Meet the team
Meet the talented and diverse team behind ORKID’s cutting-edge drone delivery technology. Our experts have backgrounds in aerospace engineering, finance, computer science, safety, design, and manufacturing, with experience at top-tier companies like Google, Lyft, and Cirrus Aircraft. Supported by strategic advisors in regulatory compliance and business development.
Slide
Santiago Pinzon
CEO – COFOUNDER
Holds a BS and an MS in aerospace engineering. He worked as an aerodynamicist in the development of the Cirrus SF-50 jet, winner of the Collier Trophy for best aerospace innovation in 2017.
Diego Pinzon
COO – COFOUNDER
Holds an MS in finance and a BS in economics. 10 years experience as sales director in an engineering company in the energy industry.
Andrés Uribe
CTO – COFOUNDER
Holds an MS and BS in computer science. More than 10 years of experience in top tech companies including Google, Lyft, and Coinbase.
Slide
Ray Mattisson
LEAD DESIGNER MANUFACTURING
Holds a BFA in industrial design and was the industrial designer in the advanced development group for the Cirrus SF-50 jet. Ray has worked on various aircraft programs including the Kestrel K350 and eclipse 550/700. He currently runs a transportation desing studio in Duluth MN called Desing Eye Q, specializing in automotive, marine and aerospace desing projects.
Dr. Shareef Al Roimathi
HEAD OF SAFETY
Dr. Shareef has 14 years’ experience in the airline industry with over 8,000 flight hours on the Airbus and Boeing fleets. He is currently the Head of Corporate Safety and Captain on the Boeing 777/787 at an international airline, where he was also involved in a number of other departments, including Flight Operations, Flight Training and Pilot Recruitment.
Richard Sickenberger Ph.D
LEAD SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT
Holds a PhD in aerospace engineering from the University of Maryland College Park. He has vast working experience in helicopter dynamics, acoustics and embedded systems design.
Carlos Valencia
HEAD OF FLIGHT OPERATIONS ( COLOMBIA)
Carlos is a superb aeronautical engineer certified drone pilot both FAA and Colombian Civil Aviation Authority, a rockstar drone instructor. We love his passion and commitment towards defining the future of aerial logistics with drone technology in Latam.
Pedro Rubiano
MECHANICAL ENGINEER
Pedro joins our mechanical engineering department in ORKID. He is an outstanding engineer, artist and entrepreneur himself with his Sea For Change project. We love his laidback attitude, work commitment and above all his love for drones, planet earth and the future of electric mobility.
Andrés Garrido
AUTOPILOT AND AVIONICS LEAD
Andres graduated from the Polytechnic University of Valencia (Spain) with a BSc in Industrial Engineering and completed his MSc in Robotics from Miguel Hernandez University (Spain). He has 10+ years of experience in the field of aeronautical engineering and designing UAVs. Andres is specialized in integrating solutions for Ardupilot and PX4 ecosystems.
Ferran Brichs
Country Manager
Ferran is responsible for Brazil Market Entry. With over 20 years of experience, he has a proven track record of successfully growing early-stage companies across the US, Spain, and Latin America. Prior to joining Orkid, Ferran played a key role in the international growth of companies such as ItsOn, Rdio, Openwave, and Netscape. He started his career at Oracle as a software engineer and consultant. Additionally, Ferran is a certified Private-Pilot with an Instrument Rating.
Ray Mattisson
LEAD DESIGNER MANUFACTURING
Holds a BFA in industrial design and was the industrial designer in the advanced development group for the Cirrus SF-50 jet. Ray has worked on various aircraft programs including the Kestrel K350 and eclipse 550/700. He currently runs a transportation desing studio in Duluth MN called Desing Eye Q, specializing in automotive, marine and aerospace desing projects.
Dr. Shareef Al Roimathi
HEAD OF SAFETY
Dr. Shareef has 14 years’ experience in the airline industry with over 8,000 flight hours on the Airbus and Boeing fleets. He is currently the Head of Corporate Safety and Captain on the Boeing 777/787 at an international airline, where he was also involved in a number of other departments, including Flight Operations, Flight Training and Pilot Recruitment.
Richard Sickenberger Ph.D
LEAD SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT
Holds a PhD in aerospace engineering from the University of Maryland College Park. He has vast working experience in helicopter dynamics, acoustics and embedded systems design.
Carlos Valencia
HEAD OF FLIGHT OPERATIONS ( COLOMBIA)
Carlos is a superb aeronautical engineer certified drone pilot both FAA and Colombian Civil Aviation Authority, a rockstar drone instructor. We love his passion and commitment towards defining the future of aerial logistics with drone technology in Latam.
Pedro Rubiano
MECHANICAL ENGINEER
Pedro joins our mechanical engineering department in ORKID. He is an outstanding engineer, artist and entrepreneur himself with his Sea For Change project. We love his laidback attitude, work commitment and above all his love for drones, planet earth and the future of electric mobility.
Andrés Garrido
AUTOPILOT AND AVIONICS LEAD
Andres graduated from the Polytechnic University of Valencia (Spain) with a BSc in Industrial Engineering and completed his MSc in Robotics from Miguel Hernandez University (Spain). He has 10+ years of experience in the field of aeronautical engineering and designing UAVs. Andres is specialized in integrating solutions for Ardupilot and PX4 ecosystems.
Ferran Brichs
Country Manager
Ferran is responsible for Brazil Market Entry. With over 20 years of experience, he has a proven track record of successfully growing early-stage companies across the US, Spain, and Latin America. Prior to joining Orkid, Ferran played a key role in the international growth of companies such as ItsOn, Rdio, Openwave, and Netscape. He started his career at Oracle as a software engineer and consultant. Additionally, Ferran is a certified Private-Pilot with an Instrument Rating.
advisors
Slide
Fernando Gomez Baquero Ph.D
BUSINESS ADVISOR
Director of Runway and Spinouts at Cornell Tech.
Ricardo Fenelon
REGULATORY ADVISOR
Former Director of the Brazilian Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC).
Johnathan Leppert
Technical Advisor
Former Director of Software
Engineering at Volansi.