ESTABLISHING
THE PHYSICAL
LAYER.
BeforeTech designs the active infrastructure required for the digital era. We are eliminating the gap between high-performance hardware and the humans who carry it.
THE NEXT
ITERATION
OF CARRY.
We are moving past the era of simple fabric and thread. By blending premium material science with integrated technology, BeforeTech creates intelligent enclosures. It is the logical next step in our relationship with the devices we use every day.
A fully integrated ecosystem designed specifically for the modern professional.
> ASSET_01: STRUCTURAL_INTEGRITY
THE HARDWARE.
An uncompromising physical foundation. Engineered to absorb the chaos of the commute and protect your most critical devices.
> ASSET_02: 100W_DELIVERY
THE ENERGY.
Sustained, high-capacity power on demand. Keeping your mobile workstation fully charged and ready to deploy at a moment's notice.
> ASSET_03: TELEMETRY_ACTIVE
THE NETWORK.
Constant environmental awareness. Live internal feedback ensures your hardware is always operating under optimal conditions.
> ASSET_04: HEX_CORE_ARMOR
THE CHASSIS.
A fortress for your daily carry. Weather-sealed and impact-resistant to completely isolate your gear from the outside world.
> ASSET_05: LOCAL_EDGE_NPU
THE BRAIN.
Intelligence anywhere and everywhere. Localized processing that responds instantly, with zero reliance on the cloud.
THE VULNERABILITY OF
PASSIVE CARRY.
Technology has evolved exponentially, yet the method of transporting it remains stuck in the 1990s. We place thousands of dollars of fragile computing power into "dumb" fabric bags with zero active protection.
The BeforeTech Standard
Infrastructure must be Active, Structural, and Integrated. A bag is no longer a container; it is an extension of the workstation.
ASU Validated Research
"The modern professional no longer commutes to a workstation; they carry it. Over 85% of power users identified a lack of an integrated foundation for their devices."
Applied Engineering Study
ENGINEERED,
NOT SEWN.
We have abandoned traditional soft-goods manufacturing. BeforeTech infrastructure is developed using structural CAD, dynamic thermal analysis, and aerospace-grade polymer composites. We build enclosures the exact same way tech companies build the devices inside them.
Thermal Management
Active power requires active cooling. Internal heat sinks and vented chassis designs ensure sustained high-voltage delivery without thermal throttling.
Kinetic Dispersion
Rigid sub-frames redirect blunt force trauma and localized impacts around the perimeter, isolating delicate silicon from destructive energy.
Invisible Integration
Sensors, wiring harnesses, and networking antennas are routed internally through the shell wall, maintaining a stark, uncompromising exterior silhouette.
Atmospheric Sealing
Hermetic gating and hydrophobic composites defend internal computing clusters against moisture and particulate ingress, securing a localized micro-climate.
PLATFORM 1.
The flagship active-carry chassis. 100W integrated power delivery, hex-core structural armor, and localized edge-AI networking.
THE ANCHOR.
The first bio-intervention smartwatch for acute crisis. Engineered as an uncompromising wrist-worn sentinel for real-time arterial monitoring, continuous bio-telemetry, and immediate automated response routing.
NEUROBUDS.
Advanced micro-earphones equipped with bio-sensing nodes. Continuously monitors neural activity to flag stroke markers, pressure spikes, and localized anomalies.
LEADERSHIP.
The architectural minds behind BeforeTech. A convergence of material science, brand logistics, and strategic foresight.
Philander Akins Jr
Brand Ops
Commanding digital infrastructure and brand logistics. Fusing technical vision with market presentation.
Paul Esparza
Chief Executive Officer
Directing the high-level roadmap and strategic protocols. Eliminating the passive accessory.
JOIN THE TASK FORCE
BeforeTech is actively expanding its development pipeline. We are seeking hardware architects, bio-medical sensor engineers, and spatial developers to model the next phase of human protection.
Philander Akins Jr.
Brand Ops // Digital Infrastructure
Head in the clouds,
Feet on the ground.
Hi, I'm Philander.
I'm currently a full-time student, but every hour outside the classroom is dedicated to building BeforeTech alongside Paul. We are focused on the day-to-day reality of bringing a hardware startup to life—juggling early-stage physical prototyping, building our network, navigating the initial legal frameworks, and mapping out a sustainable long-term vision.
