Próspera is a startup zone with a regulatory system designed for entrepreneurs to build better, cheaper, and faster than anywhere else in the world. Basically, like a Hong Kong but in the Americas, and run by a private developer. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Próspera founder and CEO Erick Brimen to gain a deeper understanding of the company.
Erick Brimen’s Background
What is Erick Brimen’s background? Brimen said:
“I’m CEO of NeWay Capital as well as CEO and Chairman of Honduras Próspera. Growing up in Venezuela, I could clearly see the poverty caused by socialism and lack of rule of law. I was lucky to move to the US where I studied entrepreneurship, and then began in private banking at Brown Brothers Harriman, then moved to M&A advisory at AG Edwards. After that, I joined Ernst & Young in London as a consultant for private equity, and later served as CFO of Borealis Group’s Latin American operations.”
“I founded ComparaMejor.com, Colombia’s leading online insurance brokerage, before launching NeWay Capital. Today, I work with governments, legal teams, and local partners to build Prosperity Zones, notably Honduras Próspera on Roatán, focused on clear rules, efficient governance, and genuine opportunity.”
Formation Of The Company
How did the idea for the company come together? Brimen shared:
“I never intended to create a new jurisdiction; I was looking for a special economic zone to invest in. In 2016 I learned about Honduras’s ZEDE law and traveled to Tegucigalpa to meet the government committee responsible for overseeing these zones. As I studied the legislation and spoke with local stakeholders, it became clear this was more than a project; it was an opportunity to show that good governance could unlock prosperity rather than merely alleviate poverty.”
“Over the next year we worked with that committee to draft a charter, secure land on Roatán, and refine a governance structure focused on clear rules and economic freedom. By late 2017 the charter for Próspera was approved. It was no longer theoretical; we had permission to show how a jurisdiction built on transparency and voluntary consent could create real value.”
“Since then every step, from drafting internal regulations to breaking ground in 2020 and partnering with local leaders, has been about making that insight tangible. Próspera exists because we believed designing institutions correctly from the start does more than fight poverty; it catalyzes genuine, lasting prosperity.”
Favorite Memory
What has been your favorite memory working for the company so far? Brimen reflected:
“My favorite memory from building this company was the moment we broke ground on the beta building. It was the first tangible proof that our vision for a system guided by clear, fair rules was becoming reality. Standing at the site as the first foundation took shape, I felt a surge of conviction knowing our framework for transparent, efficient governance was coming to life. In that instant, I saw how years of planning and collaboration were paying off and how soon people would experience the benefits of a place run with these ideals.”
Core Products
What are the company’s core products and features? Brimen explained:
“The main product that became the vision of Próspera was the idea of ‘Governance-as-a-service.’ The idea stemmed from the belief that competition in a free-market system, resulted in heightened innovation and greater overall quality of the products and services provided. We decided to apply that to government in a revolutionary way. If governments have to compete for their constituency, going to the DMV may feel more like going to the Apple Store. Our particular service of governance is based on four primary services.”
“The first of these is providing an open and dynamic regulatory system based on American common law. This allows for a “regulatory election,” which allows companies to choose which regulatory framework (within OECD countries) is optimal for them to have sensible restrictions while still being able to innovate faster than they would otherwise be capable of doing. Their adherence to regulation is, however, not enforced by a centralized body as it would be under a typical government “regulatory monopoly.” Instead, insurance companies are able to compete in the market to yield efficiency and improved service. This would be like multiple FDAs or NRCs competing for market share based on their ability to provide the best experience when it comes to regulatory compliance.”
“The next aspect is low taxation. Within the zone, tax is capped at no more than 10% of the share of GDP. At the moment this breaks down to a 10% flat income tax, a 2.5% VAT tax (which acts effectively as a sales tax), and a 1% “Georgian” land value tax. This provides stable ground, ensuring that the charter can’t arbitrarily raise taxes, suppressing purchasing power and creating inflationary pressures. In addition to this, once a resident or company agrees to operate and reside within our zone, taxation cannot be involuntarily increased and imposed upon that person or entity.”
“Another is simple and efficient arbitration. Within any society, disputes will occur. To deal with these disputes, a simple and easy system for arbitration, such as contract breaches, is necessary to ensure peaceful resolution. This service is provided by the Próspera Arbitration Center or PAC. The PAC is an organization (very similar to a court) that mediates and enforces the resolutions of these disputes. Similar to the regulation, this service also relies on free-market principles. Arbitration can be done at any arbitration center globally in accordance with international arbitration agreements.”
“The final pillar of our governance is high quality public services like security, utilities, and road infrastructure. All the services that are necessary for a complete and prosperous life are now being provided by us within the zone.”
“All of these services are managed within an easy-to-use e-governance platform called e-prospera. On this platform you can pay your taxes, incorporate a company, and even resolve disputes.”
