DWAC

Definitive Agreement

Trump Media & Technology Group

DWACU
First $9.99
Recent $61.35
514%

Digital World Acquisition Corp.

Raised
$300M
CIK
1849635
SPAC Ticker
DWACU
Merger
Trump Media & Technology Group
Focus
FinTech, Financial Services, Technology, Industrial, Logistics, Automotive, Manufacturing
External link: SEC Filings

SPAC Team

Leadership

Patrick Orlando has served as our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since May 2021. Mr. Orlando has been serving as Chief Executive Officer of Yunhong International, a publicly listed special acquisition purpose corporation since January 2020 (Nasdaq: ZGYH) and as Chief Executive Officer of Benessere Capital Acquisition Corp. a publicly listed special acquisition purpose corporation since September 2020. He has also been serving as a director of Maquia Capital Acquisition Corp., special purpose acquisition corporation since February 2021. Mr. Orlando is Chief Executive Officer of Benessere Capital, LLC, an investment consulting and investment banking firm he founded in Miami in October 2012. At Benessere Capital, LLC, he has advised on fundraising, capital deployment, mergers and acquisitions, private placements, and products marketing. From March 2014 to August 2018, Mr. Orlando also served as the Chief Financial Officer of Sucro Can Sourcing LLC, a sugar trading company he co-founded, where he managed all financial matters including insurance and banking relationships. From November 2014 to August 2018, Mr. Orlando served as the Vice President of Sucro Can International LLC, a sugar processing company, where he focused on compliance, finance, and processing technology. From March 2011 to March 2014, Mr. Orlando served as the Managing Director and the Head of Structuring and Derivatives of BT Capital Markets, LLC, a boutique investment bank in Miami, Florida, where he was involved in managing global derivatives and structuring activities. From September 2006 to March 2011, Mr. Orlando served in roles including Chief Technical Officer and Director of Pure Biofuels Corporation, a renewable fuel corporation headquartered in Houston, Texas with operations in Peru. From April 1998 to December 2003, Mr. Orlando served as the Director of Emerging Markets Fixed Income Derivatives of Deutsche Bank. Mr. Orlando earned degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Management Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Luis Orleans-Braganza has served as our Chief Financial Officer since May 2021. Mr. Orleans-Braganza is a businessman and currently a member of Brazil’s National Congress, originally elected in 2018, representing the state of São Paulo. He founded Zap Tech in February of 2012 and remained there until 2015, during which time Zap Tech developed a mobile payment platform. As the CEO he was responsible for all aspects of product design, geo localization and payment protocols. In August of 2005 he founded IKAT do Brasil, an automobile and motorcycle company which developed new automotive technology in ignitions. Mr. Braganza was responsible for all aspects of general management including team building, business development, research and development and capital allocation. Prior to his political and entrepreneurial days, his professional trajectory began in the United States, where he harnessed experiences in planning, finance and mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Braganza was part of the sales and operations planning effort of Companie de Saint-Gobain, a French multinational, between January of 1994 and December of 1996. Later he extended his financial experience at JP Morgan investment banking division in London and at Lazard Frères in New York City. From April 2000 to May 2005, he acted as a director at Time Warner’s, AOL Latin America division where he was responsible for managing strategic alliances with media and telecom players in multiple countries in the region. Mr. Braganza earned a degree in Business Administration from the Fundação Armando Álvares Penteado. .

Lee Jacobson has served as a director since December 2020. Since January 2018, he has been the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Robot Cache US, Inc., a PC games digital distribution company. From January 2017 to January 2018, Lee was the Managing Director of Converge Direct, LLC, a digital advertising agency, where he managed all of the analytics and software development operations for its clients. From September 2012 through 2016, Lee was the Chief Executive Officer of Apmetrix Analytics Inc., which liquidated its assets in 2019 in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceeding. From September 2009 to September 2012, Lee was a Senior Vice President, Licensing and Digital Publishing for Atari, where he was responsible for global licensing activities for all consumer products and interactive categories for the Atari brand and global publishing operations for the console and mobile business units. From August 1998 to August 2009, Lee was a Vice President, Business Development and Licensing, for Midway Games Inc., during which time he managed the worldwide licensing and business development functions. Prior to 1998, Lee was a Director of Business Development for Virgin Interactive Entertainment beginning in January 1997. We believe Mr. Jacobson is well-qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors due to his experience in the video game and digital distribution sector, as well as for his extensive career in management positions.

Eric Swider will serve as our director upon the effective of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Mr. Swider has been serving as the Chief Executive Officer of RUBIDEX since January 2020, a start-up company focusing on data security. Since February 2021, Mr. Swider has also served as a director of Benessere Capital Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company. Mr. Swider founded Renatus Advisors and has been serving as the Partner of Renatus LLC since June 2016, where he is responsible for FEMA grant management and government advisory services. From September 2016 to January 2018, Mr. Swider served as the Managing Director of Great Bay Global where he oversaw launch of new business division focused on investing in alternative strategies. From December 2014 to June 2016, Mr. Swider served as the Managing Director of OHorizons Global, where he oversaw expansion of new investment team and was responsible for working on a global basis to expand client base and investment portfolio. From February 2010 to December 2015, Mr. Swider served as the Managing Director of Oceano Beach Resorts, where he was responsible for growing new property and resort management group. Mr. Swider received his education in Mechanics Engineering and Nuclear Science Studies at US Naval Engineering and Nuclear A Schools, an intensive two-year program studying nuclear physics, heat transfer and fluid flow, advanced mathematical practices and engineering principles. We believe Mr. Swider is well-qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors due to his experience in business strategy, international expertise, and his contacts and relationships.

Justin L. Shaner will serve as our director upon the effective of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Mr. Shaner founded and has been serving as Chief Executive Officer of Shaner Properties LLC, a real estate investment and development company, since February 2011. Since February 2021, Mr. Shaner has also served as a director of Benessere Capital Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company. Mr. Shaner has been Vice President of Development for Shaner Hotels LP, one of the foremost award-winning hospitality owner-operators and management companies in the hospitality industry, since 2018. Mr. Shaner has been serving as the Chief Executive Officer of Sobe Brooke Studios LLC, an independent film production company, since October 2012. From August 2013 to June 2016, Mr. Shaner served as a Partner and Producer of Radar Pictures in Los Angeles, California. From September 2007 to September 2015, Mr. Shaner served as the President and Chief Creative Officer of The JLS Agency, an award winning digital marketing agency. Mr. Shaner also serves as a board member for Shaner Ciocco S.r.l. which developed and manages the Renaissance Tuscany hotel. Mr. Shaner holds a Bachelor’s degree from the Pennsylvania State University. We believe Mr. Shaner is well-qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors due to his experience in business strategy, board experience, and experience investing in the technology sector.