I love bridging the gap between wild, creative imagination and rock-solid operational frameworks. If it takes goofy ambition to dream it up, it takes down-to-earth realism to actually build it.
Operations & Strategy
BOM Analysis, Market Validation
Digital Marketing
SEO Audits, Inbound Strategies
Business Technology
AI Prompt Engineering, Workflows
Brand Direction
B2B Content Pipelines, Consistency
ROADMAP & PROTOCOLS.
A transparent look at my immediate goals, long-term career path, and the direction I am steering my creative portfolio.
Building a hardware company from the ground up requires absolute focus. Right now, 100% of my daily bandwidth is dedicated to getting BeforeTech into production. To make that happen, I've made the deliberate choice to put my secondary creative agency, Phili2x Productions, on standby. It remains a massive piece of my long-term vision, but you can't build two foundations at the exact same time. I am committed to doing whatever it takes to make this work—including taking on strategic industry roles to master the operational systems I need to eventually scale both.
BeforeTech
My primary focus. An active-carry hardware company engineered to eliminate the gap between high-performance tech and the humans who carry it.
Phili2x Productions
My creative production agency, temporarily paused. Built on the "2x Philosophy" to transform external businesses and creators into high-fidelity brands.
BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY.
Systems & Operations
My mission is to design the backend systems that let my ventures scale without manual bottlenecks. I want to move from managing Google Workspace to designing complex Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and CRM systems that track, automate, and optimize every operational detail.
Demonstrate the ability to create and document technology strategies and product development plans.
Demonstrate the ability to assemble the resources and infrastructure needed to successfully take technologies to market.
Demonstrate the capacity to apply lean and Agile approaches in the development of an organizational mission, strategy and technology product.
Demonstrate baseline knowledge of business operational elements (finance, legal, operations, resources, marketing, market analysis, manufacturing and supply infrastructure).
Demonstrate competency in leading technology teams.
Generate and visualize data for decision-making analytics that measure and communicate organizational performance.
DIGITAL MARKETING.
Customer Acquisition & Analytics
I am mastering the science of customer acquisition. It’s the critical difference between having a cool expo booth and securing 10,000 pre-orders. I am learning to weaponize data analytics to pinpoint exactly where my brands resonate and where we lose leverage.
Marketing has evolved into a world of digital assets and precision outreach. This path combines technology skills with the art of marketing for a career that is both analytical and creative.
Understand inbound marketing and SEO strategies based on evolving trends in the market.
Create content that fosters the growth and engagement of a target audience.
Design and implement digital marketing strategies that follow branding guidelines.
Identify basic key performance indicators (KPIs) through analytics for conversion optimization.
Cultivate leadership qualities through the development and management of marketing campaigns.
Develop the ability to work with standard and emerging platforms used in the digital advertising industry.
PROJECTS.
A selection of validated projects, exhibitions, and milestones driving the BeforeTech architecture forward.
2026 Research &
Innovation Expo
Our journey from early concepts to physical reality culminated at the 2026 Research & Innovation Expo (#RIE2026). Stepping onto the exhibition floor, we presented BeforeTech to STEAM NHS judges evaluating projects against strict Regeneron ISEF-affiliated standards—and ultimately walked away with 1st Place in the Undergraduate category.
Having a great idea is the easy part. The real work lies in the discipline required to prove the concept is viable. Competing against incredibly high-caliber talent forced us to step out of the theoretical and back up our hardware claims with hard data, rigorous testing, and concrete evidence.
This milestone was entirely a team effort. A massive, heartfelt thank you to my Co-Founder, Paul Esparza, whose vision drives us forward every day, and to Mason Wang for his invaluable dedication to this project early on. This win belongs to all of us.
Relational Metro:
Cloud Data Warehousing.
Evaluating over 100,000 historical e-commerce records to solve three critical challenges: untracked funnel drop-offs, volatile Average Order Values (AOV), and undetected customer churn. Raw transactional data across normalized tables creates noise; this project constructs a structured data pipeline to convert that noise into actionable executive intelligence.
Raw Cloud Storage
Ingested 5 normalized relational tables (customers, orders, order_items, payments, products) into Google BigQuery under the raw_ecommerce dataset.
