COLUMNIST: ANTONIO DIXON

Forbes Next 1000 I Political Strategist | MIT Advisor | Columbia University Executive-in-Residence | Global Venture Capitalist. More Antonio Dixon, an MIT-trained entrepreneur and venture capitalist with experience in healthcare (telehealth & medical device), renewable energy, and international trade His professional journey has led him to work inover 20 international markets and extended to more than 80 countries worldwide. Mr. Dixon's notable involvement with governments in the Caribbean, the USA, and various African nations has been centered around investments, global partnerships, renewable energy projects and policy, underscoring his dedication to sustainable development on a global scale.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Mr. Dixon’s company, SolarFi, made a significant impact in the hospitality sector. SolarFi introduced solar-powered dining pods, a creative solution that allowed restaurants to maintain operations during the pandemic. These innovations were adopted by notable brands such as Eataly, The City of Pittsfield, The University of Alabama, and NY Fashion Week, leading to Mr. Dixon's feature on the Forbes Next 1000 list.

Mr. Dixon has been recognized as a Top 100 Startup Changemaker by Harvard and MIT, named a Young Pioneer by the United Nations, and received the Frost & Sullivan Emerging Market Innovation Award. He has also been featured in the Forbes Next 1000. His company, SolarFi, is uniquely recognized as the only company with less than $50,000,000 in revenue to be invited to the UN’s SDG Innovators Program.

Serving as an Executive-in-Residence at Columbia University and NYSERDA (The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority), and as an advisor at MIT’s Martin Trust Center for Entrepreneurship, Mr. Dixon is also a SOCAP Scholar. He has provided advisory services for presidential elections in several African countries.

In his role as a serial entrepreneur and change-maker, Mr. Dixon co-founded SunPowerd, where he was instrumental in establishing alliances to supply solar grids to developing countries. This included forging key partnerships with Microsoft, Royal Dutch Shell, USAID Power Africa, and the United Nations. He serves as an Operating Partner at Chanzo Capital.

Drawing on his experiences in various African nations, where reliable access to power and the internet is a frequent challenge, Mr. Dixon co-founded SolarFi. This initiative focuses on bringing energy and economic development to under-served regions through solar-powered technology stations, particularly targeting diverse communities in African nations, the Caribbean, and the USA.