Natalia Olson

Director , Plug and Play Tech Center

Natalia Olson-Urtecho is a serial entrepreneur and public policy maker with more than 20 years of experience working with international, regional and local entities in Europe, Latin America, Asia and the U.S.A. She is an expert in smart cities, economic development, commercialization of technologies, venture capital, government contracting, blockchain, environmental planning, mobility, public engagement and infrastructure design. She is Director of Government for Plug and Play and formerly Co-Founder of the Disruptive Factory as well as innovation advisor to several institutions and companies. She was appointed to the U.S. Innovation Advisory Board to advise Congress and the White House on competitiveness and innovation. She served in the Obama Administration as the SBA Regional Administrator managing 34 billion dollars yearly and prior to that she has been honored with numerous prestigious awards such as Woman of Distinction for her work in sustainable infrastructure, the green economy, entrepreneurship and women empowerment globally.