ETL Staging Layer
Built staging views to handle cleanup—standardizing 27 Brazilian states into 5 macro regions, converting strings to TIMESTAMP, and generating SLA metrics.
Decoupled Frontend
Exported BigQuery analytics to static JSON payloads to power this high-performance HTML/CSS/JS dashboard hosted on Netlify.
> INSIGHT_01: REV_ATTRIBUTION
Strategic Cross-Selling.
Credit cards account for the majority of sales volume, but category-level analysis demonstrates that high-value electronics drive significantly higher AOV, highlighting strategic cross-selling opportunities.
> INSIGHT_02: LATENCY_FUNNEL
Isolating The Bottleneck.
Tracked stage-by-stage latency using TIMESTAMP_DIFF. Isolated the carrier handoff phase (order approval to carrier pickup) as the main operational bottleneck, even while overall delivery SLA rates remained high.
> INSIGHT_03: RFM_COHORTS
Actionable Segmentation.
Used NTILE(4) window functions across Recency, Frequency, and Monetary Value to segment accounts into strategic cohorts (Loyal Champions, At-Risk, Churned), offering immediate utility for targeted marketing campaigns.
Resilient Architecture.
The queries powering this dashboard are engineered for safety and accuracy at scale. Two primary protections are implemented across the pipeline:
- Cartesian Explosion Prevention: Implemented CTEs to pre-aggregate line items per order prior to joining payment records, preserving 100% financial accuracy without row duplication.
- Resilient Analytics Engine: Leveraged
SAFE_DIVIDE()to protect against division-by-zero runtime exceptions andCOALESCE()to seamlessly handle missing category metadata.
WITH order_payments AS (
SELECT
order_id,
payment_type,
SUM(payment_value) AS total_payment_value
FROM `relational-metro-analytics.raw_ecommerce.stg_payments`
GROUP BY 1, 2
),
order_categories AS (
SELECT DISTINCT
i.order_id,
COALESCE(p.product_category_name, 'Uncategorized') AS product_category
FROM `relational-metro-analytics.raw_ecommerce.order_items` i
LEFT JOIN `relational-metro-analytics.raw_ecommerce.products` p
ON i.product_id = p.product_id
)
SELECT
oc.product_category,
op.payment_type,
COUNT(DISTINCT op.order_id) AS total_transactions,
ROUND(SUM(op.total_payment_value), 2) AS total_revenue,
ROUND(SAFE_DIVIDE(SUM(op.total_payment_value), COUNT(DISTINCT op.order_id)), 2) AS average_order_value
FROM order_payments op
INNER JOIN `relational-metro-analytics.raw_ecommerce.stg_orders` o
ON op.order_id = o.order_id
LEFT JOIN order_categories oc
ON op.order_id = oc.order_id
GROUP BY 1, 2
ORDER BY total_revenue DESC;SELECT
COUNT(DISTINCT order_id) AS total_orders_placed,
COUNT(DISTINCT CASE WHEN approved_timestamp IS NOT NULL THEN order_id END) AS orders_approved,
COUNT(DISTINCT CASE WHEN shipped_timestamp IS NOT NULL THEN order_id END) AS orders_shipped,
COUNT(DISTINCT CASE WHEN delivered_timestamp IS NOT NULL THEN order_id END) AS orders_delivered,
-- Conversion / Funnel Completion Rates (%)
ROUND(SAFE_DIVIDE(COUNT(DISTINCT CASE WHEN approved_timestamp IS NOT NULL THEN order_id END), COUNT(DISTINCT order_id)) * 100, 2) AS approval_rate_pct,
ROUND(SAFE_DIVIDE(COUNT(DISTINCT CASE WHEN shipped_timestamp IS NOT NULL THEN order_id END), COUNT(DISTINCT approved_timestamp)) * 100, 2) AS fulfillment_rate_pct,
ROUND(SAFE_DIVIDE(COUNT(DISTINCT CASE WHEN delivered_timestamp IS NOT NULL THEN order_id END), COUNT(DISTINCT shipped_timestamp)) * 100, 2) AS delivery_rate_pct,
-- Operational Latency (Average Days per Stage)
ROUND(AVG(TIMESTAMP_DIFF(approved_timestamp, purchase_timestamp, HOUR) / 24.0), 2) AS avg_hours_to_approve_days,
