Orlando Bravo: Puerto Rico can lead AI-driven growth
Puerto Rican investor and philanthropist Orlando Bravo, founder and managing partner of Thoma Bravo, said Puerto Rico has the potential to play a central role in the global software and artificial intelligence boom.
He made the remarks during a meeting with members of the local business press at the Bravo Family Foundation offices in Miramar, following his keynote at the New America Alliance International Symposium in San Juan.
Bravo, who received the Catalyst Leadership Award at the event for his work advancing economic and social development in Puerto Rico through investment, mentorship and philanthropy, said the island’s strengths lie in its people.
“The software industry, driven by artificial intelligence, is entering a new growth curve,” Bravo said. “Puerto Rico has the talent and energy to be part of that change. The important thing is to connect that potential with investment, mentorship and a long-term vision.”
He described the adoption of new technologies as a process that requires consistency and focus, saying that innovation delivers results only when it is tied to human development.
“At our firm and our foundation, we believe in giving new generations real responsibilities and growth opportunities,” he said. “Investing in people is as important as investing in technology.”
Bravo framed AI as a transformative tool that enhances rather than replaces human potential.
“I see a transformation in jobs, but not a massive displacement,” he said. “Technology evolves with people, not against them. Artificial intelligence does not replace human talent; it amplifies it.”
He added that AI could strengthen Puerto Rico’s competitiveness in professional services, cybersecurity and software development — areas where local expertise already exists.
“Companies that strategically integrate artificial intelligence are generating more value, not more expenditure,” Bravo said. “AI does not replace; it empowers.”
He also said the island could serve as a “laboratory for innovation,” where local talent and international investment come together to create solutions with global reach.
“After more than two decades and over 500 software acquisitions, we feel everything has prepared us for this moment: transforming market leaders and bringing them to the next generation powered by artificial intelligence,” he said. “That same spirit can propel Puerto Rico forward.”
Thoma Bravo, one of the world’s largest software investment firms, manages more than $181 billion in assets and has invested in more than 555 companies worldwide. Through the Bravo Family Foundation, the firm funds leadership and entrepreneurship programs that promote local capacity-building and economic development in Puerto Rico.
