ICON Summit

ICON Summit

About ICON Institute

Founded in 2021, the Puerto Rico ICON Institute is a non-profit organization created to promote entrepreneurship and facilitate the island’s economic development. Our team believes in the power of people and their ideas. By connecting individuals and organizations to the adequate resources, we can create a stronger Puerto Rico full of business and investment opportunities.

ICON SUMMIT 2024

OCTOBER 15-16 , 2024
Sheraton Puerto Rico Resort & Casino

Created to advance our mission of driving transformative change in Puerto Rico and beyond, the ICON Summit has evolved from its early origins as an investor’s conference focused on financial opportunities into the island’s premier innovation and leadership think tank. Over the years, we have brought together a diverse array of distinguished local and international speakers, supported by respected global companies, to create an unparalleled platform for impactful discussions. This exceptional event invites influential thought shapers, inspiring organizations, rising entrepreneurs, and executive leaders from diverse sectors to engage in dynamic dialogue and meaningful networking. Unlike many conferences, the ICON Summit fosters deep engagement among all attendees, including panelists and participants, sparking conversations that are making waves in business, innovation, and leadership.

Our event is invite-only, but we warmly welcome applications from the public, including university students, startups, and business leaders eager to join the conversation. To apply, simply fill out the form below, and we'll get back to you with the status of your application in a timely manner. While attendance is complimentary, we greatly appreciate any suggested donations to support our mission and help us create more impactful events in Puerto Rico. If you're interested in reserving a table, please contact us at info@iconpr.org. See you at ICON 2024!

ICON 2024 AGENDA

Registration
08:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Moderator

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Karen Kornbluh
Senior Advisor, Milken Institute; former US Ambassador to the OECD
Welcome Remarks
10:00 AM - 10:10 AM

Moderator

003PK000005pnmzYAA-55ca43d24e16a8bcdd7e0d2f0129c094
Karen Kornbluh
Senior Advisor, Milken Institute; former US Ambassador to the OECD
Ready for Liftoff: The Future of the Space Industry in Puerto Rico
10:10 AM - 10:40 AM

Ada Monzon (Eco Exploratorio) | Tom Markusic (GigAerospace), Israel Figueroa (Firefly Aerospace)

Moderator

daniel
Island Interconnection As a Foundation for Energy Resilience
10:55 AM - 11:35 AM

Francisco Cerezo (DLA Piper) | Rafa Vélez (Atabey Capital), Eduardo Bhatia, Edgar Pichardo

Moderator

daniel
Marina and Nautical Tourism Projects as a Catalyst of Economic Growth
11:50 AM - 12:30 PM

Rodolfo Sánchez (Parliament Capital) & Giuseppe Cicatelli (Bacalia Group)

Moderator

daniel
Lunch Break
12:40 PM - 01:40 PM

Moderator

daniel
Unlocking Synergies: Federal Grants, Financial Stacking, and Tax Efficiency
01:40 PM - 02:10 PM

Edgar Ríos (Pietrantoni Méndez & Álvarez LLC) y Francisco Luis (Kevane Grant Thornton)

Moderator

daniel
Breakthroughs in Wellness and Longevity: Is Stemcell Therapy the Key to Live Forever?
02:25 PM - 03:00 PM

Linda Vester Greenberg (Journalist and Filmmaker) | Dr. Miguel Ramirez (Celltex Mexico), Dr. Ana Camarillo (Celltex Mexico)

Moderator

daniel
Startup Showcase with Parallel 18
03:15 PM - 03:35 PM

Moderator

daniel
Navigating the Future of Digital Payments: Insights on Digitalization, AI and Cybersecurity
03:50 PM - 04:25 PM

Héctor Martinez (GM Sectec) & Pablo Cuarón (Mastercard)

Moderator

daniel
The State of Housing in Puerto Rico: Affordable Housing myths, realities and opportunities
04:35 PM - 05:20 PM

Vanessa de Mari-Monserrate (Interlink) Moderator | Marcial Díaz (Popular), Francis Peréz (Foundation for PR), Agustín Rojo (PR Builders Association)

Moderator

daniel
Closing Remarks
05:20 PM - 05:25 PM

Moderator

daniel
Networking Mixer
05:20 PM - 07:00 PM

Moderator

daniel
Registration
08:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Moderator

