ForwardMay 6, 2026
FWD Summit 2026: Powering the Network That Will Shape Puerto Rico's Economic Future
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The Forward Community gathered at the Coca-Cola Music Hall for its second annual summit under the theme 'Powering the Network', convening leaders from banking, entrepreneurship, technology, entertainment, and civic life to discuss the present and future of Puerto Rico's economic development.
The event was curated by Platea, which simultaneously launched Platea Live, a new event curation service.
This year's summit marked a deliberate evolution in the conversation: from individual milestones to collective strategy. The central question was no longer "look what we built" but "what can we build together that none of us can do alone?". Antonio Ortiz of nBeta Holdings captured the moment: "It's incredible to see where we are today and the evolution of each company".
A defining moment of the day brought together the leadership of Puerto Rico's major financial institutions — Javier D. Ferrer (Popular, Inc.), Aurelio Alemán (FirstBank), and Carlos García (Nave Bank) — in an open dialogue about long-term commitment to the island. The conversation centered on how capital and entrepreneurship can move in the same direction to disrupt and redefine industries from within. "This is a very true reality" said García, reinforcing that the opportunity before Puerto Rico is concrete, not aspirational.
The program also featured Jason Borschow (Abarca Health), Bertil Chappuis (Xtillion), Micky Malka (Ribbit Capital), and José E. Feliciano (Clearlake Capital Group), among others. Chappuis articulated the summit's guiding ethos: "The power of the network is how we raise each other's bar. We have to be more ambitious". It is precisely this spirit — nurturing talent, fostering community, and raising collective ambition — that FWD strives to embed into Puerto Rico's professional and entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Ric Elias, CEO of Red Ventures and longtime advocate for Puerto Rico's growth, distilled the summit's movement into its human core: "It is a movement about investing in the people, for the next generation".
He outlined three priorities that really matter right now to power this vision:
The day closed with a call to think beyond business metrics and toward generational impact, and a reaffirmation of FWD's commitment to showcasing Puerto Rico as a hub of innovation, talent, and economic transformation.
The event was curated by Platea, which simultaneously launched Platea Live, a new event curation service.
This year's summit marked a deliberate evolution in the conversation: from individual milestones to collective strategy. The central question was no longer "look what we built" but "what can we build together that none of us can do alone?". Antonio Ortiz of nBeta Holdings captured the moment: "It's incredible to see where we are today and the evolution of each company".
A defining moment of the day brought together the leadership of Puerto Rico's major financial institutions — Javier D. Ferrer (Popular, Inc.), Aurelio Alemán (FirstBank), and Carlos García (Nave Bank) — in an open dialogue about long-term commitment to the island. The conversation centered on how capital and entrepreneurship can move in the same direction to disrupt and redefine industries from within. "This is a very true reality" said García, reinforcing that the opportunity before Puerto Rico is concrete, not aspirational.
The program also featured Jason Borschow (Abarca Health), Bertil Chappuis (Xtillion), Micky Malka (Ribbit Capital), and José E. Feliciano (Clearlake Capital Group), among others. Chappuis articulated the summit's guiding ethos: "The power of the network is how we raise each other's bar. We have to be more ambitious". It is precisely this spirit — nurturing talent, fostering community, and raising collective ambition — that FWD strives to embed into Puerto Rico's professional and entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Ric Elias, CEO of Red Ventures and longtime advocate for Puerto Rico's growth, distilled the summit's movement into its human core: "It is a movement about investing in the people, for the next generation".
He outlined three priorities that really matter right now to power this vision:
- Talent development — to cultivate the skilled workforce needed to drive innovation on the island.
- Addressing the lack of housing — ensuring that talent can stay and thrive in Puerto Rico amid rapid growth.
- Leading in disruption and innovation — positioning the island as a global hub where bold ideas reshape industries.
The day closed with a call to think beyond business metrics and toward generational impact, and a reaffirmation of FWD's commitment to showcasing Puerto Rico as a hub of innovation, talent, and economic transformation.
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