ROUND(AVG(TIMESTAMP_DIFF(shipped_timestamp, approved_timestamp, HOUR) / 24.0), 2) AS avg_approval_to_carrier_days,
ROUND(AVG(TIMESTAMP_DIFF(delivered_timestamp, shipped_timestamp, HOUR) / 24.0), 2) AS avg_carrier_to_delivery_days,
ROUND(AVG(TIMESTAMP_DIFF(delivered_timestamp, purchase_timestamp, HOUR) / 24.0), 2) AS avg_total_fulfillment_days,
-- SLA Compliance Rate
ROUND(AVG(is_delivered_on_time) * 100, 2) AS sla_met_pct
FROM `relational-metro-analytics.raw_ecommerce.stg_orders`;WITH customer_rfm AS (
SELECT
c.customer_unique_id,
MAX(o.purchase_timestamp) AS last_purchase_timestamp,
COUNT(DISTINCT o.order_id) AS frequency,
SUM(p.payment_value) AS monetary
FROM `relational-metro-analytics.raw_ecommerce.stg_customers` c
INNER JOIN `relational-metro-analytics.raw_ecommerce.stg_orders` o
ON c.customer_id = o.customer_id
INNER JOIN `relational-metro-analytics.raw_ecommerce.stg_payments` p
ON o.order_id = p.order_id
GROUP BY c.customer_unique_id
),
reference_date AS (
SELECT MAX(purchase_timestamp) AS max_date FROM `relational-metro-analytics.raw_ecommerce.stg_orders`
),
rfm_scores AS (
SELECT
r.customer_unique_id,
TIMESTAMP_DIFF((SELECT max_date FROM reference_date), r.last_purchase_timestamp, DAY) AS recency_days,
r.frequency,
ROUND(r.monetary, 2) AS monetary_value,
NTILE(4) OVER (ORDER BY TIMESTAMP_DIFF((SELECT max_date FROM reference_date), r.last_purchase_timestamp, DAY) DESC) AS r_score,
NTILE(4) OVER (ORDER BY r.frequency ASC) AS f_score,
NTILE(4) OVER (ORDER BY r.monetary ASC) AS m_score
FROM customer_rfm r
)
SELECT
customer_unique_id,
recency_days,
frequency,
monetary_value,
CONCAT(CAST(r_score AS STRING), CAST(f_score AS STRING), CAST(m_score AS STRING)) AS rfm_combined,
CASE
WHEN r_score = 4 AND f_score >= 3 AND m_score >= 3 THEN 'Loyal Champions'
WHEN r_score >= 3 AND m_score >= 3 THEN 'High-Value Recent'
WHEN r_score <= 2 AND f_score >= 2 THEN 'At Risk / Drifting'
WHEN r_score = 1 THEN 'Churned Accounts'
ELSE 'Casual Shoppers'
END AS customer_segment
FROM rfm_scores
ORDER BY monetary_value DESC;> INNOVATION_NODE // 01
SIP COMING SOON.
Student Innovation Project documentation, telemetry, and validation data are currently compiling.
ESTABLISH CONNECTION.
Whether you are looking to discuss hardware architecture, strategic partnerships, or brand operations—my comms are open.
Paul Esparza.
Chief Executive Officer // Hardware
TODAY.
Returning to academia after securing my first degree was a deliberate, calculated pivot. I am currently a full-time student, balancing rigorous academic benchmarks with the day-to-day execution of a hardware startup.
Alongside Philander, I co-founded BeforeTech—an initiative built on uncompromising innovation, strategic collaboration, and the construction of active pipelines for the next generation of engineering talent.
Operations & Scaling
Project Planning, Team Execution
Product Development
Design, Compliance, Logistics
Academic Partnerships
University Talent Pipelines
Strategic Relations
B2B Networking, Advising
TOMORROW.
A transparent look at my immediate goals, long-term career path, and the direction I am steering my creative portfolio.
My vision for the future of BeforeTech extends beyond hardware; it is about building a sustainable pipeline for the next generation of innovators. As I continue my education toward a PhD, my objective is to forge structural partnerships with universities, bringing the brightest engineering interns directly into our development ecosystem. I want BeforeTech to be a proving ground where students execute on high-impact projects, gain real-world operational experience, and ultimately secure a permanent home for their talents.
