Marlond Rafael Márquez Castañeda (Cumaná, July 28, 1973) is a prominent Venezuelan entrepreneur, business advisor, and product developer. He is recognized for having created innovative brands such as Wake (the only Apple-certified brand created by a Venezuelan), Akermed, Dilo, Wao, and Araya Seafood. Currently, he focuses on developing effective business models, innovative products, and establishing connections between Asian suppliers and the US market.

​

Biography​​​

Marlond Marquez was born and raised in Cumaná, Sucre State, Venezuela, where he completed his basic education. He then continued his high school studies in Caracas and pursued university studies in administration and business sciences. From an early age, he showed a great interest in commerce; at the age of 12, he began selling cakes and suspenders that he made himself in the shops of Cumaná.

His desire to create international connections and learn about business practices abroad led him to become involved in amateur radio during the 1990s, a medium that allowed him to establish contact with various parts of the world in a time before widespread access to the Internet.

In 2008, he made a trip to Taiwan, where he attended the TaiTronic (Taipei International Electronics Show). This experience broadened his vision of business growth opportunities, leading him to specialize in connecting the best Asian manufacturers with merchants in the Americas.

​

His beginnings​

Marlond comes from a business background, as his father, Luis José Márquez, was a partner in a company that resold lines from the Venezuelan national operator Movilnet to other operators. From a young age, his father guided him on the path of entrepreneurship, which motivated him to found his first company: Móvil Shop, which continued the family legacy in the business of selling telephone lines.

To start Móvil Shop, Marlond requested a loan from two of his aunts: one lent him 260,000 bolívares and the other, 50,000. With this initial capital, he began operating Móvil Shop and dedicated himself full-time, which allowed him to achieve relative success. At the same time, he began working with computer supplies, promoting the import of accessories after his experience at the Taipei International Electronics Show.

Over time, faced with the growing demands of the Venezuelan market, he expanded his business by incorporating the import of accessories for phones and electronic equipment. In addition, it developed products adapted to the consumer habits of the American market, distributing them through its brands such as Wake and Wao, with a catalogue that includes approximately 4,000 products.

​

Creator of bridges, business models and innovative products

Much of Marlond's success is due to its talent and vision to develop products that respond to the needs of the Latin American and North American markets, which have allowed many retailers to grow by offering quality and innovation.

It has also created effective bridges to supply the American markets with bioprotection materials and equipment for health care, through the Akermed brand, standing out for the quality and wide variety of its blood pressure monitors, masks, oximeters and many more.

Currently, Márquez continues to work as an entrepreneur and product developer, seeking to constantly innovate in the field of minor electronics, and expanding his horizons in the food industry through the Araya Tea and Araya Food brands, developing projects to offer drinks, snacks and options that allow maintaining a healthy lifestyle in a comfortable way.

​

Brands created by Marlond Márquez

To create effective bridges between the best manufacturers in Asia and the American markets, Marlond Márquez has developed products adapted to the needs of the Latin American and North American public, which are distributed through brands created by him such as:

​

Wake Energy: Created in 2015, it is a brand focused on offering technological items for charging mobile devices, such as cell phones, tablets and laptops. It stands out for its Power Banks and chargers, its star product being the Slim charger: Small, compact, practical and with fast charging. It is the only brand created by a Venezuelan that has Apple certification, Wake has participated in the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, where the best brands in the field are displayed.

 

 

Wao: A brand that was launched in 2014, focused on offering accessories for the protection of minor electronic equipment, which stand out for their durability, good price and constant innovation.

​

Akermed: designed to offer biosecurity materials and equipment that meet the requirements of the American markets. Standing out for the great variety and quality of masks, oximeters, and equipment with the Akermed brand.

MS Dilo (Dilo): Founded in 2005, as a distributor of minor electronics products and related accessories, among which the following stand out: Wake, Wao, Xiaomi, Apple, JBL and Samsung.

​

Araya: brand created for the development of healthy food products, with excellent flavor and very practical. It is divided into Araya Tea, focused on drinks and infusions; and Araya Sea Food, which offers seafood with great nutritional value.

​

 

The Wake and Wao brands are very popular in minor electronics stores in Venezuela and in the State of Florida. Akermed products are present in North American chains such as CVS Pharmacy and in Venezuela they can be found in Locatel, Farmatodo and Red Vital. Araya products are distributed through the most exclusive restaurants in Caracas.

​​

Facet as an athlete

Marquez also had the opportunity to excel in his favorite sport, motorboating, becoming a national champion at the time. Although he has not competed since 2005, Marlond achieved high performance in motorboating, practicing and competing internationally and regionally in the states of Aragua, Anzoátegui and Nueva Esparta in Venezuela, also representing Venezuela in international championships.