About Juan
From early curiosity to building systems at scale—the story of how I ended up consulting with Fortune 500 companies and founding multiple ventures.
Like many engineers, my journey started with curiosity. Taking things apart, figuring out how they worked, and trying to build something better.
I grew up in Colombia, and like many engineers I started by taking things apart to figure out how they worked. That curiosity became a career: I have designed and built enterprise information systems for companies in more than 15 countries.
I learned the craft by building. Across more than 300 software projects, in roles from developer to architect, I worked for public and private organizations including IARC, the UNDP, DANE, the Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, and Baker Hughes.
Early career experiences working on enterprise information systems, learning the fundamentals of distributed systems, and understanding what it takes to build software that scales.
In 2000 I founded a software company. Running it meant much more than writing code: as operations manager I was responsible for the company's operations in four countries, including development methodology, the engineering group, and cost control.
This experience taught me that building software is an operational discipline: methodology, people, and cost control matter as much as the code.
Working with both Fortune 500 companies and fast-growing startups taught me that the challenges are different, but the fundamentals remain the same: clear thinking, solid architecture, and empowering people.
At StudioCom I led the .NET group on worldwide projects for clients such as Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins. Since 2006 I have worked with Microsoft's platform and development group in the Andean region as a speaker, and in 2008 I joined Microsoft Colombia as a Developer Evangelist.
The emergence of practical AI and LLMs changed everything. Not because the technology was novel (ML has been around for decades), but because it became accessible and immediately useful.
Through 3Metas and 23blocks, AI became the product itself: we build AI-powered software, including AI Maestro, a platform for orchestrating AI agents. That work now sits at the center of my consulting, helping enterprises move AI from demos into production.
Today, I split my time between consulting with enterprises on AI strategy and distributed systems, building my own ventures, and mentoring the next generation of technical founders.
Through 3Metas and 23blocks, I'm focused on putting AI to work inside real companies: agents in production, distributed systems that scale, and the teams that run them.
After 15+ years in tech, here's what I believe:
When I'm not building systems or advising companies, you'll find me climbing in the mountains of South America or training outdoors. I believe balance isn't about equal time, it's about being fully present wherever you are.
I live in Colorado, on the Front Range, and work with clients across the US and Latin America. I work in Spanish and English.
Want to work together?