Biography
Diego is the Senior Venture Manager at Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) – Texas, based at the Mays Business School at Texas A&M University. In this role, he leads the development and execution of CDL’s Energy Stream, working with founders, mentors, and investors to accelerate early-stage ventures tackling some of the most pressing challenges in energy, AI, and deep technology. He supports entrepreneurs in scaling their innovations by guiding them through rigorous objective-setting sessions and connecting them with a global network of mentors, venture capitalists, and corporate partners.
With over a decade of experience in venture building, product strategy, and innovation management, Diego has worked across accelerators, venture studios, and corporate innovation teams. Prior to joining Texas A&M, he served as Venture Builder & Innovation Architect at REHAU New Ventures, where he helped design the company’s corporate VC strategy, successfully led diligence on M&A acquisitions, and acted as Interim CPO for a funded startup. His work directly contributed to the development of a $50M venture fund and several successful new market entry implementations.
Earlier in his career, he led startup and innovation programs at organizations including Techstars, San Diego State University’s ZIP Launchpad, and Virginia Commonwealth University, where he launched innovation programs, coached founders, and fostered partnerships with investors, corporates, and universities. He has advised hundreds of startups across industries, helping them validate markets, design products, and secure funding.
An entrepreneur himself, Diego founded Bypass, a 2013 FinTech Mobile Payments startup, and began his career as a Management Consultant at Deloitte, where he contributed to large-scale digital transformation and emerging technology strategy.
He is bilingual in English and Spanish, holds a Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship and Product Innovation from Virginia Commonwealth University, and is a User Experience and Product Designer by trade. Recognized as a San Diego NEXT Top Business Leader Under 40 (2018), he has also served as a guest lecturer and mentor in Construction Innovation at Virginia Tech in 2022.
