Lorenzo de Leo
Lorenzo de Leo is an innovation leader who accelerates founders, ventures and ecosystems across the world.
Why book Lorenzo de Leo for your next event
- Brings hands-on experience from 100+ innovation projects and 50+ venture launches across the U.S., Europe and Latin America.
- Combines deep tech knowledge with practical acceleration work in blockchain, AI, climate and social-impact startups.
- Offers actionable guidance on pitching, fundraising and strategic communication in English, Spanish and Italian.
Non-binding request for Lorenzo de Leo
Global strategist in emerging tech, venture building and startup acceleration.
Lorenzo de Leo is an innovation strategist with a rare blend of academic depth, technical expertise and global venture-building experience. Born in Italy and trained as a pure mathematician, he has worked across aerospace, emerging technologies and startup acceleration. His career spans roles in Europe, the U.S. and Latin America, where he has supported founders, designed accelerator programs and led more than 100 innovation projects. Trilingual and active in both deep tech and social-impact initiatives, Lorenzo delivers clear, practical insights on how to build ventures, communicate effectively and navigate the fast-changing technology landscape.
Early academic foundation
Lorenzo de Leo’s career began in the world of mathematics. Born in Italy, he spent four years teaching at the Faculty of Mathematics at the Complutense University of Madrid from 2003 to 2007. After completing his Ph.D. in Pure Mathematics, he moved into applied research and innovation, joining ARQUIMEA, an aerospace spin-off from Carlos III University. His transition from theoretical mathematics into technology and venture creation shaped the interdisciplinary approach that defines his work today.
At ARQUIMEA, Lorenzo led projects across aerospace, security and robotics, health and several other fields. Many of these initiatives were carried out in collaboration with major institutions such as the European Union, the European Space Agency and the Japanese Space Agency. His work in technology transfer played a central role in the launch of four startups and supported the foundation on which ARQUIMEA continued to scale in the following years. This early experience gave him deep exposure to complex R&D environments and the ability to connect scientific insight with business impact.
Innovation and venture building
Lorenzo later moved to Miami to become Managing Partner at Rokk3r, where he led more than 100 innovation projects across the U.S. and Latin America and contributed to over 50 venture launches. At Rokk3r, he created 10xU, a global entrepreneurship platform that reached more than 25,000 users. He also designed the company’s accelerator programs, shaping pathways for founders working in emerging technologies and high-growth industries.
His acceleration work spans a wide range of innovation fronts. He has collaborated with key organizations in blockchain and AI, including the Algorand Foundation, Moonbeam Foundation, ElizaOS and Polygon. His programs extend to major social-impact initiatives such as EspacioTec (Banco Davivienda, El Salvador) and the EDP Hope Fund Accelerator, supporting climate and social-impact startups across Latin America and Europe. This combination of deep-tech knowledge and practical ecosystem development makes Lorenzo a powerful guide for any audience exploring how innovation can be scaled sustainably.
Advisory roles and global networks
Beyond Rokk3r, Lorenzo is a Partner at Supernova, a board-of-advisors-as-a-service model for growth-stage startups. Supernova connects founders with a network of over 250 exited founders and operators, and manages an early-stage venture fund that invests in transformative companies. His advisory work gives him daily exposure to the challenges founders face when scaling teams, raising capital and navigating product-market fit.
Lorenzo is also an active mentor at Techstars, the Founder Institute and Web3 Spaces. He is a member of the Stanford AI & Web3 Research Lab, where he contributes to the global dialogue around frontier technologies. Each year, he reviews around 1000 startup pitches from across the world. The companies he has advised have secured funding rounds of up to $3M with valuations reaching $30M. He also trains founders in communication and presentation in English, Spanish and Italian, with a focus on improving pitch clarity and fundraising strategies.
Speaking experience and global reach
Lorenzo has delivered hundreds of lectures and masterclasses at leading international events and institutions. His speaking engagements include SXSW in Austin, London Business School in the UK, Forbes Mexico, Florida International University, IDE Business School in Ecuador, Executive Forum in Mexico and Colombia, Open ExO in the U.S., ASEA in Argentina, CAAAREM in Mexico, Ruptura Bolivia, Volcano Summit in Guatemala, D3 in the Bahamas, EspacioTec in El Salvador and TradeHub in Mexico.
His sessions resonate with audiences ranging from corporate leaders to early-stage founders. With a style that combines clarity, pragmatism and strong storytelling, he helps participants understand emerging technologies and apply them in real business scenarios.
