Michael Puscar

Michael Puscar is an entrepreneur and venture capitalist. Puscar has founded several companies including Yuxi Pacific, GITP Ventures, Miguelo Romano and Betiply, among others. He is a part of the business community changing the economy in Medellin, Colombia.

In 2013, Michael Puscar was a passenger on an Alitalia flight when it crash-landed at Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport in Rome, Italy. Puscar captured video of the crash from his seat on the plane, and this video was distributed in several major media outlets.

In 2020, Puscar revisited the crash in an episode of Brains Byte Back with Sam Brake. In the podcast, Puscar stated that he thought he was going to die and that the event significantly impacted his outlook on life.

Business ventures

Yuxi Pacific

In 2005, Puscar launched Yuxi Pacific, a professional services firm founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and focused on the creation of digital products for the publishing industry. In 2011, Puscar brought Yuxi Pacific to Medellin, Colombia. By 2013, the company had more than 100 employees in Medellín and had quadrupled its annual revenues.

Puscar has been dubbed a hero in the "Medellin Miracle," a transformation in which the city changes its reputation from the land of violent drug cartels to a modern metropolis. While Puscar supports government backing, he believes private initiatives will ultimately lead to the rebranding of Colombia. Puscar has written about the Colombian economy. Puscar has given back to the community, donating computers to local Colombian schools.

Yuxi Pacific was acquired by Blue Loop Capital in June 2013 for an undisclosed amount of cash.

GITP Ventures

Following the acquisition of Yuxi Pacific, Puscar founded GITP Ventures, a venture capital firm based in South America. Through GITP, Puscar invested in more than 6 Colombian companies, including "Colombia Focus", "Publicize", and "IPSUM Clinical", among others. The first investment made by GITP was in software company Lex Paradigm. The company was acquired less than two years later in January 2014.

Miguelo Romano

In 2014, Puscar co-founded Miguelo Romano, the world's first and only provider of blade and bullet resistant consumer clothing that is lightweight. Puscar was interviewed by Vice Media regarding the company.

Oiga Technologies

In 2017, Puscar launched Oiga Technologies. Oiga is a professional services firm.

Personal life

Puscar is the son of Michael and Paula Puscar. His father, Michael Puscar Sr, was a laborer and machinist. Puscar Sr. died in September 2007.

In 2015, Puscar married Johana Buriticá, a fashion blogger from San Luis, Colombia.