HPA Talent has signed New York-based stand-up comedian, digital creator, and entrepreneur Alexis Carabaño for management, the company announced on October 8, 2026. The move underscores a broader evolution in the comedy industry, where success increasingly depends on an artist’s ability to build audiences across multiple platforms and business ventures. Carabaño’s diverse background—spanning nearly two decades as a restaurateur, a national comedy competition win, and the founding of a comedy club—positions him as a prime example of this new breed of entertainer.
Before dedicating himself fully to comedy, Carabaño and his brother spent nearly 20 years 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 grassroots approach that eventually led to winning a national comedy competition for English-speaking Latin American performers through HBO Latino. He appeared on the HBO/Max special "Entre Nos: The Winners" and has since performed throughout New York City, most recently opening for comedian Marcello Hernandez. He is also the founder of St. Marks Comedy Club, a speakeasy-style venue in New York City’s East Village.
HPA Talent, a full-service sports and entertainment management company, represents talent across comedy, sports, music, digital media, lifestyle, and entertainment. The firm’s CEO, Paris D'Jon, emphasized that Carabaño’s multifaceted profile is exactly what the company seeks. "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."
That vision extends to innovative projects like "Juggling Jokes," a live event concept Carabaño is developing that combines stand-up comedy, professional athletes, soccer culture, games, and freestyle entertainment. The project reflects a growing trend of blending comedy with sports and live experiences to reach new audiences. "Comedy today is much bigger than simply walking on stage with a microphone," D'Jon added. "The comedians who can build communities, create content, host, work with brands and develop original concepts have tremendous opportunities. Alexis already has many of those pieces in place. 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. For Carabaño, the partnership marks a turning point after initial hesitation. "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. His signing with HPA Talent signals that the comedy business is increasingly recognizing the value of entrepreneurs who can leverage their business acumen and digital savvy to create sustainable, multi-platform careers. As the lines between stand-up, content creation, and live events blur, Carabaño’s trajectory may serve as a blueprint for the next generation of comedians.