003PK000005pnmzYAA-55ca43d24e16a8bcdd7e0d2f0129c094
Karen Kornbluh
Senior Advisor, Milken Institute; former US Ambassador to the OECD
Welcome Remarks
10:00 AM - 10:10 AM

Moderator

003PK000005pnmzYAA-55ca43d24e16a8bcdd7e0d2f0129c094
Karen Kornbluh
Senior Advisor, Milken Institute; former US Ambassador to the OECD
Ready for Liftoff: The Future of the Space Industry in Puerto Rico
10:10 AM - 10:40 AM

Ada Monzon (Eco Exploratorio) | Tom Markusic (GigAerospace), Israel Figueroa (Firefly Aerospace)

Moderator

daniel
Island Interconnection As a Foundation for Energy Resilience
10:55 AM - 11:35 AM

Francisco Cerezo (DLA Piper) | Rafa Vélez (Atabey Capital), Eduardo Bhatia, Edgar Pichardo

Moderator

daniel
Marina and Nautical Tourism Projects as a Catalyst of Economic Growth
11:50 AM - 12:30 PM

Rodolfo Sánchez (Parliament Capital) & Giuseppe Cicatelli (Bacalia Group)

Moderator

daniel
Lunch Break
12:40 PM - 01:40 PM

Moderator

daniel
Unlocking Synergies: Federal Grants, Financial Stacking, and Tax Efficiency
01:40 PM - 02:10 PM

Edgar Ríos (Pietrantoni Méndez & Álvarez LLC) y Francisco Luis (Kevane Grant Thornton)

Moderator

daniel
Breakthroughs in Wellness and Longevity: Is Stemcell Therapy the Key to Live Forever?
02:25 PM - 03:00 PM

Linda Vester Greenberg (Journalist and Filmmaker) | Dr. Miguel Ramirez (Celltex Mexico), Dr. Ana Camarillo (Celltex Mexico)

Moderator

daniel
Startup Showcase with Parallel 18
03:15 PM - 03:35 PM

Moderator

daniel
Navigating the Future of Digital Payments: Insights on Digitalization, AI and Cybersecurity
03:50 PM - 04:25 PM

Héctor Martinez (GM Sectec) & Pablo Cuarón (Mastercard)

Moderator

daniel
The State of Housing in Puerto Rico: Affordable Housing myths, realities and opportunities
04:35 PM - 05:20 PM

Vanessa de Mari-Monserrate (Interlink) Moderator | Marcial Díaz (Popular), Francis Peréz (Foundation for PR), Agustín Rojo (PR Builders Association)

Moderator

daniel
Closing Remarks
05:20 PM - 05:25 PM

Moderator

daniel
Networking Mixer
05:20 PM - 07:00 PM

Moderator

daniel
Registration
08:30 AM - 09:25 AM

Moderator

daniel
Welcome Remarks
09:25 AM - 09:30 AM

Moderator

daniel
A Conversation with Secretario Manuel Cidre
09:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Sec. Manuel Cidre | Carlos Garcia (Trip Ventures)

Moderator

daniel
The AI Frontier: Into the Exponential Age
10:10 AM - 10:40 AM

Tony Navarro (Red Ventures) | Bertil Chappuis (Xtillion)

Moderator

daniel
Unlocking Housing: Is Recapping and Releasing GSE’s the Key to the Housing Crisis
10:55 AM - 11:25 AM

Christian Sobrino & Keith Jensen (Convex Venture Fund)

Moderator

daniel
Inside Puerto Rico’s First Digital Bank
11:35 AM - 12:05 PM

Carlos "Kako" Garcia (Nave Bank) & Greg Becker (Former CEO of Silicon Valley Bank)

Moderator

daniel
Monetizing Global Macro Trends
12:20 PM - 01:00 PM

Alexandra Valentin (Tiempo Capital), Ignacio "Nacho" Canto (X-Capital), John Mauldin (Mauldin Economics)

Moderator

daniel
Lunch Break
01:10 PM - 02:10 PM

Moderator

daniel
From Data to Decision: AI in Human Resource Strategies
02:10 PM - 02:40 PM

Franco Mondo (BMA Group) | Herbert Lewy (Microsoft)

