Cristóbal is a Lead Investment Officer, Equity and Mezzanine Finance Investments Team at IDB Invest, which he joined in 2018. He is responsible for developing, negotiating and implementing investment structures that include venture capital. Before joining the IDB Group, he worked as Investment Director at Latin American Partners (LAP). He was on the investment team at LAP México, where he acquired experience in creating, structuring and monitoring investments in various sectors in the region, including transportation, energy, water and sanitation, agriculture and telecommunications. He previously held the position of Vice President at Stephens Cori Capital Advisors. He has extensive experience in investment banking, Latin American markets and management of equity investment funds in the transportation and telecommunications sectors. Cristóbal earned a master’s degree in business administration from George Mason University (USA) and a professional degree in business administration from the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey - ITESM (Mexico).
Spendthrift consumerism comes with massive environmental costs, and the “fast fashion” model in the clothing industry is highly wasteful and damaging to the planet. New digital business models focused on re-use and re-sale are changing the shape of the industry for the better in the region and elsewhere.
Mezzanine instruments fit right between traditional senior secured debt and old-fashioned equity, both in terms of risk and returns. If structured properly, they may do wonders for companies, especially those struggling to secure financing in the current economic context.
The region's trucking industry is gigantic, and inefficient, with shippers struggling to find available trucks and carriers struggling with driver security and limited working capital. The potential for tech disruption is clear, and startups are filling the void with online marketplaces.