Endeavor

Latin America is such an important part of our history, but it’s also part of our future. It was truly special to celebrate the impact of our journey in LatAm during LAVCA Week in NYC. Mercado Libre, a journey that began over two decades ago and continues to this day, perfectly illustrates this ongoing success story: ???In 1999, Mercado Libre joined one of Endeavor’s early cohorts. ?? In 2007, they IPOed, with a valuation of just under $1B. ?? In 2017, the company hit a $10B valuation. ?? Today, Mercado Libre is valued at over $100B, surpassing traditional industries like telecoms and oil to become the largest company in Latin America. Mercado Libre’s impact goes far beyond its own success. Marcos Galperin, still the CEO, has mentored and invested in countless entrepreneurs across the region, helping to cultivate the next wave of innovation. Co-founders Hernan Kazah and Nicolas Szekasy founded KASZEK Ventures, one of LatAm’s top VC firms, backing over 130 companies, including Nubank and Creditas. The success story of Mercado Libre is more than just one company’s rise—it highlights what is possible in emerging markets worldwide, from Africa to Southeast Asia, inspiring entrepreneurs to build billion-dollar businesses and create their own #MultiplierEffects. Thank you to our event speakers: Adrian Garcia-Aranyos, Allen Taylor, Martin Escobari, Olga Maslikhova, German Pugliese Bassi, Mariano Gomide de Faria - VTEX, Matias Zegers. And thank you to our event sponsor, DLA Piper, for helping us make this event possible. Let’s continue building the future together. ?? #Entrepreneurship #LAVCA #MoreThanScaleMultiply #LatAm #VentureCapital DLA Piper

After the first wave of digital banks disrupted LatAm’s financial system, these brothers decided to go even further. Piero Contezini and Diego B. Contezini, founders of ASAAS and recently selected as Endeavor Entrepreneurs, just secured an impressive US$148M Series C funding round with participation from Endeavor Catalyst. Here’s how they’re changing the game: ?? Asaas was born out of a pain point: Piero and Diego were frustrated by how long it took to invoice their customers. ?? While many fintech players offered free digital business accounts to disrupt incumbents, they realized that SMEs needed more than just another account. ?? Piero and Diego built Asaas—"Automated Software as a Service"—a system to automate key financial processes, reducing manual work and boosting productivity for entrepreneurs. ?? While others focused on replicating old models, Asaas broke away, creating an ecosystem that grows as their clients grow. No fixed costs or fees—just success-based monetization. Today, Asaas serves over 1 million businesses across Brazil, powered by a team of 600+, solidifying its status as a leader in fintech for SMEs. With this new funding, Asaas is not just keeping up with the market, it’s challenging the very fintechs that once challenged the status quo. #Entrepreneurship #LATAM #MoreThanScaleMultiply

With first-hand experience as both an investor and entrepreneur, General Atlantic Co-President, Head of Global Growth Equity and Endeavor Board Member, Martin Escobari was one of 26 panelists interviewing candidates from around the world during Endeavor’s 100th International Selection Panel in Dublin. The General Atlantic Foundation is proud to partner with Endeavor, the leading global community for high-impact entrepreneurs, offering deep engagement and support for over 20 years. Since Endeavor's founding, Endeavor Entrepreneurs have generated more than 4.1 million jobs and $67 billion in annual revenue. Together with Endeavor, we are committed to helping provide the tools, resources, mentorship, and networks to support thriving entrepreneurial ecosystems in underserved markets around the world.

From Argentina to 45 countries—and counting. While many are going remote, we’re committed to keeping our boots on the ground. ?? Just last month, we celebrated the launch of our first Global Hub in London, and next up: Endeavor Ukraine. ????????? Our expansion is fueled by the belief that connecting talented local founders with a global network of peers and mentors sparks innovation in new and unexpected places. It’s not just data, it’s the pull—the conviction of local entrepreneurs eager to bring the Multiplier Effect to their ecosystem. From Egypt to Ireland, we’ve built a network of role models who lead with bold vision and inspire the next generation. So, how have we managed to accelerate our growth while maintaining an on-the-ground presence? Check out our non-traditional playbook: https://lnkd.in/eB9jzjvR #MoreThanScaleMultiply #MultiplierEffect #Entrepreneurship Joanna Harries

