Sebastián Alarcón Pinto
"Being yourself is courageous; it will always take you where you need to be."
Sebastian Alarcon Pinto
Country of origin: Ecuador
Occupation: Co-Founder and CTO at URKU
State of Residency: Victoria
Favourite place in Australia: The Otways, VIC
Upon arrival: I was amazed at the trust in people's good will. From my experience, helping others is the Australian way.
Story edited by Lucy Coulson
Sebastián is an Ecuadorian hospitality expert, artificial intelligence advisor, and cacao evaluator. He’s currently managing URKU, a purpose-driven business based in Melbourne, focused on cacao and chocolate sourced directly from Ecuador, the Middle of the World. Prior to his role at URKU, Sebastián worked on data strategy and governance across various strategic sectors in Australia. Most recently, he was selected among the 20 emerging Latin American leaders at the Australia Latam Emerging Leaders Dialogue 2024.
Sebastián’s contributions to Australia include creating and enhancing revenue streams through a data-centric approach, building communication bridges between business needs and the application of artificial intelligence recognising the coexistence of human input and machine learning algorithms in practice.
TELL US YOUR STORY
Carolina Contreras y Sebastian Alarcon Pinto en Big Vegan Market at Royal Exhivition Buidling in 2022.
Photo by Fiona Anderson, WeekendNotes
My journey in Australia started in 2011 when I received a scholarship to finish my studies (in business and hospitality management) at the Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School in Sydney. After this experience, my next stop was the United Arab Emirates, where I discovered the key role that data plays in high-quality and sound hospitality. After a few more years, data brought me back to Australia, this time to Deakin University in Melbourne. That was in 2015 as part of the first cohort of professionals to be part of the fast-tracked Master’s of Data and Business Analytics. My journey spanned nine months of intense studies and industry-based experience, where I learnt coding and modelling, and how data can benefit corporations and decision-making. Deakin University was also the place where I made long-lasting friendships in Australia that are with me until today – my family away from home.
In the following years I was able to work across strategic sectors in Australia, from iSelect and Transurban to consulting work at DXC and Rubix. After my time diving deep into data, the pandemic hit, and, as many, it was an opportunity to reevaluate and look further. In June 2020 my business URKU was born, ignited by the motivation to share Ecuadorian traditions and flavours through a charismatic and versatile product that speaks about the terrain, the climate, culture and people, all together in one bite. That’s how cacao came into my life.
Germánico Pinto Aged Chocolate Collection—Honouring Germánico Pinto, an Ecuadorian Entrepreneur and Innovator whose achievements still have a strong footprint in Ecuador, our home country, the roots and heart of this project.
URKU is also a journey that I share with my partner in life, Carolina Contreras, a passion project that has brought together not only our skill sets but our love and connections to our home country. Starting URKU was a natural step for me, blending my love for gastronomy with a passion for sharing culture through food. URKU embodies this desire, combining my experience in wine tasting and gastronomy with a unique, data-centric approach to working with cacao and chocolate. Collaborating closely with everyone from cacao farmers to chocolatiers, I see URKU as a collective effort, deeply rooted in the traditions of my Ecuadorian heritage. One of my fondest memories is of my grandmother preparing hot chocolate, a tradition that inspires my work today. As URKU approaches its fourth anniversary, I am grateful to the partners, family and clients who have supported this journey. Now as an independent AI consultant and co-founder of URKU, I continue to bridge my passions for hospitality, data and sustainability, all while staying connected to my home country.
CHALLENGES
"The Science Behind Chocolate" at The Commons Collingwood. Photo by The Commons Collingwood
Running a successful business - Opening a business is one of my greatest joys, URKU is the third start-up in my journey and by far the most meaningful and impactful. Last June we hit our fourth year in operations, and while there are days that feel heavier, the purpose behind URKU, which is ultimately the people and ecosystems that make cacao possible, makes it all worth it. To remain viable we’ve learnt to diversify, remain flexible and never stop learning and continue to reinvent with ingenuity. This has been possible thanks to a continued commitment to quality and authenticity, two of the core values of URKU that have multiplying effects all throughout the business.
Distance to family - Distance remains the hardest challenge. My family is my cornerstone, and even though we speak frequently, I miss them every day.
Uncertainty - Staying resilient has been crucial, made easier by the welcoming entrepreneurial environment in Australia. The accessible guidelines and information have alleviated the uncertainty of starting a business far from home. Along the way, we’ve built strong professional partnerships with small business owners, who have become dear friends, creating a network of support in this often long and treacherous journey.
CONTRASTS AND SIMILARITIES
From the mountains to the sea - I grew up in Quito in the foothills of the Andes, so moving to a coastal city has only expanded my appreciation for coastal ecosystems and the dependencies between people and nature. The city's unique energy fosters spaces for people to gather and share. While this might sound simple, sometimes the simplest things can be transformative, and these shared spaces have significantly shaped my life.
Immersion with Aussie and Asian cultures - Melbourne has also provided me with the opportunity to connect with Australian livelihoods as well as getting to know the wider Southeast Asian region and their cultures. Melbourne is my seventh city, and regardless of where life leads, it has become my second home.
Positivity no matter what - A Latin American value that I always hold close to my heart is staying positive, hopeful, kind and human despite how hard things turn. I think that spirit has become a main driver for facing challenges, feeling empowered in my own Latin American heritage, and sharing it with others.
PIECE OF ADVICE
Explore more - If you’re moving to Australia, good advice would be to explore the city you have chosen, get to know the suburbs, and try to find the one that resonates with your lifestyle. Australia offers a great diversity of experiences where you can find your community and thrive.
Be true to you - Remaining true to yourself is one of the most courageous acts, being yourself will always take you where you need to be. I am convinced that nothing beats authenticity.
Find your people - Reach out to your community. If you haven’t found one yet, just take some time to look around. Resources will become available to you. We often think we are alone, but the reality is that many hands are ready to support us.
Top 20 Latin American Young Leader Dialogue: Sebastian Alarcon as a Delegate on the future role Australia and Latin America may represent in the Agritech sector for the next generations. Photo by ALELD
IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS…
Sebastián thinks five or ten years is a long time. He sees himself continuing his work enhancing sustainability with data, especially across his passion project focused on cacao and its multiple links with strategic sectors like agriculture. He believes there is no future without nature, and efforts need to be put into making it happen.
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT SEBASTIAN and URKU
Instagram: @urku.melbourne LinkedIN: @SebastianAlarconPinto
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With love and gratitude - Latin Stories Australia team