HPA Talent has signed New York-based stand-up comedian, digital creator and entrepreneur Alexis Carabaño for management, the company announced. The move places Carabaño, who built a nearly two-decade career in the restaurant industry before turning to comedy, with a full-service sports and entertainment management firm that represents talent across comedy, sports, music, digital media, lifestyle and entertainment.
Carabaño is known for high-energy stand-up, cultural storytelling and an entrepreneurial background. He and his brother spent nearly two decades building VSPOT, a pioneering plant-based Latin restaurant concept in Brooklyn. He first developed his stand-up career by hosting comedy shows inside his own restaurant, a path that later led to winning a national comedy competition for English-speaking Latin American performers through HBO Latino and appearing on the HBO/Max special "Entre Nos: The Winners." He has continued performing throughout New York City and most recently opened for comedian Marcello Hernandez. He is also the founder of St. Marks Comedy Club, a speakeasy-style performance venue in New York City's East Village.
Paris D'Jon, CEO of HPA Talent, said Carabaño fits the company's focus on multi-layered talent. "Alexis is exactly the type of talent we look for at HPA because there are multiple layers to who he is and what we can build," D'Jon said. "He's funny, he understands business and social media, and most importantly, he knows how to connect with an audience. We see opportunities for Alexis well beyond the stand-up stage, including touring, television, digital content, brand partnerships, hosting, sports, lifestyle and entertainment."
Carabaño has also begun developing comedy concepts tied to soccer culture, including "Juggling Jokes," a live event combining stand-up comedy, professional athletes, soccer culture, games and freestyle entertainment. D'Jon said the modern comedy landscape rewards performers who can build communities, create content, host, work with brands and develop original concepts. "Alexis already has many of those pieces in place," D'Jon said. "Our job now is to connect the dots."
Under the new management relationship, HPA Talent will work with Carabaño to expand his stand-up career across touring, television, digital media, brand partnerships, hosting and other entertainment opportunities. The signing matters because it reflects a broader shift in the comedy business: performers are increasingly expected to operate as multi-platform brands, not just stage acts. For Carabaño, that means his restaurant background, digital presence and live-event experience could become assets across a wider range of entertainment deals. For HPA Talent, adding a comedian with business experience and a growing New York following expands its footprint in comedy and live entertainment.
Carabaño said he was initially hesitant about signing with a manager but was persuaded by HPA's approach. "I'm excited to have HPA in my corner as I enter this new chapter," he said. "I actually started stand-up by hosting shows inside my own restaurant, which eventually led to some incredible opportunities. For a long time, I was apprehensive about signing with a manager or agent, but Paris and his team made me feel both comfortable and confident about fully immersing myself in entertainment. With their experience and track record, I'm excited about what we can build together and ready to put the same energy I've poured into my businesses into building the Alexis Carabaño brand."
Carabaño continues to perform regularly throughout New York City while developing new comedy, digital and live entertainment projects.