At Endeavor, we’re in the business of goosebumps. I am reminded of the nature of our work every month, when we host an International Selection Panel. And last month, we hosted our 100th in-person ISP in Dublin. Shark Tank on steroids doesn’t even begin to capture it. We know we’ve done a good job when we create at least three kinds of goosebumps at our ISPs: ?? Day 1: the frisson you feel upon walking into a room (or the Dining Hall at Trinity College Dublin) with entrepreneurs and mentors from 30+ countries, all there in service of building entrepreneurial ecosystems where the world needs them most. There’s no dominant accent or dialect, only a shared vocabulary around the power of entrepreneurship. It’s especially cool to see folks like Guillaume Pousaz or Martin Migoya invest three days to participate in our intense ISPs, paying it forward to mentor the future Multipliers like Ridwan Olalere from LemFi in Nigeria.? ?? Day 2: the awe of a magically intense ISP interview, which I often describe as fireworks. Watching founders like Martin Rohland from BALY field questions from emerging market & VC titans like Martin Escobari and Monica Brand Engel about the mechanics and realities of building the largest ride-hailing app in Iraq. At one point, they weren’t even using words, just drawing retention curves with a finger in the air call-and-response style. And then, watching the gears turn as our panelists wrap each interview with pointed feedback about strategy and more.? ?? Day 3: the feeling, akin to the one I imagine Lin-Manuel Miranda had in mind when he wrote Hamilton’s “The Room Where It Happens,” when you watch six luminary panelists around a table put their whole hearts and minds to work, helping Endeavor select the next cohort of high-impact entrepreneurs. Memorable for me was Diego Piacentini invoking Gimli from Lord of the Rings about Spanish ‘rocket science’ company PLD Space: “Certainty of death. Small chance of success. What are we waiting for?” The preparation, the passion, the conviction, the arguments, and the storytelling that transpire are mesmerizing. Anyone who knows Endeavor knows it’s hard to put us in a box.? When you peer into that box, you see entrepreneurs from all over the world, who all share the belief that they can change it. You see mentors who donate their time, their expertise for no other purpose than supporting Endeavor & Endeavor Entrepreneurs. You see a movement in action. It’s a potent brew, so it’s no surprise that many of us are hooked on the feeling that being in Endeavor spaces creates. Sometimes we call it the "Magic of Endeavor." Or “curated serendipity.” Whatever it is, it gives me chills. Read more about the entrepreneurs we think are consequential to the future we are building together here: https://lnkd.in/e4irEU-b. And if you think you might want to get into the business of goosebumps with us, we’d love to be in touch.?

Crises don’t diminish the need for entrepreneurship—they amplify it. From the Arab Spring to economic turmoil and beyond, high-impact entrepreneurs in the MENA region have consistently stepped up to drive innovation, create jobs, and build resilient economies. Take Barbaros Ozbugutu, who secured an investment round for iyzico amidst a coup attempt, or Mohamed Azab, who scaled multiple businesses despite political unrest, COVID-19, and currency devaluations. Their stories are powerful reminders that adaptability and bold thinking fuel growth, even in the most challenging environments. Just last year, Endeavor Entrepreneurs in Egypt raised $320M, generated over $1B in revenue, and created 200,000 jobs. In Türkiye, 7 unicorns have emerged, with startups raising $722M in 2023 alone. As Yana El Dirani, our Head of Middle East for Endeavor Catalyst, says: a country in crisis isn’t an argument against entrepreneurship—it’s an argument for it: https://lnkd.in/eTgZpQDr #MENA #Entrepreneurship #MoreThanScaleMultiply

