Our Team & Advisors
Who we are and what we do
The Advisory Board of XnTREE exists to aid planning and implementing business strategies to improve technological and operational management of the company. The board members display a wide range of expertise in the smart city industry including legal consulting, blockchain, sustainable energy solutions, and more.
Our Team and Advisors
Jaewon Peter Chun
President of the World Smart Cities Forum (WSCF)
- Brings a decade of experience in smart city masterplans, including a notable 6-billion USD project in South Korea. He initiated national smart city projects in Ukraine and launched 'The Global TWIN CITIES Initiative' amidst Ukraine's conflict, aiming to unite 21 metropolitan cities for joint future city projects. Chun's leadership extends to fostering 300+ tech startups as CEO of XnTREE, a London and New York-based tech accelerator and investor focused on smart city projects.
Alan Boyd
Co-Founder and Chairman of Metadventors
- A digital pioneer with over 40 years of experience in next-generation technology development, acquisition, and investment. He is the Co-Founder and Chairman of Metadventures, a team of technology experts with a new approach that refreshes traditional methods of starting, growing, managing, and financing innovative tech companies with aspects of WEB3 such as fractional ownership, tokenisation, task-specific currencies, community engagement, and more.
Manuel Rocamora
Co-Founder & Managing Partner of “Syntazar Partners”
- A Co-Founder & Managing Partner of “Syntazar Partners” (dedicated to empowering European SMEs as they navigate their entry into the Saudi 2030 Vision) and Senior Advisor of a Climate Tech “Carbonless” Venture Capital for NetZero & Decarbonization.
Dr. Young-Sup Joo
Professor, Korea University
- He served the SME Minister of South Korea for 2 years. As minister, he contributed greatly to creating and implementing policies for the overseas expansion of Korean startups and small and medium-sized enterprises.
- He was CEO of Hyundai Autonet of Hyundai Motor Group (Currently Hyundia Mobis) for 5 years.
Carlo Castelli
Founder of Urban Purpose
- A Founder of Urban Purpose, a platform for independent strategic advisory. He has a design and architectural experience for 25 years including his career at Jacobs and AECOM and co-chairs the Urban Regeneration Council for Europe at the Urban Land Institute and sits in the executive committee of the LSE Global Real Estate Group.
Dr. Stephen Kosslyn
Cognitive scientist & President of Active Learning Sciences and is Chief Academic Officer of Foundry College
- Former Dean of Harvard University and Former Founding Dean and Chief Academic Officer of Minerva University. He also served as a Director, Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University.
Mansour Al-Misfer
Chairman of the Board of Asyaf Investments and Board member of Jadara Solutions
- A technology visionary with a regional and global perspective. A recognized leader in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A successful leader and passionate about Secure Digital Transformation. Founding member of the Saudi VCPE association.
- Currently a Chairman of the Board of Asyaf Investments and Board member of Jadara Solutions. He was also a Board member of Saudi Venture Capital and Private Equity Association.
Kemal Farid
Co-founder and COO of Everest
- He Initially launched with L37 Ventures in 2019 and evolved his hybrid Venture Capital and Growth Equity investment approach to Everest, a financial technology and services company offering 360° solutions to companies, entrepreneurs, and fund managers throughout their life's journey.
- Everest’s flagship fund Annapurna, is Evergreen and built to create long-term value for the entrepreneurs and LPs. Everest also offers direct and syndicated co-investments in individual companies and the opportunity to invest in a range of alternative asset vehicles.
Florian Frhr. von Tucher
Chairman of the Tucher Group
- Florian von Tucher is Chairman of the Tucher Group, which is the holding company of his family’s Engineering, Investment and Project Development companies.
- As Chairman of the EU Tech Chamber he actively promotes the vision that „Technology Obliges“! According to this vision, he aims to increase the competitiveness of Europe, reach the UN SDGs and builds bridges to emerging markets.
Tammy Ahn
Magaging Partner, Jenga
- Policy advisor of Busan Metropolitan City – strategy to develop a healthy blockchain ecosystem
- Experienced consultant and accelerator with a demonstrated history of working in the financial industry as well as blockchain advisory firm
- Skilled in Portfolio Management, Business Development, Strategy, Investments, and Financial Analysis
- Certified business development professional with a MBA focused in Finance and Investment management from The Wharton School.
Dong Sung Cho
President, Incheon National University
- Policy advisor of Busan Metropolitan President of Incheon National University, South Korea – strategy to develop a healthy blockchain ecosystem
- Emeritus Professor at Seoul National University
- Honorary Doctor at University of Helsinki
- Chairman of The Institute for Industrial Policy Studies (IPS).
Othmane Zrikem
A/O Proptech,COO
- Chief Data Officer and co-founder of A/O PropTech, where he designs and executes innovative investment strategies combining data-driven methodologies and financial engineering
- Helping the founders he backs, scale their business throughout Europe as well as shape and execute their Operation and Analytics roadmap
Alessandro Martello
Founding Partner, Italian Brand Factory
- Adjunct Professor & Board Member at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore IPMCC – Milan, Italy
- Member of the Investment Team in IREN UP – Corporate Venture Capital in CleanTech – 2018 to present
- Screening committee team leader of Edison Pulse (EDF group) – open innovation programme in CleanTech – 2014-2017
- Former Global Marketing Director at Henkel KGAA Duesseldorf -Germany Business Angel.
