Dr. Rivera-Piza has over 25 years of experience in Information and Communications Technology sector, both in technical operations, consulting and management, and later in his career, in technology venture capital investments.
Dr. Rivera-Piza started his career as a real-time software engineer for Singer Link Simulation Systems in Silver Spring Maryland, manufacturer of legendary flight and other process control simulators (today L3 Link Simulation & Training). In the last 20 years, he has held various investment positions with International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group as Senior Investment Officer in the Telecom, Media and Technology Department, where he participated in over a dozen technology investments in the Telecom, Media and Technology, Venture Capital & Funds Departments, where IFC participates as lender and/or co-investor in technology companies in emerging countries. During his career, he has launched several entrepreneurial ventures in Internet Access, Smart Television, and Digital Economy. He has also advised government and private sector clients on management and technical subjects.
He is the founder and CEO of Axionico LLC, a firm advising and investing in early stage companies with competencies in Business Analytics, Machine Learning and AI. He sits on various startup company boards as an independent director advising on management and technical subjects. Last Dr. Rivera-Piza is active in the community giving pro-bono advise to young entrepreneurs in various non-profit foundations and mentoring organizations.
Dr. Rivera-Piza holds a BSc in Computer Science from Tec de Monterrey (Mexico), a MSc in Engineering Management and a DSc in Engineering Economics and Artificial Intelligence; both degrees from The George Washington University, and an MBA in Finance from the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania. Most recently, he completed a post graduate program in Business Analytics at Harvard University.