Hardware R&D
Leading the physical prototyping and material validation of the Platform 1 ecosystem, pushing designs from digital CAD to physical reality.
University Pipelines
Establishing formal academic partnerships to filter high-potential student talent into BeforeTech's internship and engineering task forces.
DIGITAL MAKER & FABRICATION.
Hardware Architecture & Prototyping
This degree forms the technical foundation of my hardware roadmap. By mastering physical fabrication, material science, and digital prototyping, I am developing the exact skill set required to lead BeforeTech's physical infrastructure. This expertise enables me to evaluate aerospace composites, oversee embedded systems integration, and lead our future intern teams through rigorous, agile development cycles.
Using digital and physical tools, engineer and build prototypes that technology patents are then applied for.
Build physical products while demonstrating technique and safety competency across commonly accepted prototyping devices, maker tools, and techniques.
Produce products that balance form and function while reflecting current and future trends in design and human factors.
Demonstrate the ability to evaluate material and build technique options during the creation of products and their prototypes.
Demonstrate the ability to effectively implement embedded systems and fundamental electronics into product builds.
Place prototypes and builds within the Agile and MVP development frameworks.
PROJECTS.
A selection of validated projects, exhibitions, and milestones driving the BeforeTech architecture forward.
2026 Research &
Innovation Expo
Our journey from early concepts to physical reality culminated at the 2026 Research & Innovation Expo (#RIE2026). Stepping onto the exhibition floor, we presented BeforeTech to STEAM NHS judges evaluating projects against strict Regeneron ISEF-affiliated standards—and ultimately walked away with 1st Place in the Undergraduate category.
Having a great idea is the easy part. The real work lies in the discipline required to prove the concept is viable. Competing against incredibly high-caliber talent forced us to step out of the theoretical and back up our hardware claims with hard data, rigorous testing, and concrete evidence.
This milestone was entirely a team effort. A massive, heartfelt thank you to my Co-Founder, Philander Akins Jr, whose operational vision drives us forward every day, and to Mason Wang for his invaluable dedication to this project early on. This win belongs to all of us.
Spade De Luna:
Premium Tequila.
Spade De Luna began during a meeting with potential investors in Los Angeles, where the idea of creating a tequila company first took shape. We later met with industry professionals, including the owners of Ranch Water and marketing teams from New York and Houston, to understand the scope and market potential of the business.
The company’s name represents its two founders: “Spade” derived from my last name, Esparza, and “De Luna” representing my business partner. The conejo (rabbit) became central to the brand’s identity with a specific cultural vision: instead of customers ordering a generic tequila, we wanted them to specifically ask for a "shot of conejo." This concept sparked during a quiet moment in Scottsdale, Arizona, which later connected perfectly with the jackrabbits common throughout the agave-growing regions of Mexico we explored.
My involvement extended across product design, development, compliance, and operations. I designed the bottle and helped develop the tequila’s flavor profile and final blend. I also assisted with the legal and logistical requirements for importing the product from Mexico into the United States, managing label development, packaging, and repacking to meet U.S. distribution requirements.
Finally, I helped establish industry relationships and pursue opportunities involving MGM properties, five-star and Michelin-recognized restaurants throughout Las Vegas, and establishments in Los Angeles, laying the operational foundation for the startup.
The Kenkor Ecosystem:
LLC & MNS.
Kenkor LLC was the first company I established, starting with purchasing, renovating, and reselling homes. As my knowledge, experience, and professional network expanded, the company progressed from remodeling existing properties to constructing entirely new homes.
What started as a side project grew into a fully operating construction company. Through Kenkor, I developed practical, on-the-ground experience in property evaluation, budgeting, project planning, construction management, team coordination, and overarching business development.
Building on this operational foundation, Kenkor MNS, LLC was created as a strategic real estate investment and business-development entity. It provided a formal structure for acquiring and managing property, pursuing mergers, participating in crowdfunding opportunities, and investing in broader, multi-disciplinary business ventures.
> INNOVATION_NODE // 01
ESTABLISH CONNECTION.
Whether you are looking to discuss hardware architecture, strategic partnerships, or business development—my comms are open.