Spotlight: Connor Borrego
Shaping the Future of Digital Identity in Kansas City
In the heart of Kansas City’s growing innovation scene, Connor Borrego stands out as a digital identity and data ownership visionary. As the founder and CEO of playhaus, Connor is on a mission to revolutionize how businesses and creators control their data, offering solutions that empower and guarantee a 30% reduction in advertising costs.
The Journey to Kansas City
Adopted into a Mexican family, Connor’s early experiences instilled a deep appreciation for identity and ownership, values that now form the cornerstone of his work. After earning an MSBA in Data Science from Syracuse University, Connor began his career in ad tech at AdAdapted, where he honed his skills in automating workflows and navigating product and operations roles. His talents later caught the attention of Google, where he became an expert in AI-powered bidding systems, advising startups with multimillion-dollar budgets on optimizing their ad spending through advanced data warehousing techniques.
Yet, even within one of the world’s most influential tech companies, Connor saw the cracks in centralized data control. Frustrated by these limitations and inspired by the possibilities of blockchain technology, he left Google in 2020 to found playhaus. His vision? To disrupt the advertising industry by creating ethical, data-driven systems prioritizing empowerment for businesses and individuals.
playhaus: Redefining Data Ownership
playhaus is more than a digital agency—it’s a data infrastructure powerhouse. By building bespoke data warehouses that seamlessly integrate CRM, POS, ERP, and ad platforms, playhaus provides businesses with a unified view of their operations. Unlike traditional methods, playhaus’ algorithms learn from verified customer activities, not arbitrary site visitors, delivering higher returns and unparalleled data efficiency.
Connor and his team are also at the forefront of innovation, exploring technologies like fully homomorphic encryption and blockchain. Their flagship product, a smart wallet, securely stores tokenized user data as NFTs, enabling businesses to monetize insights through predictive analytics. This cutting-edge approach has not gone unnoticed; in October 2024, playhaus received funding through our friends over at Missouri Technology Corporation (MTC), a testament to its transformative impact on the industry.
Building Community in Kansas City
Since moving to Kansas City in 2022, Connor has become a dynamic force in the local web3 and crypto ecosystem. Through organizations like KC Digital Drive and KC Futures DAO, a Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) focused on showcasing Kansas City’s diversity and innovation, Connor actively positions the region as a global leader in technology and sustainability.
He also shares his expertise through his newsletter, Heart & Sol, offering insights into crypto, web3, and building systems that challenge the dominance of tech giants. By fostering collaboration and innovation, Connor is helping to cement Kansas City’s reputation as a hub for entrepreneurship and digital transformation.
What Connor Loves About KC
- The community’s spirit of collaboration: Connor is deeply influenced by KC’s welcoming nature and willingness to support new ideas.
- A growing web3 ecosystem: Connor sees KC as an emerging leader in decentralized technologies and is excited to contribute to its growth.
- Quality of life: KC offers the perfect balance of opportunity and livability from its vibrant neighborhoods to its thriving cultural scene.
How to Connect
Want to learn more about playhaus and its groundbreaking solutions? Visit playhaus.tv to explore their innovative platform, or connect with Connor directly on LinkedIn here.
Stay tuned for next week’s New2KC Spotlight as we highlight KC’s newest VC investor, Alexandra O’Hagan-Padron!
Together, these stories celebrate the innovators driving KC’s transformation into a premier hub for technology and entrepreneurship.
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