As the world gets more digital, the tech industry has been busier than usual in the past few months. But despite the industry’s growth, there is still a lack of diversity, particularly among Latinos.
Only 8% of Hispanics and Latinos work in technology. This figure is even lower when you consider they make up 18% of the US population. The lack of diversity in the tech industry is a problem that must be addressed.
There are several reasons for Latino underrepresentation in the tech sector. Part of the reason is that there aren’t many role models in the tech industry. Children may be less inclined to pursue a field if they do not see people who look like them working in it.
Daniel Coronado is the Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder of JP Global Digital in Miami. He is in charge of the company’s global operations and how organic growth is implemented. Coronado is a lawyer by trade, but he is also an entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience starting and growing businesses in agriculture, mining, construction, and technology.
He sat down to talk about his company’s partnership with Microsoft, their plans for global expansion, and how Latinos like him can succeed in the tech industry.
Can you briefly describe your background and career before JP Global Digital?
DC: I graduated from law school in 1994 and started my own construction company. Ten years later, we were the largest construction company in my hometown of Falcón, Venezuela. The company specialized in road construction, the production of asphalt concrete, and civil works.
In 2004, I founded Agropecuaria Los Tres Soles, CA, which won Best Dairy Cattle Exhibitor in Falcón in 2011. We also saw an opportunity stemming from tourists visiting Falcón, so I started Dayco Motors, CA, a small rental car company. Eight years later, it had grown to become the state’s largest car rental company, with the most modern fleet of vehicles.
I moved to the United States in 2012 and established Daycoven Constructions, LLC, a home development construction company. JP Global Digital, my most recent venture, was founded in 2016.
How would you describe the company to someone who has never heard of it?
DC: JP Global Digital is a leading global digital technology service provider focused on digital transformation for the Oil & Gas, Large Industrial, and Maritime Sectors. We have software that allows engineers to easily transition from blueprints to Digital Twins.
Why did you choose to partner with Microsoft?
DC: We developed The JP Interactive Viewer, a web-based application that lets multiple teams and departments visualize, manage, and share 3D datasets. We started conversations with AWS and Microsoft and saw what each could provide. We eventually saw Microsoft as a better fit for us. Strategic partnerships are a must when you want exponential growth.
What is the significance of the Microsoft ISV Acceleration Program to you?
DC: As a Microsoft ISV Partner, we have a distinct advantage in connecting with businesses, organizations, and government agencies worldwide. JP Global Digital will be able to create, publish, and manage marketplace offers in the Partners Center and list the JP Interactive Viewer alongside Microsoft’s solutions.
Please share your notable accomplishments
DC: We have signed agreements with Z+F USA in addition to the Microsoft partnership. We also closed deals with large EPCs across the country, such as Hargrove, and gained users in our software from global players, such as Chevron.
What advice would you give aspiring Latino entrepreneurs who want to make it in tech?
DC: Focus, focus, and focus.
Over the past few years, JP Global has achieved tremendous growth in technology, all the more with the recent Microsoft partnership. JP Global is now shifting to establishing a global presence by funding conferences and building relationships with key figures in various countries, and they show no signs of slowing down as they continue developing solutions for self-driving industrial facilities.
