The Future Begins Elsewhere

For decades, Endeavor has quietly backed founders building globally consequential companies from markets often ignored by mainstream venture capital. Now, with a growing network of over 3,100 entrepreneurs generating $100 billion in revenue, the non-profit is amplifying its message: talent and innovation can flourish anywhere.

From Dismissal to Discovery

The organization’s approach stems from an experience shared by founder Linda Rottenberg. When presenting a group of founders from Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East to a Silicon Valley venture capitalist in 2013, she was told bluntly that these companies would only become interesting if they relocated to California—a comment Marcos Galperín, founder of MercadoLibre, responded to by walking out.

Rottenberg reframed this dismissal into Endeavor’s core thesis: “Talent lives everywhere. New ideas can grow anywhere.” The organization focuses on markets that global investors overlook, where founders are tackling real problems at scale—what they call ‘Elsewhere’.

Building an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

Founded in 1997, Endeavor identifies high-growth founders in underserved markets and connects them to a global network of mentors, peers, and resources. The organization operates across more than 50 countries with three primary support pillars:

• Access to capital: Through its Catalyst fund, which has made over 400 investments in companies from overlooked regions.
• Access to markets: Connecting entrepreneurs with potential customers and partners worldwide.
• Access to talent: Facilitating mentorship and knowledge sharing within the network.

Endeavor’s approach isn’t about providing handouts, but rather accelerating growth by ensuring founders avoid common pitfalls—as Castro Feijóo puts it: “We connect a founder with someone who has already walked the path they are about to walk.”

The Multiplier Effect in Action

The organization points to MercadoLibre as a prime example of its impact. Beyond building a regional e-commerce giant, Galperín’s company spun out multiple successful ventures like Mercado Pago and Pomelo—creating a ripple effect that benefited countless other entrepreneurs.

Endeavor tracks these connections meticulously, mapping how former employees launch new companies, make strategic investments, and mentor the next generation. This “Multiplier Effect” explains why many of Latin America’s 50+ unicorns can trace their origins back to Endeavor’s early support—demonstrating that investing in overlooked markets can generate outsized returns.

As Constanza Castro Feijóo concludes: “We believe the most significant opportunities are often found where others aren’t looking—in the places that haven’t yet been mapped onto the traditional investment landscape.”