I'm Manuel Benancio, usually Kembec.
CTO · Product & Engineering
I started as a developer in 2008. Since then, I've worked on backend systems and infrastructure, co-founded a software business, and led product and engineering in two CTO roles.
Guinea Mobile
My work spans mobile brands, business connectivity and IoT. Besides the software a customer uses, we build what the business runs on: the billing, and the interfaces our partners connect to.
Those businesses share technology and engineering capacity, so new work has to be agreed against what it displaces.
We're moving from legacy systems to shared services while continuing to support existing products. Other companies already use our interfaces, so changes need to account for their integrations.
Priorities and scope
Making room for a priority
Data work for a mobile brand needed time already committed to other projects. I asked the business to confirm priorities, then set out which data reviews I would take on, which other work I was putting on hold, and what new requests would mean for the date.
Before development starts
For a partner integration, I shared the proposed flow as a mockup. I made clear that the endpoint would be developed once the commercial side gave the go-ahead.
Syma
I co-founded Syma in 2018. We built point-of-sale and electronic invoicing software for Peruvian retailers under SUNAT's rules.
I led product and engineering until 2023. Being a co-founder also meant dealing with payroll, support and sales.
Grupo Anta
I advised businesses across Latin America on digital strategy and e-commerce.
Earlier work
I began with small websites, then moved into backend development and infrastructure. I still read the code my teams write.
Location and languages
I work from Peru, with teams and partners across Latin America. Spanish is my working language, and I read and write English every day.