Faris Oweis
Chief Instigator, Instigation Protocol
- Business builder and natural connector of ideas, people and places
- Chief Instigator at Instigation Protocol where he enables blockchain organisations to commercialise with enterprise, weaving storytelling and business development together to create sustainable partnerships
- Has secured multi-billion dollar infrastructure projects in the Middle East, city contracts globally to encourage local economic development, and has championed blockchain in emerging markets in partnership with the United Nations
Gianluca Galletto
Magaging Director, Global Futures Group (GFG)
- Principal and Managing Director at Global Futures Group (GFG), which provides advisory to nonprofits and governments on “smart cities” strategies and innovation ecosystem building, and to businesses on international expansion
- Principal at Smart Cities New York, the leading conference in North America on Smart and Sustainable Cities, and has previously advised former prime ministers in Europe
- Advisor to the New York City’s Mayor’s Office on foreign direct investments (FDI) in tech and inclusive innovation
- Advisor to Croatia’s Minister of Regional Development and EU Funds, the World Bank, the Partnership for NYC, and the Metropolitan City of Barcelona
- Former Director of International Business at the New York City Economic Development Corporation
- Previosuly worked at Muzinich & Co., a leading global asset management firm based in New York
- MA in International Economics from Yale University and an MA in Economics, Business and Law from Bocconi University in Milan
Angel Garcia
Founding Partner, Lanta Digital Ventures
- Has extensive experience investing in early-stage Technology ventures being currently invested in more than 40 companies in Europe and the US, in sectors such as, but not limited to Artificial Intelligence, Data Tech, Software Enterprise, SaaS, Data Analytics, etc
- Founding Partner of Lanta Digital Ventures and Startupbootcamp IoT & Data (SBC)
- Executive at Fractus, a sucessful European Technology start-up. Fractus was an early pioneer in developing internal antennas for smartphones, tablets and other wireless Internet of Things devices and holds an intellectual property rights portfolio of more than 40 inventions, protected by over 120 patented applications worldwide. Its intellectual property and patent portfolio is widely recognised within the industry – licensees include Samsung, LG, HTC, Blackberry, Motorola, Sanyo and Sharp
- Economics and Business Administration Degree and an Executive Program from Stanford University, USA
Max Gurvits
Managing Partner, Vitosha Venture Partners
- US/European entrepreneur and investor
- Launched a new EUR 27m seed-stage venture capital fund for CEE; Vitosha Venture Partners based in Sofia, Bulgaria
- Active in Europe and the Middle East as startup advisor and angel investor, Max organizes the TRACTION Camp and Startup AddVenture series of events, connecting founders to skills and capital
- Cross Border Angels as Director for CEE and MENA, syndicating 1-2 monthly investments with over 70+ angels and investment firms (2016)
- Graduated as a lawyer, Max founded an online legal services company in Amsterdam in 2008. In 2011, he sold the business and moved to Bulgaria, where he was on the founding team of one of the biggest regional tech acceleration programs and funds (Eleven Startup Accelerator and EUR 12m seed fund)
- He also runs a number of ecosystem and networking initiatives, including Summit Summit (http://summitsummit.io) and Entrepreneur-In-Residence (http://eirtribe.com)
Asad Sultan
CEO, Deutsche Malayan Ventures
- 25-year veteran in the investment banking industry (15 years in Asia)
- Former Managing Director and Country Head in India for US the investment bank, Cantor Fitzgerald
- Former Equity Research Analyst at Citibank in New York, Tokyo and London
- Previously worked at Daiwa Bank in Hong Kong, and served as the Division Director and Head of Asian Equities for Australia’s Macquarie Bank; he launched NYSE-listed institutional brokerage Investment Technology Group in Asia as the regional Chief Executive Officer
Robinson Hernandez
Executive Director, Urban Tech Hub
- US/European entrepreneur and investor
- Launched a new EUR 27m seed-stage venture capital fund for CEE; Vitosha Venture Partners based in Sofia, Bulgaria
- Active in Europe and the Middle East as startup advisor and angel investor, Max organizes the TRACTION Camp and Startup AddVenture series of events, connecting founders to skills and capital
- Cross Border Angels as Director for CEE and MENA, syndicating 1-2 monthly investments with over 70+ angels and investment firms (2016)
- Graduated as a lawyer, Max founded an online legal services company in Amsterdam in 2008. In 2011, he sold the business and moved to Bulgaria, where he was on the founding team of one of the biggest regional tech acceleration programs and funds (Eleven Startup Accelerator and EUR 12m seed fund)
- He also runs a number of ecosystem and networking initiatives, including Summit Summit (http://summitsummit.io) and Entrepreneur-In-Residence (http://eirtribe.com)