Atreides Ventures: Partnering for Growth

Gur Yang is based in New York and serves as the Head of Markets & Technology at EMRTEC Corporation, a business development consultancy and project investment company. With over 35 years of broad industry experience, Gur has an outstanding track record of leading companies to profitability and growth.

Gur’s commercial and technical expertise spans the power and energy sectors, including renewables, conventional power generation, distribution, and electromechanical systems. He also has extensive experience in the front-end semiconductor industry, electronic materials and chemicals, and OEM technologies.

Before founding EMRTEC, Gur had a successful career at Sulzer, Emerson, and Mersen, where he held management positions in sales, marketing, and development across North America, Europe, and Asia. His skills in planning, modeling, and applied technologies have been key to his successes at corporate and business unit levels in both executive and operational management, as well as growth and strategy development.

Gur holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Rutgers University, NJ, and an MBA in marketing and international business from Fordham University, NY.

Ben Sevilla is a founding incorporator, director, and senior country representative of UNO Digital Bank, which received one of the first six digital banking licenses from the Philippine Central Bank in June 2021. UNO Digital Bank began operations in 2022 and was recognized as one of the Top 5 “Emerging Fintechs” by Fintech Philippines in February 2023. In April 2024, Forbes also listed it as one of the top nine banks in the Philippines.

Ben is also the chairman of Altus Capital, a Philippine-based investment banking firm he co-founded in 2005. Altus Capital has overseen transactions valued at over US$20 billion, focusing on structured finance deals in the ASEAN region.

Born in Washington, D.C., Ben graduated from one of the top three Philippine universities, earning awards, including the Lifetime Banking Achievement Award from Ateneo de Manila University in 2023. He studied at Bucknell University and the Wharton School, graduating with distinction from Columbia University’s Executive Program for International Managers.

Ben built his career over 25 years as an international commercial and investment banker with top global banks, including Philadelphia National Bank, National Westminster Bank, and Coutts & Co. He worked in London, New York, and Latin America before returning to the Philippines in 1982. There, he became CEO and Country Manager for Bank of Boston, the first foreign bank in the Philippines after martial law, and was the youngest bank CEO at 33.

Passionate about emerging technologies in digital finance, fintech, and AI, Ben seeks to improve the lives of all Filipinos, especially those in lower economic tiers. He maintains a vast network of key contacts throughout the Philippines, fostering alliances and partnerships.

Jose De Venecia III is the CEO and Director of Atreides Ventures. He is also a Partner at OnetoOne, a European investment bank and the investment banking arm of Atreides.

A distinguished executive and strategic advisor, he has a proven track record in advising private equity firms and family offices, as well as serving as CEO of several corporations. With extensive expertise in business planning, operations management, profit and loss oversight, and project finance, he has consistently demonstrated exceptional entrepreneurial leadership across diverse industries. His proficiency in international corporate and governmental affairs, business development, and deal-making has been pivotal in driving growth and forging strategic partnerships.

With a strong background in leading expansion efforts, he has played a critical role in industries such as telecommunications, energy, real estate, public infrastructure, healthcare, and financial services. Building on his comprehensive knowledge of the energy sector, he has developed a unique dual expertise in both renewable energy and traditional oil and gas industries. This versatility enables him to lead and advise on projects that balance sustainability with the demands of conventional energy sources. His influence spans Southeast and Central Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, where he has established high-impact collaborations that have significantly shaped these regions.

Throughout his career, he has facilitated the raising of over $5 billion in cross-border investments and private credit. His work has attracted investments from renowned entities, including Loxley, George Soros, Texas Pacific Group (TPG) / Angelo Gordon, Edward Bass, InvestCorp, Bank of America, and Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ). His significant contributions to the telecoms industry, particularly in establishing robust infrastructure and broadband services in emerging markets, have earned him global recognition for his leadership and impact.

Since 2012, he has served as an advisor to publicly listed companies in the Philippines, focusing on renewables, alternative fuels, geothermal energy, and electric vehicles, underscoring his commitment to sustainable development. He currently represents the Republic of Azerbaijan as the Honorary Consul to the Philippines, where he plays a key role in promoting trade and education between the two nations. From 2002 to 2007, he also chaired the Board of Trustees of the Virlanie Foundation, a European organization dedicated to supporting homeless children in the Philippines.

He holds an MBA from Fordham University in New York, a B.S. in Accounting from The American University in Washington, D.C., and engages in finance and economics programs at the University of Chicago.