Rafael Castro
By Application Only

The advisor in the room when the decision actually matters.

I work with professional athletes, sports properties, and forward-thinking organizations as a retained strategic advisor — on AI, technology, business, and the intersection of all three.

20+ years · 4 continents · Stanford · MIT · Cornell · Real Madrid Graduate School · Available on Retainer · Limited Engagements

20+

Years

4

Continents

30+

Certs

The Edge I Bring

The Edge I Bring

My background is both technical and business-oriented. I've architected and delivered enterprise systems across AI, blockchain, extended reality, and cloud — leading cross-functional teams of 80+ and delivering 30+ enterprise engagements for organizations across sports, fintech, healthcare, retail, aviation, and real estate.

The sports industry is where my name carries the most weight. But the frameworks apply everywhere.

My clients include professional athletes building their post-career wealth infrastructure, clubs operationalizing AI to compete at the highest level, federations navigating digital transformation, and brands that need a technologist who understands the sport.

Business + Technology

I translate boardroom strategy into production AI systems. From agentic architectures and ML pipelines to governance frameworks and ROI measurement — I own the full lifecycle from pre-sales through deployment. For sports: athlete monetization, club revenue architecture, fan engagement platforms. For enterprise: AI transformation, data platform modernization, agentic automation.

From athlete personal brand monetization to club revenue architecture.

Academia

Lecturer at Real Madrid Graduate School – Universidad Europea. If I can't teach it, I don't claim to know it.

Developing the next generation of sports business and technology leaders.

Technology

Chief AI Officer at JR Labs Sports. Co-Founder at CWaves Digital. Not a consultant who advises from the sideline — I build, deploy, and operate the systems I recommend.

Core stack: Agentic AI, Multi-Agent Systems, Computer Vision, NLP, Knowledge Graphs, Cloud (GCP, AWS, Azure), Blockchain, Extended Reality.

Advisory That Moves

On-Demand. Always On.

I don't do one-off calls or generic reports. My advisory engagements are structured for depth and continuity. Whether you need weekly access to my thinking or a dedicated quarterly strategy sprint, there's a model designed for how serious operators actually work.

Domains of Expertise

AI Strategy & Implementation

From boardroom strategy to production deployment. Agentic AI & Multi-Agent Systems, AI governance, MLOps, and systems that generate measurable ROI.

For sports orgs: building AI systems that predict performance, optimize operations, and scale without technical debt.

Blockchain & Web3

The technology, not the hype. Tokenization, digital identity, Soul-Bound Tokens, smart contracts — designed for real business outcomes.

For athletes and clubs: fan token architecture, digital asset ownership, and NFT frameworks that actually generate revenue.

Cloud Engineering

Multi-cloud architecture across AWS, Azure, and GCP. Hybrid systems, DevSecOps, and infrastructure that scales.

For federations: real-time data infrastructure supporting live events, athlete tracking, and global broadcast operations.

Extended Reality (XR)

Virtual, augmented, and mixed reality solutions. Fan engagement, training, venue experiences.

For venues and clubs: immersive fan activations, athlete training simulations, and AR-enhanced broadcast experiences.

Data Science & Analytics

Predictive models, real-time analytics, and data-driven decision systems. From raw data to strategic insight.

For performance teams: injury prediction, match analytics, and athlete career planning models grounded in real data.

Digital Transformation

End-to-end organizational transformation. Not just technology adoption — culture, process, and governance.

For sports enterprises: transforming legacy club operations into data-driven, AI-augmented organizations built for the next decade.

Industries

Sports & EntertainmentFinancial ServicesHealthcareRetailEducationTelecommunicationsMedia
Advisory Access

Get in the Room.

All engagements are by application. Pricing is shared after a brief qualification — this isn't about budget, it's about fit. I've delivered for NBA teams, LaLiga clubs, Fortune 500 retailers, commercial airlines, fintech leaders, and healthcare systems. My advisory clients get the same rigor.

On-Demand Access

Monthly, rolling

Pricing shared after application.

  • Async advisory: voice memos, video walkthroughs, written strategy feedback
  • Response within 48h on defined scope
  • 2 live 45-min sessions/month
  • Access to private resource library

For athletes and executives who need elite thinking without the retainer commitment.

Apply →

Quarterly Advisory

3-month engagement

Pricing shared after application.

  • Everything in On-Demand
  • Monthly 90-min deep-dive strategy session
  • One priority project sprint per quarter (tech audit, AI roadmap, brand strategy, etc.)
  • Intro to relevant network connections

For organizations beginning a transformation or athletes structuring their business ecosystem.

Apply →
Most Popular

Semi-Annual Partner

6-month engagement

Pricing shared after application.

