João de Lima Ginés: CEO of De Lima Ventures Group, CEO and Co-Owner of the Prominent OPTIMUM Elite Club
João de Lima Ginés is the CEO of De Lima Ventures Group, CEO and Co-Owner of the prominent OPTIMUM Elite Club, a GB Global Billionaire Contributor, and a dedicated philanthropist.
With over 25 years of experience, he has built a remarkable career as a results-driven executive, excelling in various leadership roles such as Chief Executive Officer, Chief Commercial Officer, and Director of International Expansion & Business Development. João has consistently achieved exceptional outcomes, driving solid revenue growth and successfully overseeing teams across more than 30 countries, with a focus on energy efficiency and sustainability projects.
Tell us about the global impact of De Lima Ventures Group.
Thank you for the opportunity to share our work. As Co-owner and CEO of DLV Group, and on behalf of our Chief Operating Officer and Co-founder, my younger brother Will De Lima, based in New York City, I’m pleased to share an insight into the company’s global impact and our unwavering commitment to sustainability.
De Lima Ventures Group, a US-based holding company making waves internationally. With its headquarters in New York City and offices spanning across Miami, Los Angeles, Mexico City, São Paulo, Madrid, Barcelona, and Lisbon, the group’s influence reaches far and wide.
De Lima Ventures Group operates under a diverse umbrella, consisting of subsidiary companies such as De Lima Ventures Energy, Investments, and Real Estate. Our services range from energy efficiency solutions and verified savings to secured investments and unlisted high-end prime properties.
At the heart of our mission lies a commitment to sustainability through energy efficiency.
Our advanced AI technology solutions help companies optimize energy savings, particularly in the operation of large-scale chillers and rooftop units (RTUs).
We are deeply concerned about the environmental impact of energy and water consumption, which we see as two of the most crucial natural resources facing scarcity in the near future. By reducing energy usage and enhancing water conservation, we aim to mitigate the negative outcomes of their depletion.
Our solutions are designed not just to cut costs but to leave a green footprint, helping to preserve these resources for future generations and aiming to safeguard the resources that are vital to the future of our planet.
Additionally, we are proud to be the driving force behind our subsidiary and private club OPTIMUM Elite Club, which connects an exceptional community of influential individuals across 30 countries through luxury events and hospitality, promoting collaboration, philanthropy, and positive change.
Philanthropy and social responsibility are at the core of our OPTIMUM Elite Club engaging decision-makers, influential leaders, and empowered entrepreneurs—individuals who share our values and can help propel impactful initiatives. Through this exclusive network, we aim to collaborate on projects that promote sustainability, contribute to local communities, and support global philanthropic causes.
By fostering strategic alliances, we believe that our collective efforts can create significant change, no matter how small it may seem in the grand scheme of things.
Our vision is to continue evolving, staying at the forefront of sustainable business practices while expanding our global reach. We want to deepen our impact on energy conservation, environmental sustainability, and philanthropic endeavors through the collective power of our community.
As we grow, we aim to foster more strategic partnerships and leverage our AI-driven solutions to make a tangible difference in the world. Our commitment to leaving a positive legacy in the sectors we operate in is unwavering, and we hope to inspire others to do the same.
What energy efficient solutions do you provide?
DLV Energy offers advanced energy efficiency solutions designed to optimize HVAC systems, specifically through our Green Chiller Optimization Package (GCOP) and Rooftop Unit Smart Control (RTU-SC) systems. These cutting-edge solutions are engineered to enhance energy efficiency in Chillers and RTUs, ultimately reducing maintenance costs, identifying underperforming equipment, and maximizing verified energy savings.
Our GCOP system utilizes sophisticated optimization algorithms to assess and compare energy savings, alternating control optimization on even and odd days of the month. This ensures an accurate evaluation by factoring in environmental conditions, thermal load, and equipment maintenance schedules. The result is real-time data on chiller consumption, demonstrating potential energy reductions ranging from 8-25%. Our clients can expect to see significant financial benefits, including reductions in annual electrical costs for A/C units of up to 50%, as well as lowered maintenance and repair expenses, extended equipment lifespan, reduced filter replacement costs, and an improved work environment with more consistent comfort.
Additionally, our system seamlessly integrates into existing control networks and monitoring systems using the open BACnet/IP protocol, providing an efficient and user-friendly experience.
The RTU-SC system continuously regulates the variable speed of the evaporator fan to ensure optimal heat transfer throughout the year. This results in an impressive reduction in electrical consumption, lower operating costs, and enhanced comfort through reduced humidity. By implementing this solution, electricity consumption can be reduced by 35-50% in both old and new RTU-HVAC systems. These savings are continuously monitored and displayed in real time via our advanced Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) technology, precision sensors, and powerful controllers.
Moreover, we provide an integrated software management tool through our IoT solution, offering customizable energy management dashboards, detailed energy reports, and enhanced maintenance insights for better system management and predictive maintenance.
We look forward to the opportunity to meet with you and present a comprehensive overview of our DLV Energy program, which is designed to help you achieve substantial energy savings, lower operating costs, and improve both environmental sustainability and overall comfort.
What trends did you see in 2024?
The trends we observed in 2024 have been nothing short of transformative.
Many industries in our niche of clients, such as shopping malls, hotels, resorts, airports, and movie theaters, which were hit hard during the COVID-19 pandemic—some even succumbing to bankruptcy—have been forced to adapt and implement drastic savings strategies in response to the economic strain.
