Alexander Torrenegra
Alexander Torrenegra | |
|---|---|
 Alexander Torrenegra at Rackspace Solve in 2015 | |
| Born | Bogotá, Colombia |
| Nationality | Colombian American |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Known for | Torre, Voice123, VoiceBunny |
| Spouse | Tania Zapata |
Alexander Torrenegra (born in Bogotá) is a Colombian entrepreneur.[1][2] He founded multiple companies including Torrenegra Labs, Voice123, VoiceBunny and Torre.[3] He is one of the investor sharks on Shark Tank Colombia.
He was featured in MIT's TR35 Colombia's list of Top Innovators Under 35 in 2012.[3][4]
Early life and education
Torrenegra grew up in Bogotá, Colombia. In 1993, he founded Apache X Cybernetic Enterprises Limited at the age of 14.[2][5] He attended the University of St. La Salle and Florida International University.[3] He graduated from Miami Dade College with a degree in Computer Science and is part of the Stanford University Leadership Program.[6]
Career
In 1998, Torrenegra moved to the United States. He met his wife, Tania Zapata, who was a voice actress, in Miami, Florida.[2] In 2000, they cofounded Torrenegra Labs.[3] Torrenegra and his wife founded Voice123, which applied the concept of reverse auctions to the voiceover industry, in 2003.[2] By 2007, the company passed $1 million in sales in 2007, and had approximately 150,000 voice actors registered and over 75,000 agency clients by 2016.[2] In 2008, Torrenegra founded LetMeGo, a company focused on hotels competing for bookings. The company closed in 2011.[5][7]
Torrenegra, his wife, and Lucho Molina founded Torre in 2012 with the launch of VoiceBunny, an API for professional human voices.[2] Torrenegra has also co- founded BookingMarkets,[3] Language123, Casting123, and WeHostels, a mobile app to book hostels.[5]
In 2013, he was part of a delegation of immigrant-entrepreneurs that met with President Barack Obama.[8][9] He also works to improve government support for innovation in Colombia.[10][11]
References
- ^ Ilya Pozin (June 1, 2012). "Top Immigrant-Owned Startups". Forbes. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f Robert Schoon (September 23, 2015). "Marketplace: Bunny, Inc.'s Alexander Torrenegra Wants to Automate the Creative Job Market". Latin Post. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e "Alexander Torrenegra, 33". MIT Technology Review. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - ^ "13 Badass Immigrants In Technology". Business Insider. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
- ^ a b c "Torrenegra Labs: How To Get The Attention Of A Venture Capitalist". Mixergy. November 4, 2013. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
- ^ "International Students as Startup Founders in the United States" (PDF). The George Washington University Office of Entrepreneurship. September 30, 2015. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
- ^ Alan Colmenares (December 28, 2009). "Young startup LetMeGo.com to take on big-time travel sites with extra-personal service". Venture Beat. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
- ^ Julia Myska (June 24, 2013). "Obama invites Colombian entrepreneur to discuss US immigration reform". Colombia Reports. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
- ^ Anna Li (May 24, 2013). "Silicon Valley execs share personal immigration woes at virtual #iMarch". Peninsula Press. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
- ^ "Juan Manuel Santos Will Make His First Presidential Hangout". Enter.co. January 17, 2013. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
- ^ "Remarks by President Juan Manuel Santos in the VI Competitiveness Forum of the Americas". Prosperidad Para Todos. October 24, 2012. Retrieved December 31, 2016.