Manuel Gonzalez Alzuru

Manu Alzuru is Partner at Vocado Ventures. Engineer, networker, angel, builder, blockchain / DAO / governance enthusiast, data-driven, marketer & optimist. Consultant, Serial Entrepreneur, and Blockchain Enthusiast in Berlin, Germany. I am not an average Mechanical Engineer. Of course, I know how to calculate heat, design with a factor of safety, analyzing processes and develop a maintenance plan for mechanical systems. However, I'm also an entrepreneur, without fear of new challenges, who loves innovation, multicultural, highly motivated and with excellent communication and interpersonal skills (and also good organizing parties, I've been told). In high school (USA) I started to explore the internet with some web design classes. In uni during my engineering courses, I designed a couple of websites, participated in the creation of a car for Formula SAE, part of AIESEC and the student government. Worked at Schlumberger where I managed operations of 7-8 digits USD, created maintenance manuals for all the parts used in the Rig-Up. After I went to France, where I studied French and also created some websites before starting to work at Jumia. At Jumia (backed by Rocket Internet, Goldman Sachs, Orange, AXA, MTN) I worked in the SEM and Metasearch teams that were responsible for +35% of the bookings and had a growth of 350% for SEM & 230% for Tripadvisor, reducing the cost by 55.92%. After that period, the CMO gave me the opportunity to lead the Mobile team and manage a significant budget for launching apps and ensure a high retention of the acquired users. After few months, I realized that I wanted to move to Europe's Silicon Valley (Berlin) & I started working at Jobpal (500 Startups) where I had the opportunity to learn about AI, set all the marketing strategy for both B2B & B2C side. Few months after, I landed @Medlanes where I managed the marketing (B2B & B2C), BI team and product. CMO & CIO @Brickblock I managed the fundraising campaign (ICO + VC). In a nutshell, my passion for innovation and entrepreneurship is coupled with a good sense of humor, love for my family and friends and great motivations for improving day over day while doing what I love.