Writing, mission and impact
Lorenzo contributes regularly to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), where he writes about emerging technologies and trends across Latin America and globally. His perspective reflects a commitment to democratizing information and expanding access to innovation.
A musician and a firm believer in eliminating educational barriers, Lorenzo aims to empower millions to build ventures capable of creating global impact. His work bridges academic rigor, technology, entrepreneurship and social development, making him a compelling voice for any organization exploring innovation, venture building and the future of technology.
Keynotes
Keynote by Lorenzo de Leo:
Web3 in Latam: Unleashing Potential, Transforming Challenges into Opportunities
Investing in Latam is akin to discovering diamonds in the rough. With the right approach and understanding of how to unearth and polish these gems, the rewards and impact can be unparalleled. Join us in exploring how Web3 in Latam is not just about embracing innovation but about creating a brighter, more inclusive future for all.
Discover the vibrant landscape of Latin America — a burgeoning market ripe with opportunities for investors and innovators alike. In this enlightening talk, we delve into why Latam stands as a promising frontier for investment. With its expanding buying power, burgeoning venture capital industry, and wealth of talent, Latam beckons as a fertile ground for growth. However, the path to unlocking its full potential is fraught with unique challenges, from cultural and financial gaps to policy barriers, making early-stage startups in Latam less competitive on a global stage.
Enter Web3, the beacon of hope for Latam's future. This segment explores the immense potential of Web3 technologies to address and revolutionize longstanding issues in the region. With a predominantly young and digitally connected population, Latam is primed for a seismic shift towards innovation. Web3's promise to solve age-old problems presents a transformative opportunity for societal change. We will showcase real-life examples illustrating how Web3 can bring financial inclusion to the unbanked directly through their cellphones, provide affordable financial products like micro-loans via cryptocurrency, democratize access to investments through asset tokenization, and revolutionize infrastructure development with decentralized physical infrastructure (DePIN).
Attendee Results:
Gain insight into the unique investment landscape of Latam and the inherent opportunities and challenges.
Understand the transformative potential of Web3 in addressing critical issues facing the region, offering groundbreaking solutions.
Explore real-world applications of Web3 technologies in fostering financial inclusion, accessibility to financial products, investment opportunities, and infrastructure development.
Learn strategies for identifying and nurturing the untapped potential within Latam's startup ecosystem, transforming challenges into global opportunities for impact and returns.
Keynote by Lorenzo de Leo:
Blockchain Beyond Crypto: Pioneering Innovation and Integration
Dive into the transformative world of blockchain technology, where its potential extends far beyond the realm of cryptocurrencies. This session is designed to educate and inspire, demonstrating the tangible applications of blockchain in addressing real-world challenges across various industries.
Goals:
Demystify blockchain's capabilities beyond crypto, emphasizing its impact on traditional and emerging sectors.
Showcase actionable use cases, providing a roadmap for attendees to leverage blockchain in their ventures.
Discuss the integration challenges and solutions, highlighting tools and strategies for seamless adoption.
We'll explore the concept of asset tokenization, illustrating how blockchain brings efficiency and transparency to the digital representation of real-world assets. The dialogue will extend to blockchain's influence on the financial ecosystem, revealing partnerships with traditional banks and payment networks to foster financial inclusion and innovation.
Addressing adoption barriers, the session will offer insights into overcoming technical complexities and enhancing user accessibility. Practical advice on initiating blockchain projects, focusing on existing platforms and APIs for easy integration, will empower attendees to take actionable steps towards leveraging blockchain technology.
Concluding with a visionary perspective, we ponder the future of blockchain, exploring its most exciting applications and the challenges awaiting resolution. This journey through blockchain's potential aims to ignite a passion for innovation and encourage the exploration of its vast possibilities for global impact.
Attendee Takeaways:
A comprehensive understanding of blockchain's broader applications.
Strategies for navigating the adoption process and integrating blockchain into business operations.
Inspiration to innovate within the blockchain space, armed with practical examples and actionable insights.
Keynote by Lorenzo de Leo:
Unlocking Corporate Innovation: Strategies for Navigating Challenges and Harnessing Potential
Delve into the realm of corporate innovation in this interactive session. Understand why corporations, often more than startups, are primed for innovation but may encounter challenges in initiating and achieving tangible results.
Attendee Results:
Unlocking Potential: Learn how to harness the inherent innovation capabilities of corporations and navigate initial challenges.
Innovation Avenues: Explore various project types and initiatives that can propel corporate innovation.
Crafting Your Strategy: Receive pragmatic tips and access to online templates and tools to help you formulate a bespoke innovation strategy for your company.
