The Sovereign Sandbox

Belal Jassoma

Senior Director, Tech Ecosystems,
DMCC

Belal Jassoma is the Senior Director of Tech Ecosystems at DMCC, the world’s leading business district and authority on international commodities trade and enterprise.

Belal joined DMCC in 2011 and has been instrumental in scaling up DMCC’s ecosystems and commercial offering, including new products, services and member engagement programmes. In his current capacity as Director for Ecosystems, Belal is responsible for developing key strategic relationships, partnerships and product functions as well as overseeing ecosystem development across several of DMCC’s industry verticals such as crypto, gaming, AI, energy and financial services.

Belal holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the American University of Sharjah and brings over 18 years of experience in real estate, investment, and government administration.

Kilian Garcia

Director,
International Department at Foment del Treball

Director of the International Department at Foment del Treball (since 2019), leading global relations

• Advisor on Next Generation EU (NGEU) funds

• Former Alternative Member of the European Economic and Social Committee (Brussels)

• Former Parliamentary Advisor at the European Parliament, with focus on industrial, environmental, security, and foreign affairs policy

• Background in international trade and country management in Africa and Latin America

• IVLP alumnus (U.S. Department of State)

• Bachelor’s degree in political science and public administration and master’s degrees in international business management 

Adrià Mir de Simon

CEO,
IMM3RSIVE

Adrià Mir de Simon is an executive leader working at the intersection of immersive technology, gaming, and sport. Based in Dubai, he leads regional strategy and growth for WowinX across XR/VR, AI, Web3, and emerging technology ventures throughout the MENA region.

Sergio Reyes

CEO,
Virtual Sports, Befootball, Imm3rsive, and Besports Academy

Sergio Reyes is a technology and innovation executive with over 15 years of experience across gaming, immersive technologies, digital strategy, and Artificial Intelligence.

He is currently CEO of multiple companies focused on Virtual Reality and immersive technologies, leading the development of next-generation interactive experiences and scalable digital ecosystems. His executive work centers on business strategy, product innovation, immersive content, and market expansion within the VR and emerging tech space.

In parallel to his executive leadership, Sergio has built strong expertise in Artificial Intelligence, particularly in generative AI and its application to creativity, education, and digital industries. He is a professor at UDIT – University of Design, Innovation and Technology, where he teaches in the Applied Artificial Intelligence Program and is the architect of “Text-to-Image: Generative AI from Natural Language”, a program exploring generative models and their real-world impact. He also lectures in the Official Master’s Degree in Applied Artificial Intelligence in Education, focusing on the strategic and responsible implementation of AI.
 
Throughout his career, Sergio has held senior roles including CEO, Chief Strategy Officer, and Head of Product & Innovation, leading digital transformation and growth initiatives across gaming, esports, and technology-driven organizations. His background includes work with global companies such as Microsoft, Warner Bros. Games, and Koch Media.
 
Sergio combines executive leadership in immersive technologies with deep knowledge of Artificial Intelligence, bridging business strategy, emerging technologies, and practical implementation.

Daniel Hernandez

CEO and CO-founder,
eSignus

Daniel Hernández is a technology executive and Web3 entrepreneur with more than two decades of leadership experience in digital transformation, cybersecurity, and blockchain innovation.

He is the Co-Founder and CEO of eSignus, the company behind HASHWallet, an advanced hardware wallet designed to securely safeguard crypto-assets through cutting-edge cryptographic architecture and smart card technology. Under his leadership, eSignus has positioned itself at the forefront of Web3 security, developing solutions that combine usability, sovereignty, and institutional-grade protection for digital assets.

Daniel’s work focuses on strengthening digital identity, self-custody, and decentralized security infrastructures —helping individuals and organizations maintain control over their digital assets in an increasingly complex Web3 ecosystem.

In addition to his entrepreneurial leadership, Daniel serves as a Learning Facilitator at MIT Professional Education for the course “Blockchain: Disruptive Technology”, where he contributes to executive education on blockchain innovation and decentralized systems.

Prior to founding eSignus, Daniel held multiple executive roles, including CEO and Managing Director positions in technology and software companies, leading large-scale digital transformation initiatives and corporate innovation strategies. His background spans finance, enterprise software, governance, and emerging technologies, giving him a multidisciplinary perspective on the evolution of decentralized infrastructure.

Daniel combines deep operational leadership with a strong vision for Web3 security, self-sovereign identity, and the future of trusted digital systems.

Christian Gascons

COO,
Games for a Living (GFAL)

Christian Gascons is the COO of Games for a Living (GFAL), creators of Diamond Dreams Match, a next-generation puzzle game that brings real digital ownership into mainstream gaming. With over 20 years in the video game industry, he combines deep industry knowledge with hands-on executive leadership.
 
He previously served as CEO of FrozenShard Games for a decade, leading the studio through product launches, live operations, and international growth. Earlier in his career, he held roles at Digital Chocolate and Blizzard Entertainment, contributing to large-scale online titles and live game operations.

Salman Amiri

Manager – AI Centre,
DMCC