Fortunately, after a challenging period, our Group found resilience. Despite the immense obstacles during the pandemic, where we continued to honor our contracts with little to no financial returns, the second half of the game turned in our favor. As businesses sought intelligent, effective solutions for energy efficiency, we were well-positioned to deliver.
The silver lining emerged as our AI technology, which had been enhanced and refined during those uncertain times, became a key asset. Companies that had once been skeptical about Artificial Intelligence solutions now saw the value and rapidly embraced them. Our ability to enhance and optimize energy savings with AI put us at a distinct advantage, allowing us to secure significant contracts in the US, Mexico, Brazil, and Iberia (Spain, Portugal and Andorra).
One of the most significant changes during this period was also the growing openness to virtual meetings.
What was once a necessity to travel frequently across different countries to meet clients, now turned into a more efficient and sustainable approach. The ability to conduct 3-4 meetings a day across global locations, without the need for constant travel, not only reduced costs and logistical burdens but also improved the work-life balance for our team and me. This shift not only helped us remain competitive but also offered a better quality of life for everyone involved.
Do you have any plans for expansion in 2025?
2023 and 2024 were certainly years of adaptation, as we navigated the challenges and setbacks that followed the pandemic. However, 2025 promises to be a year of growth and expansion for De Lima Ventures Group. We are focusing on consolidating our presence in the markets we ventured into last year, such as Brazil and Iberia, while continuing to build security and strengthen our position in these regions.
While the US and Mexico have been pivotal anchors for our business, providing us with incredible opportunities to work and implement our pilots with industry giants like Grupo Carso (Carlos Slim Group – SEARS, SANBORNS, INCARSO), Televisa México, Cinemex Group, Liverpool Stores, Metro Services Group in Los Angeles, VISA, Baxter Lab, and others, our strategic expansion in Brazil, with the guidance of our trusted local partners TAKT-GTN and led by my dear friend and mentor back in 2000, José M. da Silveira, is a key priority for 2025. We’ve worked together for over two decades, and his leadership will continue to propel our mission forward.
In Iberia, our expansion is being spearheaded by another dear friend and partner, Adrián Torres y Ambite, our Country Manager for DLV Energy Iberia. Together with our dedicated local teams, we’re poised for significant growth.
As I always say, success is never a solo effort—it’s about the team you surround yourself with. If you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together. I’m deeply grateful for the amazing people who have supported my brother and I every step of the way, and I’m confident that, with their continued dedication, 2025 will be a year of remarkable achievements.
Tell us about the plans for the Optimum Elite Club in 2025 and the upcoming events.
The OPTIMUM Elite Club is truly like a cherished baby of the De Lima Ventures family, and we take immense pride in nurturing its growth and success.
Currently with 400 members spread across 30 countries, our club represents a distinguished and highly selective network of individuals who share a commitment to making a positive impact on the world. The trust and energy our members have invested in us have allowed us to build this inner circle of exceptional people, each of whom adds immense value to our community.
Our Global Ambassadors play a key role in ensuring our members receive personalized attention and extraordinary experiences. They are dedicated to curating exclusive events, from galas to philanthropic initiatives, with the aim of leveraging the collective power of our members to support causes and communities in need. As always, OPTIMUM is focused on quality over quantity—we are not in search of fame or exposure, but rather a select, intimate group of individuals who understand the importance of privacy and discretion.
In the coming years, our aim is to maintain a club size of no more than 2,000 members, with approximately 50-100 members per country depending on the size and influence of each market. This ensures that our community remains exclusive, close-knit, and purposeful. While I must respectfully maintain the privacy of our upcoming events considering they are for members only, I can share with you a remarkable initiative that underscores the spirit of OPTIMUM and our shared commitment to meaningful change.
Through our collaboration with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the World For World Organization, and the Infinity Women’s Golf Tour, we are proud to support the Women’s Empowerment World Golf Tour. This global exhibition tour, led by our esteemed Centurion member Ty “Tex” Twine and our amazing Global Ambassador for the USA in Los Angeles, Jules Lavallee, is a powerful platform for advancing women’s rights, equality, and empowerment through the unifying power of golf. The tour will feature a series of prestigious events across Italy, Spain, Marrakech, Abu Dhabi, Brazil, and the US, with our first stop in Tuscany on May 19th.
We are deeply committed to these causes and strive to make a meaningful difference through our network and collaborations. To learn more about OPTIMUM and our exclusive initiatives, please feel free to visit our website at www.optimumeliteclub.com.
We look forward to continuing this journey with our members and creating a lasting impact together.
Share your vision for your company for the next three years.
Our vision for the next three years is centered around strengthening our presence in the key markets where we are currently operating—such as the USA, Brazil, Mexico, and the Iberian region. Given the vast scale of these countries, each with their own unique opportunities and challenges, our aim is to further deepen our footprint across these territories, expanding our reach and enhancing our service offerings.
Our clients, predominantly multinational corporations with operations spanning multiple regions, provide us with the perfect opportunity for large-scale rollouts that could drive significant growth—potentially up to 100% year-over-year. We are deeply committed to nurturing the relationships we already have and are incredibly proud of the organic growth we have achieved thus far.
In addition to our current work, we see considerable potential in expanding gradually into the public sector, particularly in Mexico and Brazil, where we’ve already begun engaging negotiations in energy and water efficiency pilot projects. This strategic move could complement our existing private sector partnerships and open new avenues for impact and innovation.
With a positive outlook and a dedicated team by our side, I am confident that we are on the right path to achieving our goals. Thank you for this opportunity, and I wish continued success and blessings to your readers.