Challenges Faced
What challenges has Brimen and the team faced in building the company? Brimen acknowledged:
“Most recently, the biggest challenge came in September of last year when the Supreme Court of Honduras ruled the ZEDE law unconstitutional. I recognize that transformative ideas often face obstacles before gaining broader acceptance, and this ruling was one such hurdle. Rather than view it as an isolated crisis, I treated it as part of a continuum in which new governance models challenge existing norms.”
“I worked closely with our legal team to obtain international affirmation through legal dispute and arbitration, ensuring that Próspera’s governance remained recognized and enforceable. We paused new land acquisitions and ZEDE incorporations as a precaution, but all core operations continued with brief interruption. Through this effort, we preserved our commitments to residents and investors while reinforcing the legal basis for our model.”
“I believe that adversity sharpens our resolve and clarifies our purpose. By securing these legal safeguards and maintaining transparent communication, we emerged with stronger foundations and greater confidence in our mission. As we move forward, we remain committed to catalyzing prosperity and demonstrating the benefits of our system.”
Evolution Of The Company’s Technology
How has the company’s technology evolved since launching? Brimen noted:
“There’s three answers to this question. One of our ‘technologies’ is the regulatory framework. This was designed by our legal mastermind and general counsel, Nick Dranias, and has not evolved much since its conception in the early days of our founding.”
“Another is the infrastructure in the zone; this has developed a lot since its launch. Originally, it was just the Beta building, then we acquired Pristine Bay Resort, which was a large resort neighboring the original footprint of the zone. Just this last year, we finished construction of Duna Tower, which is a multi-purpose residential tower. Since its completion, office spaces, coffee shops, a clinic, and even a lab have made the building their home, with plenty of space left for development.”
“The last answer, what would typically be called our ‘technology,’ E-Próspera, has had a great arc of development. In the early days after launch, a lot of the system was tied to manual, bureaucratic processes. For instance, the process for acquiring insurance took several days and required a lot of manual input and data entry from both our team and the customer. Now our portal allows you to acquire insurance in just a few clicks. On top of that, a whole bunch of features, like a legal chatbot that will help you understand and choose your regulatory framework, are on the way.”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of the company’s most significant milestones? Brimen cited:
“There have been so many that it’s hard to narrow it down. We could talk about us getting the charter for the zone back in 2017 or breaking ground in 2020. Just this past year, we reached 2,000 e-residents. But I think the most significant of all is that this past April our housing reached full capacity. The sheer number of people physically working and living in the zone was the absolute maximum we could handle, which means the only step forward is to keep building so that more people can enjoy the future we’re creating.”
Customer Success Stories
When asking Brimen about success stories, he highlighted:
“Minicircle are developing a reversible gene therapy solution that is only available in Próspera. They have raised capital from Sam Altman, Peter Thiel, and others. In 2024 Bryan Johnson travelled down to Próspera to take the longevity treatment, which he documented on his YouTube channel here.”
Funding
When asking Brimen about the company’s funding details, he revealed:
“We’ve raised around $200 million and have invested heavily in the local infrastructure. In 2022 we represented almost a third of all greenfield FDI into Honduras.”
Total Addressable Market
What total addressable market (TAM) size is the company pursuing? Brimen assessed:
“We believe our market extends to any individual or enterprise that values transparent, efficient governance, essentially everyone who can benefit from a system that reduces bureaucracy and fosters innovation. Our services appeal to entrepreneurs, professionals, and investors seeking a jurisdiction with predictable rules and low barriers to entry.”
“We also target governments interested in partnering to offer our services within their territories. By collaborating with public authorities, we can extend our framework to new regions, creating value for both governments and their constituents.”
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates the company from its competition? Brimen affirmed:
“This depends on what you mean by competitor. We don’t see ourselves as competitors to traditional governments, because we believe they can all benefit from and partner with us. But, we differentiate ourselves in several ways. Essentially, we optimize governance to yield prosperity through improved regulations and free market principles. Some governments share the philosophies that underpin our approach, but none implement these principles through a truly private and decentralized structure like ours.”
Future Goals
What are some of the company’s future goals?
“We want to build a network of zones that cooperate like the Hanseatic League, sharing rules and infrastructure to boost prosperity across regions. We want to invite other governments to adopt our model so they can plug into the same alliance, giving everyone the benefits across the globe. This way, Próspera’s approach grows beyond just one zone and becomes a blueprint for efficient, market-driven governance designed to unleash prosperity.”
“We’ll keep improving E-Próspera by automating more regulatory tasks, adding new digital services, and making the platform even easier to use. At the same time, we’ll invest in more housing, offices, and research facilities to meet our needs. Our focus is on scaling this collaborative network, drawing in great talent and investment, and setting a fresh standard for how jurisdictions can work together for long-term success.”
