Beyond Business: How Nelson Barragán and Jeltsin Obregón Are Empowering Puerto Rico Through Knowledge and Innovation

Nelson Barragán and Jeltsin Obregón come from different backgrounds, but they share a conviction: giving back and taking initiative, rather than waiting for opportunities to appear, can produce real change. Their view carries particular weight as younger generations take on a larger role in shaping Puerto Rico’s future.

Both recently joined Alberto Bacó Bagué on an episode of the El Blueprint podcast, where they discussed how they are helping people and businesses make better decisions and unlock their potential. Bacó is a former Secretary of the Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC).

“The best businesses are born in places where problems exist,” said Barragán, an investment analyst and principal financial advisor at Intuitivo LLC, a financial planning and investment advisory firm.

A family lesson in opportunity

For Barragán, sometimes all it takes is a change in perspective. He grew up between Trujillo Alto and Río Piedras, in a family that taught him the value of hard work and perseverance. His father arrived in Puerto Rico from Colombia at the age of 15, fleeing guerrilla violence in the 1980s.

That family history shaped how he sees the opportunities Puerto Rico offers and why they deserve to be appreciated. Barragán came to understand early that success does not depend on following a predetermined path.

After serving as treasurer of the DDEC from 2021 to 2023, he moved into the financial industry. According to Bacó, who once led both the DDEC and the Economic Development Bank for Puerto Rico (EDB), starting an independent business in that field typically requires decades of experience.

Incentives for young entrepreneurs

Barragán argues that young entrepreneurs have more opportunities to invest capital and start their own businesses than they may realize. He points to Act 60, the island’s incentives code, as a powerful tool for local entrepreneurs. What is needed, he says, is for people to educate themselves about what is available.

One of the provisions he highlights is the Young Entrepreneur Decree (Decreto Joven Empresario), designed for individuals between the ages of 16 and 35 who are establishing new businesses in Puerto Rico.

Their stories show how the next generation of business leaders can contribute to Puerto Rico’s economic development without necessarily following traditional routes.

According to the DDEC, qualifying entrepreneurs can receive a 100% income tax exemption on the first $500,000 of taxable net income, a 100% exemption from personal property and municipal taxes during the incentive period, and three years of tax benefits, beginning when the business starts operating, as set out in its decree.

Financial literacy, Barragán says, is what helped him succeed. Knowing which opportunities exist to build wealth is what he now shares with others. He dedicates his time to helping people acquire the knowledge to plan for retirement, protect their assets and make informed financial decisions, which he sees as his contribution to Puerto Rico’s ongoing economic recovery.

From design thinking to investment

Taking advantage of opportunities is something Obregón also knows very well. He grew up in a coastal town in Nicaragua, and when he arrived in Puerto Rico, he found a place that reminded him of his roots but offered opportunities he could not find in Latin America.

After studying economics at the University of California, Berkeley, he began applying design thinking, an approach closely associated with Silicon Valley’s culture of innovation, to the island’s systemic challenges. He worked on this alongside Rob Bolt, who also appeared on the podcast.

As co-founder of the Center for Design Thinking and Innovation in Education (CDTIE), he explored the value of questioning established methods, approaching problems from a human-centered perspective and encouraging people to think creatively.

Today he is an investment associate at a family office at Pantera Capital, a firm that specializes in cryptocurrency, blockchain technology and digital asset investments. There he helps evaluate investment opportunities and manage private wealth.

Innovation starts with a different question

For Obregón, these experiences have reinforced a belief that innovation is not limited to technology or business. It begins with a willingness to challenge conventional thinking and to approach problems from a different angle. His career reflects an interest in connecting ideas, identifying opportunities and applying lessons from different industries to Puerto Rico’s economic landscape.

Barragán and Obregón have pursued different professional paths, but both see entrepreneurship as a force for meaningful change. Their stories show how the next generation of business leaders can contribute to Puerto Rico’s economic development without necessarily following traditional routes.

By identifying challenges, creating opportunities and drawing on their knowledge and experience, they are helping shape the island’s future. You can watch or listen to the full podcast episode on YouTube, Spotify and in the link above.