Last week, I made my first-ever trip to #SouthKorea thanks to our friends at South Summit who invited me to deliver a keynote on "Cultivating a Global Startup Ecosystem" as part of #SouthSummitKorea24. Shane Shin (??? ??) ?? from Shorooq Partners made some fantastic introductions to folks in Seoul that contributed to an awesome first-trip for Caela Tanjangco and me. (Thanks, Shane!) As all my close friends and Endeavor teammates know well, I believe deeply that awesome $10B+ and even $100B+ companies can be built from all over the world, and I loved learning about the #SouthKorea market via our new friends at 500 Korea, Antler Korea, Invest Seoul, KVIC (Korea Venture Investment Corporation) and others. With more than 20,000 startups and 30+ ?? Unicorns, the start-up ecosystem in #SouthKorea is already thriving. But it sounded in several conversations like founders at the "SCALE-UP" stage could use more mentorship, peer-learning, and connections to international networks. Perhaps it's time for the world's Leading Global Community Of, By, and For High-Impact Entrepreneurs to take a serious look at South Korea? What do you think: should we explore #EndeavorKorea (Endeavor ??)?

Less than 2% of candidates become Endeavor Entrepreneurs. So, for those that do, what sets them apart? Meet Mati Staniszewski and Piotr Dabkowski, founders of ElevenLabs—the Polish AI company taking voice AI to new heights—selected at our 45th virtual International Selection Panel in April, where candidates must be unanimously voted in by all panelists. Here's why Matt and Piotr stood out: ???Inspired by the poor-quality dubbing they grew up with, they set out to revolutionize audio by creating more natural and human-like experiences. ????Their AI-driven technology is challenging tech giants like Google and OpenAI, offering voices that capture emotion, nuance, and personality in 32 languages. ???? From Poland to the world, they’ve shown you can build and scale a tech company globally, breaking barriers along the way. ?? In just two years, they’ve grown to nearly 100 employees, developed groundbreaking AI models, and reached unicorn status. Today, employees at 62% of Fortune 500 companies use ElevenLabs. Read their full story and see why we are so excited for what’s next: https://lnkd.in/e-Zb8eN7 #MoreThanScaleMultiply #EndeavorMultiplierEffect #Entrepreneurship Endeavor Poland

The 100th in-person ISP was truly one to remember. And while we may be back home, the energy and inspiration from these past weeks still linger. We’d like to take a moment to thank the 25 extraordinary panelists who joined us for this milestone event. Not only did the caliber of our candidates reach new heights, but our panelists were truly exceptional—some have been with Endeavor since the very beginning, and some were once on the other side of the table as Endeavor Entrepreneurs themselves, now returning to help select the next generation. Our selection process, with an acceptance rate of less than 2%, has remained the same since the first panel in 1997 in Chile, thanks to the dedication of our global community. These business leaders and founders traveled from Brazil, the Philippines, South Africa, and beyond to Dublin, spending three full days diving deep into each candidate’s business. They engaged in passionate discussions, knowing that selecting these entrepreneurs carries the responsibility of shaping Endeavor’s future. A huge thank you to: Edgar Bronfman Jr., Guillaume Pousaz, Jason Green, Joanna Rees, Martin Escobari, Veronica Allende Serra, Elaine C., Herman Bosman, Jasen Ko, Jason Borschow (He/Him), Martin Migoya, Pietro Sella, Sergio Furio, Aldi Haryopratomo, Diego Piacentini, Monica Brand Engel, Arvind Rajan, Brett Rochkind, Drew McElroy, Eric Perez-Grovas, Javier Villamizar 魔术师, Oliver Rippel, Patrick McGinnis, Taddy Hall. Thank you for your unwavering dedication to shaping the future of high-impact entrepreneurship. Here’s to the next 100 ISPs and the continued impact of the #MultiplierEffect! #Entrepreneurship #EndeavorISP #MoreThanScaleMultiply

Venture capital is experiencing a major shift. And it's showing up on the Midas List. As Allen Taylor points out, this year’s list tells a story: 30% of the Midas Listers live and invest outside of the US, and 33 out of the top 100 companies are international. The boundaries of innovation are expanding. Allen’s prediction? The future of VC will only get more global as investors look beyond borders for the next wave of unicorns. In this recent conversation with Alexandre Lazarow of Fluent Ventures, Allen dives into how this shift is reshaping the entire venture landscape. Read Allen’s full piece here: https://lnkd.in/e47vUdfM #VentureCapital #Unicorns #MidasList #MoreThanScaleMultiply