Octavio Herrera ’98 is a Los Angeles-based entrepreneur, advisor, and investor with a track record of building and scaling disruptive software companies. A Physics major from Occidental College, Octavio is currently the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer at AI software company Play Cubed.
Octavio began his entrepreneurial journey in 2000 at the age of 23, when he co-founded MediaDefender, a pioneer in anti-piracy software. There, he led fundraising, operations, strategy, and sales before the company was acquired for $42.5 million in 2005. In 2007, he co-founded Jirbo, one of the first iPhone gaming companies, which later evolved into AdColony, a leading mobile advertising network. AdColony was acquired by Opera MediaWorks for $350 million in 2014.
Over the past decade, Octavio has continued to launch innovative software ventures and has expanded his focus to include advising and investing. He is especially passionate about supporting first-time entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities, helping them navigate the complexities of fundraising, scaling, and exit strategy.