About Endeavor
Founded in 1997, Endeavor fosters economic growth in countries worldwide by selecting, mentoring, and accelerating high-impact entrepreneurs. Endeavor’s entrepreneurs lead fast-growing businesses that generate jobs in Latin America, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America. Endeavor provides its entrepreneurs with a network of seasoned business leaders who provide key ingredients to entrepreneurial success: mentorship, networks, strategic advice, and inspiration. Over the past 17 years, Endeavor Entrepreneurs have created more than 400,000 high quality jobs, directly reaching more than two million people across the world. Endeavor has achieved tangible results, with individuals working for Endeavor companies doubling their income over baseline or previous jobs, and Endeavor companies growing revenue 2.4 times faster than comparable firms over three years.
Current Operations of Endeavor
Endeavor is dedicated to high-impact entrepreneurship. Its main operations focus on identifying and supporting the continued growth of a select group of entrepreneurs, creating jobs, and adding revenues to foster entrepreneurship in those societies. Endeavor currently works in 21 countries across the world. In recent years, Endeavor’s operations have expanded into several countries; Endeavor launched in Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and Greece in 2012, Miami (US), Malaysia, and Morocco in 2013, and Peru and Spain in 2014.In 2011, Endeavor launched Endeavor Catalyst, a passive co-investment pool that uses donated funds to support Endeavor Entrepreneurs’ professional funding rounds and to provide funding for Endeavor’s growth and financial sustainability. Endeavor Catalyst has raised approximately $15 million to date and has made its first nine investments.
Approach and Distinguishing Features
Endeavor is an organization of, by, and for entrepreneurs. Endeavor believes that entrepreneurship is vital to economic growth and job creation, and recognizes the reality that entrepreneurs in growth markets face obstacles that inhibit successful scaling of businesses, such as limited management expertise, lack of role models, contacts, investors, etc. To this end, Endeavor provides immense support to rising entrepreneurs and acts as a springboard to catalyze their success with business establishment and job creation. Over 80% of Endeavor’s entrepreneurs give back to their local affiliates and commit to mentoring the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Endeavor’s entrepreneurs lead fast-growing, typically for-profit businesses that generate jobs and create revenues in growth markets. Endeavor looks for businesses with the potential to scale and become world-class ventures and industry leaders. Endeavor is distinct from many other organizations in its focus on high-growth, high-impact, for-profit companies that can scale. Academic research demonstrates that high-impact entrepreneurs generate a disproportionate number of jobs over other entrepreneurs.
2015 Kravis Prize
Group behind high-impact entrepreneurs named 2015 Kravis Prize recipient
Endeavor, an organization devoted to supporting and catalyzing entrepreneurial projects around the globe, has been selected as the recipient of the 2015 Henry R. Kravis Prize in Nonprofit Leadership. In a statement released earlier today, the organization (which works in some 22 countries to assist entrepreneurs in stimulating local economies) was hailed by the Kravis Prize Selection Committee for providing the catalyst behind countless community ventures such as Beleza Natural salons, which is employing and empowering countless women in Brazil (see photo above). “Endeavor is a perfect example of a nonprofit that has significant influence on the ground and great success creating a sustainable ecosystem for future impact,” said Henry R. Kravis, an alumnus and trustee of the College who is co-founder of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P., and founder of the Kravis Prize. Visit here to read more about today’s announcement of the 2015 recipient of the Henry R. Kravis Prize in Nonfprofit...
Endeavor Awarded the 2015 Henry R. Kravis Prize in Nonprofit Leadership
10th Annual Kravis Prize – the Nobel for nonprofits – recognizes Endeavor for helping build companies generating 400,000 jobs in challenged economies around the world CLAREMONT, Calif., March 31, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — When Javier Okhuysen and Carlos Orellana wanted to help prevent avoidable blindness in Mexico through state-of-the art, low-cost cataract surgery and eye care, they turned to Endeavor to help develop their business, salaUno. When Leila Velez sought help to grow her afro-Brazilian hair care business, Endeavor provided her with the necessary business tools and mentoring to realize her dream. Today Beleza Natural operates a chain of 24 salons and employs over 1,000 women. And when Sugianto Tandio determined his mission was to solve the waste and pollution problems that Indonesia faces, Endeavor afforded him access to a network of experts, helping to turn his company, Tirta Marta, into a leader in next generation eco-friendly plastics using Indonesia’s natural resources. In recognition for its revolutionary work to provide support and mentorship to high-impact entrepreneurs such as Javier, Leila, and Sugianto, as well as some 1,000 others from 22 countries on five continents (including, most recently, two US cities), who in turn have stimulated local economies through the creation of hundreds of thousands of jobs, Endeavor has been named the recipient of the 10th Annual Henry R. Kravis Prize in Nonprofit Leadership. The Kravis Prize is among the world’s most prestigious awards for nonprofit leadership, akin to a Nobel geared specifically to this sector. Endeavor will receive the Kravis Prize and $250,000 award on April 23, 2015 at Claremont McKenna College as part of a special celebration of the Prize’s...