Mateo CARMONA-ARANGO, also known as “the founder building the future of intelligent operations,” leads AF Global, a company focused on solving the lack of clear and connected processes in growing companies.
AF Global’s technology integrates and orchestrates complex systems such as ERP, CRM, RPA, and AI agents into automated workflows, enabling medium and large corporations to operate 24/7, generating significant savings and capturing previously unattainable investment opportunities.
“I am at the forefront of companies that solve the biggest pain point for scaling businesses: the lack of clear and connected processes,” says Mateo.
Mateo and his team differentiate themselves through their philosophy of self-sufficient growth, prioritizing collaboration with companies that share their values and without relying on external financing.
They offer high-level engineering solutions for specific problems, building relationships based on mutual trust and curiosity about each challenge, supported by strategic allies. This financial independence, focus on impact, trust, and technical knowledge sets them apart.
In addition, Mateo founded and sold a hyper-realistic imaging company, participated in technological accessibility initiatives, and pioneered process automation and cloud-based document management in Latam.
“We differentiate ourselves because we don’t compete for volume or hunt for clients at all costs: we prefer to grow self-sufficiently, without external financing, and collaborate only with companies whose values and impact we share,” says Mateo.
From a young age, Mateo learned from his family the value of hard work and ingenuity in solving problems, and not complaining, which solidified his determination to turn his vision into a business that would leave a positive mark.
Mateo’s entrepreneurial journey began at age 17 with $50, facing bankruptcy 4 years later and learning about effective distribution, transparent agreements, and timing. Then he founded and sold a hyper-realistic imaging company, participated in a technology accessibility initiative, and pioneered process automation and cloud-based document management in Latam.
Currently, Mateo is dedicated to harmonizing human talent and artificial intelligence, seeking to enhance people’s capabilities and optimize processes through technology. His goal is for people to enjoy their work and develop exponential skills thanks to the integration of technology into their daily activities.
Mateo emphasizes active listening to customers to understand their willingness to pay. He highlights common challenges such as maintaining motivation in the face of rejection, securing capital, building a reliable team, managing financing, and correcting mistakes. These obstacles require to be “solution-driven” with the problem and a “Thick skin,” because without persistence and tolerance for difficulties, any project will fail.
“When I started, I spent days waiting for the ‘brilliant idea’ that never came. I learned that entrepreneurship is not a matter of divine inspiration, but of curiosity: understanding how things work, identifying opportunities for improvement, learning quickly, testing, and adjusting,” Mateo emphasizes.
For Mateo, limits are fundamentally mental and disappear when you have a clear goal. He emphasizes that there is no room for shame; if the purpose is genuine and generates a positive impact, the mind will provide the necessary capacity to achieve all the proposed goals.
“Mindset is everything: in my last crisis, I had to keep the team together, convince clients to stay, renegotiate product agreements, and deal with five different lawyers, all at the same time!” Mateo points out.
Mateo suggests strategies such as pre-sales or “trial” services to generate cash flow if capital is limited, advising those who doubt their sales to practice until they gain confidence. He also emphasizes the importance of an open mind and physical activity, as movement drives energy and business progress.
“The best advice is simple: do, learn, and repeat. Take the first step without asking permission: launch a basic website, publish a simple post, or present your idea to a neighbor,” says Mateo.
Mateo’s vision represents a mutually beneficial scenario: humans provide inspiration and judgment, while machines take care of the operational “carpentry.” Moreover, Mateo and his team have two fundamental principles: if someone else is already doing it, they strive to do it better; and if no one else has done it, they seek to be the first to achieve it.
This mindset drives them to both optimize existing solutions and innovate in completely new challenges. They do not follow market trends, but rather set them in their way, not out of obligation.
“My upcoming projects revolve around helping people work less and better. Everything I develop seeks to maximize human capabilities in creative and valuable tasks, leaving repetitive or unrewarding tasks to machines,” Mateo emphasizes.
Ready to transform your business and embrace the future of intelligent operations? Connect with Mateo CARMONA-ARANGO and discover how AFGlobal is solving the biggest scaling pain points by harmonizing human talent and AI for unprecedented growth.
