Hailing from Madeira Island, Portugal, Candy Flores epitomizes the power of perseverance, innovation, and thinking outside the box. From the cobblestone streets of Funchal to the virtual expanse of the Metaverse, Candy’s journey is an inspiration for anyone daring to dream big.
In her words, she recalls her humble beginnings, challenges, and rise to prominence: “John Moreira, my partner and co‑founder, and I created our first business together amidst the 2008 financial crisis. We needed money to survive; we started by selling all kinds of things door‑to‑door, including web development and design services.”
In 2018, from being one of the first companies in Europe to use serverless architectures and build AR products to create the first room‑scale VR experience using Ray Tracing, their determination and dedication culminated in the birth of an immersive technologies studio called Dimmersions, where Candy and John came up with Madalia.World, which later spun into a business on its own.
Among the international brands she works with are Red Bull, Warner Brothers, Volvo, Sony Music, Toyota, Stellantis, Bang & Olufsen, PWC, and Teleperformance.
Building the Future with Madalia.World
Candy’s drive and innovative spirit can be seen in her latest venture, Madalia.World, which she describes as “striving to become the operating system of the Metaverse.” It is a platform built upon XR, blockchain, and AI foundations to create the next phase of “Tech for Good.” Madalia.World is based on a fictional past of Madeira Island with an innovative approach to environmental preservation. For Candy, it was “merging our previous experiences to build a platform to make saving the world a fun endeavor.” She adds: “Our purpose has always been to change the world for the better and with Madalia.World, we finally have the proper vehicle for that change.”
But Madalia.World isn’t just another digital realm; it’s a platform with a mission. Candy’s passion for sustainability and social impact is evident. She emphasizes: “At the center of everything we do in Madalia.World is sustainability – and I take that very seriously.” According to her, Madalia.World is built to interact with all other immersive platforms and virtual worlds, and can host tens of thousands of people simultaneously and all with sustainability front and center.
Her commitment to merging emerging tech with positive impact means that the Metaverse isn’t just a playground — it’s a platform for change. She explains: “Why can’t we build something entertaining that can help save the world? It’s constantly questioning and pushing the limits, dreaming of new heights, demand for high production values, the constant search for new paths forward, and new ways to evolve our products for better user experiences.”
The Power of Technology
“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” Candy quotes Arthur C. Clarke, expressing her belief that technology has boundless potential to shape our world for the better. Her conviction that humans, given time and resources, can utilize technology to tackle any challenge and shape a brighter future is palpable. She shares: “If we can shift our focus from just building things to creating with a higher purpose in mind, we can make technology do anything we want – including shaping a better future for everyone and all generations to come.”
In an industry often dominated by profit and prestige, Candy stands out by prioritizing purpose. Her achievements, from ground‑breaking technical marvels to forging new paths for user experiences, are underscored by a deep‑seated desire to make a difference. She proudly recounts one such project: “Recently, I had the opportunity to share the stage with Fabien Cousteau, and he took a virtual dive using the Madalia.World platform. We had only five days to do a small underwater mapping and build a digital twin of Calypso, the famous boat of Jacques Cousteau, his grandfather. In the end, Fabien said it was the best digital representation of the underwater world he’d ever seen and not exclusive to VR. That made me very proud of my team and our work.”
Women in Tech: Facing the Challenges Head-On
Despite her successes, Candy is candid about the challenges women face in the tech industry, especially the scarcity of women in leadership roles. She believes real change requires breaking free from age‑old societal constraints, speaking out, and, importantly, supporting one another. “One of the most critical issues is the lack of women in leadership roles,” she asserts, adding, “We need to have a voice, we need to speak out when we don’t agree with something, and, most of all, we have to support each other.”
She urges women building their futures in emerging technology to build robust and resilient networks. In her own words: “The most important thing is definitely building a solid team, finding your true partners – the ones that complement your skills. Create a solid network, and always be truly open to learning.” She summarizes her advice to other women: “Creating a successful business is not about what you know; it’s about what you can do with it.”
The Future is Bright and Boundless
As for what the future holds, Candy is optimistic, foreseeing sustainability as a primary business focus and the evolution of the Metaverse and immersive technologies as the norm. Her passion is clear: “The legacy that I want to create is for everyone to know that no idea is too absurd, no project is too big, and no team is too small.” For Candy, the path ahead is as clear as her message to the world: “Always strive to be better.” As the CEO of Dimmersions and Madalia.World, her commitment to innovation, sustainability, and positive change is a shining example of how technology can be wielded for the greater good. Her story serves as a beacon for emerging women in technology, a testament to what can be achieved when passion meets purpose.
