Welcome to Beyond the Data, a curious series that investigates the people behind the talent of phData.Â
In this article, we’re featuring Jeronimo Acosta, who serves as the LATAM Director of Branding & Partnerships.
Describing Jeronimo’s magnificence with words alone is a daunting task, but I’ll do my best. Here it is!
Jeronimo founded three successful international companies including Nooka Labs—all before turning 28! In January 2023, phData acquired Nooka Labs, marking the beginning of his career with phData.
Jeronimo prides himself on rapid learning and adaptability while ensuring that all teams under his guidance adhere to the same core principles of Professional Kindness, Respect, and Prioritizing People.
He firmly holds that given the proper tools, anyone can attain exceptional performance, and he constantly endeavors to achieve his goals.
With that, let’s get to learn more about Jeronimo, his role, and his hobbies!
Tell us your name, where you’re from, and a little about you.
Hi, I’m Jeronimo Acosta, and I hail from the beautiful city of Montevideo, Uruguay. Although I spent most of my life in Uruguay, I did have the opportunity to live in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for a year.
Currently, I live in Uruguay with my wonderful wife Valentina, and my trusty dog Atilio.
While I hold a bachelor’s degree in Accounting & Finance and a Postgraduate degree in Investments, I decided to embark on the startup journey early on in my career. I co-founded my first startup, BJØRN Watch Co, before finishing school. We had two successful Kickstarter campaigns and sold watches in over 33 countries.
Following that, I co-founded ChillTravel, which focused on airport solutions, and it was later acquired by ProtecBag in 2021.
As the pandemic hit, I decided to launch my third startup, Nooka Labs. This company specialized in modern data stacks but prioritized human-centric values that are often missing from today’s technology ecosystem. Nooka Labs was acquired by phData, which is how I found myself here today.
Having done business in various countries, I’ve learned to empathize, stay humble and adapt to different cultures, perspectives, and societies.
What attracted you most about joining phData?
I was most attracted to the challenge and opportunity to co-lead the scaling and expansion of a prestigious company like phData into LATAM, a continent that I love.
It’s going to be a bumpy ride, but I’m excited to help enhance current regional talent while also developing and growing the data cloud industry across the entire region. I’m confident that the team we’re building has all the necessary skills and drive to excel and triumph.
What do you do on any given day as the LATAM Director of Branding & Partnerships?
As I’m still getting started in this position, the details of my day-to-day activities are still being defined. However, I will be focused on evangelizing the Snowflake Data Cloud in LATAM, both for companies that use the product and for talent that works with its technologies and products.
I’ll also be working to establish relationships with our other partners in the LATAM region and attending several events to promote our brand. Additionally, I enjoy immersing myself in communities, so I’ll be searching for and engaging with data-related groups and collaborating with people to showcase what phData is doing.
Lastly, I will be leading PR and media efforts to help spread the word about our company in the continent.
Do you anticipate meeting the phData team in person?
I’m thrilled that the LATAM team and some US colleagues will be coming to Uruguay in March to get to know each other and officially kick off our regional office. While we’ll be working hard, there are also some fun activities planned, so it’s sure to be an exciting time.
Outside of work, what's your life like? What do you do for fun?
Outside of work, my life revolves around football, football, and more football – or as people in the US call it, soccer. It’s my main hobby, passion, and activity.
I play with my team “El Chorro FC” three times a week, and I also enjoy going to the stadium every week to support my team, “Club Nacional de Football.”
In addition to football, I love fishing, both deep sea fishing in the ocean and fishing in rivers and creeks. I often go on fishing trips with my father, brother, and uncle in Uruguay and other countries.
Finally, my wife and I love to travel, and we’ve been fortunate enough to visit over 40 countries. We’re always planning new trips and looking for new places to explore.
What is your favorite restaurant in Montevideo and what do you usually like to order there?
That’s a tricky question, but I would have to say that my favorite restaurant in Montevideo is “Los Francesitos.” It’s a family-owned business that has been serving traditional Uruguayan cuisine for over 35 years, and they specialize in a dish called “chivito.” Uruguayan chivito is a one-of-a-kind dish, but to give you an idea, it’s like a Philly cheesesteak with lettuce and tomato.
Where's the next place you'd like to travel to and what would be the first thing you'd do there?
Fiji! I’d love to rent a sailboat and visit many islands and secluded beaches.
Want to work alongside Jeronimo?
Our LATAM team is growing! Check out our job board to see our current openings.
