Javier Sanz Alvarez
Founder & CEO, SubcontractorAudit
5M+
Users scaled
€100M+
M&A executed
10
Regulatory jurisdictions
200
Team built from scratch
I scale regulated platforms. Over the past decade, I built a digital broker-dealer from zero to 5 million users, culminating in an acquisition by a tier-one US investment bank. I have closed over €100M in cross-border M&A and secured capital-markets and payment licences across 10 jurisdictions on 4 continents.
That experience taught me something: the hardest part of any regulated business is not the technology — it is the compliance infrastructure. Licensing, document validation, risk management, multi-party coordination, audit trails. These are the same challenges that general contractors face every day managing subcontractor compliance.
SubcontractorAudit applies the same rigour I brought to financial regulation to the construction industry. We use AI to automate the document extraction, validation, and tracking that GC compliance teams currently do by hand — reducing a 20-hour-per-week manual process to under 4 hours, with higher accuracy and complete audit trails.
Experience
Founder & CEO
SubcontractorAudit
2026 — Present · Dubai
Building the AI-powered compliance automation platform for general contractors. COI tracking, pay app auditing, and lien waiver management — automated.
VP, Operations & Market Expansion
Alpaca ($1.2B valuation)
2024 — 2026 · Silicon Valley / Dubai
Led the full lifecycle of two cross-border acquisitions (€45M combined). Secured capital markets, crypto, and payment licences across 6 jurisdictions (VARA, CMA, MAS, AIFC, CIRO, GIFT). Expanded trading from US-only to global multi-asset across 8+ new exchanges.
President & CEO
Digital Brokerage (acquired by tier-one US investment bank)
2017 — 2024 · Madrid / London / Mexico City
Built an ESMA-regulated digital broker-dealer from concept to 5M+ users and €5B annual volume — the fastest-growing investment platform in Southern Europe. Designed and executed the strategic pivot to white-label infrastructure, signing contracts with 4 of the world's 20 largest banks by AUM. Led two landmark exit processes, including the acquisition by a tier-one US investment bank.
Head of Operations & Business Development
Emoji Company (Universal Studios)
2014 — 2017 · New York / Dubai
Created a €300M+ annual-revenue global IP-licensing operation from a standing start. Closed multi-million-dollar brand deals with Universal Studios, Sony Pictures, Durex, and Cola Cao across 30+ countries.
Private Equity Analyst
Gala Capital
2013 · Madrid
Financial modelling, due diligence, and market analysis for M&A transactions, debt restructurings, and portfolio valuations at a mid-market PE firm.
Education
Harvard University
Advanced Finance Program (A+)
Private Equity, M&A, Corporate Finance, Financial Statement Analysis
CUNEF Universidad
Bachelor in Finance, Business & Auditing
Valedictorian. Excellence Scholarship (Spanish Banking Association). 1st Place Entrepreneurship Award.
Professional Development
Let's talk
Want to discuss construction compliance automation, or explore how SubcontractorAudit can help your firm?