Meet Pepe Del Rio | Co-founder & CEO of Sesh

We had the good fortune of connecting with Pepe Del Rio and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Pepe, how do you think about risk?
For me, risk isn’t about gambling—it’s about conviction and unlocking your full potential. I started my career in private equity, a path of stability and predictability. But I realized that if I only optimized for safety, I’d never build something truly transformative—and I could easily get stuck in the comfort of that path. So I chose to leap into entrepreneurship, betting on a problem I believed needed solving: helping artists take ownership of their fan relationships. That decision meant stepping away from a clear career ladder into uncertainty, but it also meant aligning my work with my passion and vision, and pushing myself to see what I was truly capable of.

Taking that risk has defined my career. We often don’t realize what we’re capable of until we start walking and solving problems one by one. That leap pushed me to build Sesh from the ground up, and to convince artists, labels, and investors to back an idea that didn’t exist before—something that on day one I would never have imagined reaching this stage. Not every risk worked out; I launched Colkie first and learned hard lessons. But each step sharpened the insight that led to Sesh’s traction today. In hindsight, the real risk would have been staying comfortable. For me, risk has never been about chasing outcomes—it’s about choosing growth over certainty, and conviction over comfort.

What should our readers know about your business?
I’m the Co-founder & CEO of Sesh, an AI-powered platform helping artists build, manage, and monetize their fan communities. At its core, we solve a huge problem in the music industry: artists might have millions of followers, but they don’t truly own or control those fan relationships. Sesh gives them the tools and data to change that—turning fans into communities and communities into real value.

This journey hasn’t been easy at all. We’ve been close to shutting down more than once, and we had to pivot and iterate constantly to figure out what artists and their teams really needed. What kept us alive was the combination of innovative thinking—constantly reimagining how to tackle the problem—and resilience, pushing forward even when things didn’t look good. Without that persistence, we wouldn’t be where we are today. And that’s what I’m most proud of: building something that not only solves a real industry problem, but also proves the power of grit and reinvention.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The perfect day would start with some wind and a drive down to Long Beach for kitesurfing. After working up an appetite on the water, I’d head back to Santa Monica for lunch at Élephante, one of my favorite spots with great food and even better vibes. To close the day, nothing beats ending up at the Proper Hotel rooftop, enjoying the ocean view with a cold beer in hand. Simple, active, and unforgettable.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to give a huge shoutout to my co-founder and CPTO, Andrés. He’s the one quietly behind the scenes making everything possible. While I’m often the visible face of Sesh, Andrés is the architect driving the product forward, solving the hardest problems, and making sure our vision actually comes to life. Without him, none of this would exist. His resilience, creativity, and ability to turn big ideas into reality are what make Sesh possible, and I’m grateful every day to have him as a partner on this journey.

Website: https://www.joinsesh.ai

Instagram: pepedrl

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pepedrl/