Moderator

daniel
Startup Showcase with Parallel 18
02:50 PM - 03:10 PM

Moderator

daniel
The Future is Decentralized: Puerto Rico as a Transformative Tech Launching pad
03:25 PM - 04:05 PM

Brian Bourgerie (Uncommon Entrepreneurs) | Ryan Condron, Alana Mediavilla (Campo Libre), James Haft (PALcapital)

Moderator

daniel
The Power of Progress: Projects Driving Economic Transformation
04:20 PM - 05:00 PM

Alberto Bacó (Partnership for Modern Puerto Rico) | Fede Sanchez (Interlink) | Raja Rojo (VRM Companies), Francisco J. Pericas (Popular)

Moderator

daniel
Revitalizing the East Coast: A Holistic Approach to Sustainable Development
05:10 PM - 05:30 PM

Carter Redd (Moncayo) & Richard Santana (ICON Institute)

Moderator

daniel
ICON Closing Cocktail Party: Sheraton
05:40 PM - 08:45 PM

Moderator

daniel

Stay in the loop with ICON

Puerto Rico ICON Institute
425 Carr 693 Pmb 408
Dorado, PR 00646

OUR SPONSORS

We sincerely thank our sponsors, collaborators, and partners. Your steadfast support is driving real socioeconomic impact in Puerto Rico. Together, we are fostering innovation and creating lasting opportunities for our cherished island. Thank you for being a vital part of this transformative journey.

OUR PANELISTS

Ada Monzón
Chief Meteorologist for WAPA Media
Giuseppe Cicatelli
Principal of Bacalia Group
Pablo Cuaron
Country Manager of Puerto Rico Mastercard
Rafael Vélez
Founder of Atabey Capital
Rodolfo Sanchez Colberg
Managing Partner at Parliament Capital Management
Tom Markusic
Rocket Scientist and Space Tech Entrepreneur
Eduardo Bhatia
Former Puerto Rico Senate President / Visiting Professor, Princeton University
Agustin Rojo
President of Puerto Rico Builders Association
Carlos García
Chairman & CEO Nave Bank
Dr. Ana Camarillo
Medical Coordinator of Celltex Mexico
Dr. Gabriel Salazar
Medical Director of Celltex Mexico
Francis Peréz
Research and Program Manager at Foundation for Puerto Rico
Francisco Cerezo
Partner at DLA Piper
Franco Mondo
Executive Vice President at BMA Group Global
Greg Becker
Strategic Advisor & Former CEO of Silicon Valley Bank
Ignacio Canto
Founder and President of X-Square Capital & X-Square RE
Israel Figueroa
National Security Programs Director at Firefly Aerospace and Founding Partner at Virt Space Strategies
Iván Zavala
CEO In Realta Grupo Inmobiliario
John Mauldin
President of Mauldin Companies
Linda Vester
Award-winning Journalist, Documentary Filmmaker
Tony Navarro
Executive Vice President Red Ventures and Cofounder of Nave Bank
Alana Mediavilla
Founder of Campo Libre
Alexandra Valentín
Founding Partner and Chief Strategy Officer at Tiempo Capital Partners
Bertil Chappuis
CEO & Cofounder of Xtillion
Christian Sobrino Vega
Corporate attorney and government affairs consultant
Edgar Ríos Méndez
Partner, Tax Practice at Pietrantoni Mendez & Alvarez LLP
Francisco Luis
Partner, Head of Taxes at Kevane Grant Thornton
Herbert Lewy
General Manager Microsoft Central America and the Caribbean Region
Keith Jensen
Founder of Convex Venture Management
Luke Stokes
Managing Director for the Foundation for Interwallet Operability
Marcial Díaz
Senior Vice President of the Construction Division at Popular

OUR Partners

We sincerely thank our sponsors, collaborators, and partners. Your steadfast support is driving real socioeconomic impact in Puerto Rico. Together, we are fostering innovation and creating lasting opportunities for our cherished island. Thank you for being a vital part of this transformative journey.

Partner with ICON

Join us in transforming Puerto Rico through exciting sponsorship opportunities that drive innovation, create lasting change, and offer immense value to your company. Reach out to us at info@iconpr.org to spark meaningful advancements and help create a brighter future for our island!