience design and product management having worked all over the United States for Fortune 100 companies like ESPN, Cigna, Kaiser Permanente, VF Corporation and Disney as well as start ups and agencies working on the latest technical trends like Cryptocurrency, DeFI and AI. He earned a BA in Marketing at Stetson University and authored a book - Heroic Growth - on personal transformation and growth from his college experience.

"It's through curiosity and looking at opportunities in new ways that I’ve found my way."

Andrew Malinow, PhD

Partner | Vice President AI

Andrew is an energetic and collaborative technical leader, who has created innovative algorithms, solutions and products across a wide spectrum of industries and consulting engagements.  He leads by example and passionately believes in intellectual meritocracy on his teams. He earned his PhD from Columbia University in Cognitive Psychology.

"Artificial Intelligence will amplify human capabilities in ways that we are still discovering,  and at an unprecedented scale.  The opportunity to innovate by leveraging ai, represents a generational opportunity to impact all facets of the human experience."

Emmanuel Martinez

Partner | Vice President Engineering

Emmanuel Martínez as technology leader at AKAIO, with extensive experience in guiding development teams to deliver SaaS innovations that combine cloud architecture with customer-focused design. Emmanuel’s background spans over a decade in software engineering, with a recent focus on GEN AI and Neural Network-based platforms. Passionate about scalable solutions and technical strategy, he plays a key role in enhancing AKAIO’s product offerings and user engagement.

"At AKAIO, we’re not just leveraging AI; we’re redefining it. Our approach to GEN AI and Neural Networks is all about creating tangible, impactful solutions that drive growth and elevate user experiences. It’s thrilling to work with a team that’s so dedicated to pushing the boundaries of innovation."

Alejandro Gutierrez

Co-Founder | AI Engineer

3rd year Conputer Science & AI Undergraduate student at IE Spain. Former Jr Consulting Analyst at OpenBank. Alejandro’s expertise spans multiple industries, from healthcare to finance, where he has driven innovation through the implementation of advanced data systems and cloud architecture. Known for his commitment to fostering high-performing teams, Alejandro continues to lead with a vision centered on transformative technology and operational excellence.

"A great technology strategy is about more than innovation; it's about driving real, lasting impact. I’m passionate about building solutions that not only advance our capabilities but also empower teams and create meaningful change"

KYRA Engineering : Madrid

Our team in Madrid who are developing operational technology to support the highly specialized AI team at Boston

Marina Martín Hernández

Team Lead | Back End Developer

Former Sr. Backend Developer at Klöckner & Co, Germany. Former Sr. Backend Lead at Senniors, Spain. Former Backend Developer for Santander Global Tech, Spain. Former Backend Developer for Grupo Accros, Spain.

Íñigo Rodríguez Sánchez

AI & Data Engineer

Former I+D+i Consultant at FI Group, Spain. Master's Degree in Artificial Intelligence at Polytechnic University of Madrid, Spain.

Marta Aragon

UX/UI Designer

Former UX Designer at General Software. Former UX/UI Designer at L.I.F.E. Italia. Former JR UX/UI Designer & Front End Developer at AppQuality.

Tomas Salcedo

DevSecOps Engineer

Former Full Stack Developer Grupo TRC. Former Data Analyst at DB Schenker. Currently undertaking a Bachelor in Computer Engineering at UAX Spain.

Diego Eloy Rodriguez

Front End Developer

Former Frontend Developer at dezzai. Master in Web Application Design at CES Juan Pablo II Spain.

Moss Benaim

Project Manager

Former Project Manager and Head of Investors Relations at Hype Sports Innovation Operations and Innovation Consultant at BSC Import Export Business Development at Monex Europe.

WE ARE A BOSTON BASED COMPANY

Boston, MA, is a HUB of AI INNOVATION, fueled by its world-renowned academic institutions like MIT and Harvard, fostering cutting-edge research and development in a winning culture.

AKAIO offices

Boston

Boston Office

110 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02141, USA

Madrid

Madrid Office

Calle del Pinar 6Bis, 28006 Madrid, España

Cartagena

Cartagena Office

Edificio Laguna 46Cra. 3 #46-2, Cartagena, Colombia