Rafael Pieper

Rafael Pieper currently serves as a Senior Corporate Venture Analyst at Wilson Sons, where he plays a pivotal role within the company's digital transformation team. In this capacity, Rafael leverages his extensive background in naval architecture and ship operations to evaluate and support innovative maritime technologies and startups. His responsibilities include overseeing the governance of corporate venture capital (CVC) investments, ensuring alignment with Wilson Sons’ strategic objectives, and facilitating the integration of cutting-edge solutions into the company's operational ecosystem.

A key aspect of Rafael’s role involves providing technical and commercial expertise to portfolio startups, particularly in areas related to naval architecture, ship design, and data-driven operational efficiencies. His insights help these startups refine their offerings, ensuring they meet the rigorous standards of the maritime industry. Rafael also actively prospecting new technologies—such as automation, digital twins, and data analytics—that can enhance Wilson Sons’ port operations, vessel management, and maintenance processes. His proficiency in business intelligence tools like Microsoft Excel, BI platforms, and SQL databases enables him to analyze complex datasets, identify trends, and support strategic decision-making.

With a strong foundation in ship design, vessel maintenance supervision, and operational efficiency, Rafael brings a holistic perspective to his work. His stakeholder management skills and ability to bridge technical and commercial discussions foster collaboration across departments and with external partners. By integrating his naval architecture expertise with digital innovation, Rafael is instrumental in driving Wilson Sons’ digital transformation, optimizing fleet performance, and maintaining its competitive edge in the maritime industry.