  • Everything in Quarterly
  • Bi-weekly working sessions
  • Active involvement in implementation oversight
  • Two deliverables per engagement (strategy doc, governance framework, market analysis, etc.)
  • Priority scheduling & emergency advisory calls

For sports properties and enterprises in active build or growth phases.

Apply →
Limited — 3 Spots

Annual Strategic Partner

12-month engagement

Pricing shared after application.

  • Full retained advisory access
  • Weekly sessions + unlimited async
  • Board/executive presentation support
  • Co-creation of internal AI, tech, or business strategy
  • Network introductions + co-authoring of thought leadership

For organizations that want a strategic partner embedded in their future — not just their next quarter.

Apply for 2026 →

All engagements are by application. I only work with clients where I can make a measurable difference.

Apply for Advisory Access
My Ventures

Built. Deployed. In Production.

Advisory backed by ownership. These are the companies I co-founded and continue to operate — building the tools, platforms, and implementation frameworks I bring to every client engagement.

JR Labs Sports
Co-Founder & Chief AI Officer

JR Labs Sports

AI-first sports intelligence company consulting clubs, leagues, and brands on the transition from SaaS to Agentic-as-a-Service (AgaaS). Revenue optimization, fan engagement, scouting intelligence, and sponsorship valuation — built on production-grade AI pipelines, not slide decks.

Client verticals: MLS · NBA · LaLiga · Premier League

jrlabs.tech
CWaves Digital
Co-Founder

CWaves Digital

AI-native brand identity platform for marketing agencies and startups. Flagship product: Nacelle — automated brand generation, identity systems, and creative assets. AI by Design, from day one.

Markets: Finland & Iberia

cwaves.fi

More coming soon

Always building. If you're developing tools, platforms, or infrastructure at the intersection of technology and sport — let's talk.

Academic & Thought Leadership

Teaching What I Build

I don't just advise — I help develop the next generation of sports business and technology leaders.

Active
Real Madrid Graduate School – Universidad Europea

Real Madrid Graduate School – Universidad Europea

Guest Lecturer

Focus: AI in Sports, Digital Transformation, Blockchain, Business Innovation

Also alumnus — Master in Sports Marketing & eSports Management

Available For

  • University guest lectures and masterclasses
  • Corporate workshops on AI strategy and governance
  • Conference keynotes on sports technology and digital transformation
  • Executive education programs
  • Private athlete/team workshops on AI, digital strategy, and personal brand technology infrastructure
The Evidence

Built on Evidence, Not Buzzwords

Before advising on transformation, I transformed myself. 30+ certifications. 4 master's degrees. Active practitioner — not a retired theorist.

Stanford University

Stanford University

Digital Transformation (Engineering)

Cornell University

Cornell University

Machine Learning (Executive Program)

MIT

MIT

Blockchain: Disruptive Technology (Professional Education)

Master's Degrees

  • Real Madrid Graduate School – Universidad EuropeaSports Marketing & eSports Management

  • ISDE | FC BarcelonaSports Management & Legal Skills

  • Universitat Politècnica de CatalunyaBlockchain & Business Applications

  • Universitat de BarcelonaDigital Transformation & Business Development

  • Panamerican Business SchoolDisruptive Technologies, AI & Metaverse

  • Panamerican Business SchoolBBA, Business Administration

Professional Certifications

Google Cloud — Professional Cloud ArchitectIBM — AI Engineering Professional CertificateIBM — Data Science Professional CertificateDeepLearning.AI — Deep Learning SpecializationUdacity — Self-Driving Car EngineerUdacity — Flying Car & Autonomous Flight EngineerUdacity — Cloud DevOps EngineerUdacity — AI for HealthcareBarça Innovation Hub — Sports Innovation (4 certificates)Google — Fundamentals of Digital MarketingUniversity of Helsinki — Elements of AIStanford University — Machine LearningStanford University — Probabilistic Graphical ModelsUniversity of Washington — ML SpecializationUniversity of Michigan — Python for EverybodyUC San Diego — Data Structures and AlgorithmsUniversity of Illinois — Accelerated CS Fundamentals+ additional specialized certifications

9x Udacity Nanodegree Graduate: Self-Driving Car · Flying Car · Sensor Fusion · Computer Vision · NLP · Deep Learning · AI for Healthcare · AI Programming · Cloud DevOps

Apply for Access

Ready to Get in the Room?

My advisory calendar has limited availability. If you're a professional athlete, sports organization, or enterprise serious about what AI and technology can do for your business — start here.

Porto, Portugal · Available globally

linkedin.com/in/rafaca5tro

hello@rafaelcastro.ai

Languages: Spanish · English · Portuguese · Italian · French