About Us
We are entrepreneurs, innovators, engineers and business leaders. We have global experience across diverse fields with tangible results and client testimonials that prove our worth. Now we want to pass our lessons learned onto our local community, so we can build a successful startup ecosystem in Alicante and beyond. Want to join us?
Our Services
Based on years of consultancy, coaching and experience leading teams and building products, we now aim to coach the next generation of startup founders through practical, fun and goal-oriented workshops, consultancy and mentoring.
Our Team
Collectively, we have decades of global experience across multinationals, public sector enterprises and bootstrapped startups. We have experienced the pain of creating business models, products and teams. Now, let us guide you in your journey.
Our Ethos
If you succeed, we all succeed. Your startup will create jobs in Alicante, create wealth for you and your investors, and a lasting footprint for future generations. Let's dream together, let's dream big and let's capture new markets.
Meet The Team
Manoj Phatak
C.Eng CITP LEED Green Associate
Founder & Startup Advisor
As a UK Chartered Engineer, Manoj has 40+ years experience leading digital transformation projects for EUIPO, HSBC, Shell, Adidas and the European Investment Fund. See formalobjects.com for more.
In 2008 Manoj founded ArtRatio, a manufacturer of smartglass display cases to protect art and luxury collections. Clients include the National Museum of Sweden, Harvard University and Van Cleef & Arpels.
Since 2019, as CEO of Smartglass World, Manoj accelerates net zero strategies in the built environment with smartglass. Clients include Woods Bagot architects and Eckersley o’Callaghan.
Manoj has degrees in software engineering & electronics engineering from Oxford and Southampton Universities respectively, and holds a European patent covering the sustainable display of art & luxury collections using the dynamic properties of smartglass.
Manoj has been a resident of Alicante since 2001.
Alejandro Colindres
MBA
Startup Advisor
Alejandro brings 25+ years of solid experience in strategy, transformation, and operational excellence, after working for leading companies and top management consulting firms in U.S. and Latam, including McKinsey & Co. and Mondelēz. His last corporate role was as VP of Commercial Strategy at a €22B wine and spirits distributor in the U.S.
He specializes in defining bold, practical strategies aligned with top business priorities, solving complex problems through structured thinking, and driving cross-functional execution that drives measurable results.
Alejandro graduated from Cornell University and Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern. He has been in Alicante since 2024.
Martin Jimenez
Startup Advisor
Experienced interim manager and controller with over 20 years of experience in group, sales, production, IT, OPEX/SG&A controlling, and business intelligence across international companies and industries (healthcare, manufacturing, software, finance, real estate).
Proven track record in process optimization, budgeting and forecasting, KPI system design, reporting, carve-outs/spin-offs, and Power BI implementations. Extensive experience advising global corporations, including S&P 500 and DAX companies, as well as leading teams and training employees.
Co-founder and CEO of G&J Capital, an investment company with a diversified portfolio of real estate properties and other asset classes. Business angel and investor in startups.
Shane walsh
BSc
Startup Advisor
Shane Walsh helps businesses improve performance through the intelligent integration of language, technology, and training.
With senior experience as an IT consultant, e-learning manager, and training leader for international organisations, he designs scalable learning systems, digital platforms, and knowledge-transfer solutions.
As founder of an award-winning language-learning company, he combines pedagogy with technology to support multilingual teams and global operations.
His background in science, software systems, and management enables him to bridge technical and human challenges, delivering practical, data-driven solutions that enhance communication, efficiency, and organisational capability across diverse markets.
