Coming Soon
Why 90% of AI Pilots Fail — And How to Be the 10%
Most organizations confuse experimentation with execution. Here’s what separates AI projects that ship from those that stall.
Read More →Rafael Castro
Everyone's selling AI. Almost no one is delivering it.
I help organizations turn AI, blockchain, and exponential technology into production-grade systems that generate revenue — not hype.
20+ years · 4 continents · Stanford · MIT · Cornell · Real Madrid Graduate School
20+
Years
4
Continents
30+
Certs
What I Do
What I Do
I sit at the intersection of business and technology — and I teach both. My background is commercial, technical, and academic: I've built revenue systems, shipped production-grade platforms, and lectured at top institutions.
The sports industry is where my name carries the most weight. But the frameworks apply everywhere.
Business
Commercial strategy, marketing, and P&L accountability. I build the business architecture that turns technology into revenue.
Technology
AI, blockchain, cloud, and exponential technologies — architected for production, not proof-of-concept. Enterprise-grade, governance-ready, built to ship.
Academia
Lecturer at Real Madrid Graduate School – Universidad Europea. Previously Faculty Lecturer at Higher Colleges of Technology, Abu Dhabi. If I can't teach it, I don't claim to know it.
How I Work
Consulting that ships.
AI Strategy & Implementation
Agentic AI, GenAI, LLMs, and RAG systems — from boardroom strategy to production deployment. AI governance and systems that generate measurable ROI.
Blockchain & Web3
The technology, not the hype. Tokenization, digital identity, smart contracts — designed for real business outcomes.
Cloud & MLOps
Multi-cloud architecture across AWS, Azure, and GCP. MLOps pipelines, DevSecOps, and infrastructure that scales.
Extended Reality (XR)
Virtual, augmented, and mixed reality solutions. Fan engagement, training, venue experiences.
Data & Governance
Data COE, governance frameworks, data engineering, and ETL pipelines. From raw data to strategic insight with accountability built in.
Technology Strategy
End-to-end technology strategy for organizations. Not just adoption — culture, process, and governance.
Industries
Sports & EntertainmentFinancial ServicesHealthcareRetailEducationTelecommunicationsMediaSports & EntertainmentFinancial ServicesHealthcareRetailEducationTelecommunicationsMedia
What I'm Building
Ventures & companies.
JR Labs Sports
White-label SportTech for organizations that want control, speed, and results. We help clubs, federations, athletes, and sports brands turn AI into a tangible financial asset — production-grade systems, operational efficiency, and governance frameworks that boards sign off on.
HQ: Madrid & Porto · Offices: Dubai
jrlabs.tech
CWaves Digital
AI-native digital solutions company. Professional-grade tools for businesses that need to move fast without compromising on quality. Built GDPR-native and multi-language from day one.
HQ: Finland · Offices: Portugal
cwavesdigital.fiMore coming soon
Always building. If you're working on something at the edge of technology and business — I might want in.
Teaching
Teaching What I Build
Active
Real Madrid Graduate School – Universidad Europea
Guest Lecturer
Focus: AI in Sports, Digital Transformation, Blockchain, Business Innovation
Also alumnus — Master in Sports Marketing & eSports Management
Completed
Higher Colleges of Technology, Abu Dhabi
Faculty Lecturer
Focus: Business, Marketing, Data Analytics & Project Management. AI driven.
Period: May – December 2025
Available For
- University guest lectures and masterclasses
- Corporate workshops on AI strategy and governance
- Conference keynotes on sports technology and exponential technologies
- Executive education programs
Credentials
Built on Evidence, Not Buzzwords
Stanford University
Digital Transformation (Engineering)
Cornell University
Machine Learning (Executive Program)
MIT
Blockchain: Disruptive Technology (Professional Education)
Master's Degrees
Real Madrid Graduate School – Universidad Europea — Sports Marketing & eSports Management
ISDE | FC Barcelona — Sports Management & Legal Skills
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya — Blockchain & Business Applications
Universitat de Barcelona — Digital Transformation & Business Development
Panamerican Business School — Disruptive Technologies, AI & Metaverse
Panamerican Business School — BBA, Business Administration
Professional Certifications
Google Cloud — Professional Cloud ArchitectIBM — AI Engineering Professional CertificateIBM — Data Science Professional CertificateDeepLearning.AI — Deep Learning SpecializationUdacity — Self-Driving Car EngineerUdacity — Flying Car & Autonomous Flight EngineerUdacity — Cloud DevOps EngineerUdacity — AI for HealthcareBarça Innovation Hub — Sports Innovation (4 certificates)Google — Fundamentals of Digital MarketingUniversity of Helsinki — Elements of AIStanford University — Machine LearningStanford University — Probabilistic Graphical ModelsUniversity of Washington — ML SpecializationUniversity of Michigan — Python for EverybodyUC San Diego — Data Structures and AlgorithmsUniversity of Illinois — Accelerated CS Fundamentals+ additional specialized certifications
Insights
Insights
Coming Soon
Blockchain in Sports: Beyond the Crypto Bros
Tokenization, digital identity, and smart contracts are transforming sports business. But only when built for real outcomes.
Read More →Coming Soon
The Governance Gap: What Boards Don’t Know About AI Risk
AI governance isn’t optional. It’s the difference between competitive advantage and existential liability.
Read More →Let's Talk
Let's Build Something Real
Whether you're a sports organization looking to operationalize AI, an executive team navigating digital transformation, or a university seeking a guest lecturer — I'd like to hear from you.
No pitch decks. No fluff. Just a conversation about what you're trying to build.