When Social Impact Intersects with Software Innovation:

Dennis has over 15 years of experience in the IT industry, with a record of successfully leading, managing and delivering technology projects and infrastructure deployments. Started with companies like NCR and The Channel Company where he was able to achieve several recognitions as Project Manager.

Moved into Product Management in 2015 with Phunware where he maintained and launched multiple apps. Joined the HEAT organization in 2017 where he led redesign and relaunch of the Miami HEAT app and transitioning the Arena to mobile only tickets for HEAT games.

Carlos is a serial technology entrepreneur, investor, and frequent speaker at investments, innovation
and entrepreneurship forums. Founder to Alpha Impact 8 previous to Venture Capital, Carlos Co-
Founded and served as Executive VP at Sm4rt Corp, a holding company that included Sm4rt Security
Services (Cyber Security Operation Centers), Sm4rt Predictive Systems (Artificial Intelligence Card Fraud
Prevention Technologies) and Sm4rt Game Studios (Videogames). With Sm4rt he created the Premier
Cyber Security and InfoSec compliance firm in the region, which ultimately was acquired by KIO
Networks, the largest Information Technology Services Enterprise in Latin America. A Mexican bank
consortium (E-Global) integrated the fraud prevention venture to their services. Since he founded his
first company at 19, he has been leveraging the power and efficiency that technology and software bring
to the industry, creating software for Nextel, AT&T, Teletech and P&G among others. Carlos is an active
mentor for the Founder Institute in San Francisco and founding director for the Chapter in Mexico City.
Passionate for technology, markets and entrepreneurs, he lives in San Francisco with his wife and child,
and enjoys coaching first time founders, getting down the slopes and playing golf. He attended the
Telematics Engineering Program at ITAM´s in Mexico City

Darwin Romero is a founding partner at Applaudo Studios, based in San Salvador, El Salvador. He is a Summa Cum Laude graduate from Harding University, Arkansas. He also studied Strategic Project Management with the HaaS School of Business, at University of California. In 2019, he was accepted into the prestigious 3-year program: Presidents Management Program of the Harvard Business School.
Darwin began his professional career with TACA Airlines working for the Strategic Development group led by Directors of Bain Company. Subsequently, he was part of the international division of Dell Inc, serving as Product Director for Latin America, based in Argentina and Brazil. At Dell, he identified the opportunity to work with remote distributed teams from multiple locations around the world, providing services to Dell Inc divisions in the US. Upon his return to El Salvador, he worked for UNICOMER and then founded Applaudo Studios, recognizing the ability to work remotely in technology creation processes that can generate high added value to customers in any locality. He is a faithful believer in God, that in El Salvador there is talent and that opportunities can be created in order to development of our country.
In addition, he has been involved in the community in a variety of ways, recently as a member of the Board of Vital Voices and a mentor to TechStars in Austin, Texas. He is a member of the Austin Chamber of Commerce, the British Chamber of Commerce in El Salvador and the Salvadoran Association of Industrialists. He is also part of the Forbes Technology Council, Capital Factory and Young Entrepreneur Council.

Kirk Laughlin is Managing Director and Founder of the Nearshore Americas – the widely respected media and advisory group which examines the emergence of Latin America as a global leader in technology services and digital innovation. During the last 11 years, Laughlin emerged as one of the foremost thought-leaders on the expansion of tech-based commercial services and investment in the Americas. Kirk and his team are frequently called on for data analysis, market insights and commentary. Nearshore Americas offers client marketing platforms, advisory services, content and lead generation services, custom events, Latin America-focused trade missions and customized research. In addition, the brand’s marquee conference, Nearshore Nexus held June 9-10, 2020 in Brooklyn New York City, is considered the most influential Latin America services conference in North America. Earlier, Laughlin was a vice president and Managing Director at Ziff Davis Enterprise, a global media group, based in New York City. He is based in Connecticut.