As the sun sets on another day in the relentless world of global tech, Preska Thomas is still at her desk—designing, testing, refining—driven not by deadlines, but by the unshakable belief that technology should serve humanity. DebitMyData is more than a platform; it’s a declaration that the age of data exploitation is ending, and a new era of digital empowerment is dawning.
As the visionary founder of DebitMyData, she’s engineering a future where ordinary people—teachers, artists, entrepreneurs, students—own and profit from their own digital footprints. Her work sits at the crossroads of blockchain, AI-powered avatars, and global-scale data economics, but her mission is refreshingly human: give power back to the people who created the value in the first place.
In this exclusive interview, Preska opens up about her uncompromising vision, the technology powering it, and why she believes the next great tech revolution won’t come from Silicon Valley—it will come from those who have been overlooked the longest.
Interviewer: Many founders aim to build companies that “help people,” but scaling that to millions globally is a different challenge. How do you approach that scale?
Preska Thomas: You can’t build for millions without placing yourself in someone else’s shoes. Everyone matters. Our technology must be adaptable to different markets, legal systems, and cultures. That’s why we’re integrating blockchain for transparency, AI for personalization, and strong privacy policies that meet—and in many cases, exceed—international standards like GDPR. We’re also actively forming partnerships in developing regions where data ownership can have the most transformative impact.
Interviewer: The tech space is buzzing about Agentic Avatars—AI systems that can represent people online, make transactions, and even negotiate on their behalf. Do you see DebitMyData playing a role in that future?
Preska Thomas: Absolutely. Agentic Avatars need trusted data streams to function effectively, and that’s exactly what we’re building. Imagine an AI agent that knows your preferences, values, and boundaries because you’ve trained it directly with your data—securely stored and managed on DebitMyData. This is the bridge between personal empowerment and AI-driven productivity.
Interviewer: In your view, what separates a good tech founder from a great one?
Preska Thomas: Vision is only half the equation; execution is the other. A great founder not only imagines the future but also builds the infrastructure to make it possible. And they do it while listening to the people they serve, adapting to change, and staying true to their mission—even when it’s tempting to take shortcuts.
Interviewer: The data economy is projected to be worth trillions in the coming years. How do you ensure DebitMyData stands out in a market dominated by Big Tech giants like Google, Meta, and Apple?
Preska Thomas: We’re building a platform that thrives because it’s independent, user-first, and not beholden to advertising models. Our value proposition is simple: You own yourself, you own your Agentic digital self that works with you, for you, not for advertisers. That’s our competitive edge.
Interviewer: Let’s talk about the future. Where do you see DebitMyData in five years?
Preska Thomas: I see us as the Plaid, Stripe and PayPal buddy of personal data—a trusted, everyday tool that individuals use to store, manage, and trade their data on their own terms. Beyond that, we’re going to be at the heart of the Agentic Avatar revolution, enabling AI assistants to serve humanity without exploiting humanity. Five years from now, I want to look back and know we created not just a company, but made it possible for individuals to earn a living from their data.
Interviewer: If you had to give one piece of advice to someone wanting to build a tech company that could benefit millions, what would it be?
Preska Thomas: Build with empathy and scale with integrity. Technology can change the world—but only if it’s designed to serve, not to exploit. If you can stay true to that, you’ll not just have users, you’ll have believers.
