Endeavor Selects Nine Entrepreneurs from Six Markets at the Seventh Virtual International Selection Panel

Endeavor selected nine entrepreneurs from six markets at its Seventh Virtual International Selection Panel (ISP). Endeavor now supports 2,098 entrepreneurs leading 1,310 companies in 37 markets around the world (read more about the newly selected entrepreneurs below).

The Virtual ISP was presented by Softbank, with additional support from AXA, Bain, Cooley, EY, HSBC, Silicon Valley Bank, and Zoom.

The ISP is the culmination of a rigorous multi-step selection process to identify high-impact entrepreneurs who demonstrate the potential to leverage Endeavor’s resources and mentorship to create large-scale wealth and jobs, and are committed to reinvesting their time and money in their local entrepreneurship ecosystems to help others take off. Beyond the selection process, ISPs are also unique international gatherings that bring entrepreneurs, dedicated business leaders and staff together across borders and industries, and allow them to make connections they may never have otherwise. This event marks the seventh Virtual ISP that Endeavor has held.

Over the course of three days at the Virtual ISP, panelists utilized Zoom breakout rooms to interview a small group of high-caliber entrepreneur candidates about their businesses. In “deliberation rooms” — private Zoom meetings with only Endeavor staff and panelists — panelists evaluated the entrepreneurs on their potential for high-impact growth, discussed which candidates should be selected to become Endeavor Entrepreneurs, then voted unanimously to select the newest Endeavor Entrepreneurs.

Panelists at the ISP included: Chris Misner, Advisor & Investor, Roblox (Endeavor Global Ambassador); Costanza Sbokou, CEO, Phāea Resorts (Endeavor Greece Chairwoman); Gary Swart, Partner, Polaris Partners; Ken Njoroge, Co-CEO, Cellulant (Endeavor Entrepreneur); Tim Craycroft, Incoming VP & GM, YouTube Advertising (Endeavor Colorado Board Member); Trina Spear, Co-founder/Co-CEO, FIGS (Endeavor Entrepreneur); Edgar Bronfman, Jr. General Partner,  Chairman and Co-founder, Waverley Capital (Endeavor Global Board Chairman); Guibert Englebienne, Co-founder and CTO, Globant (Endeavor Entrepreneur, Endeavor Argentina Board Chairman); Keri Gohman, Partner, Bain Capital Ventures; Patrick McGinnis, Founder, Dirigo Advisors; Sebastian Gunningham, Chairman of Consumer Finance & Vice Chairman of OpenBank, Santander; and Yancey Spruill, CEO, Digital Ocean.

As part of Endeavor’s network, the entrepreneurs selected at the Virtual ISP will gain access to comprehensive, strategic, global support services, including introductions to local and international business mentors, investors, and volunteers from Fortune 500 consulting firms who will help them address key needs.

Endeavor Entrepreneurs have had a significant track record of impact. Endeavor Entrepreneurs have created 4.1M+ jobs, generated $24+ billion in revenues in 2019, and help build sustainable growth models in their home countries.

Learn more about the companies and entrepreneurs selected below.

IRELAND

Entrepreneur: Samuel Dennigan
Company: Strong Roots
Description: The rising awareness of the health benefits of the plant-based diets and the hectic work schedules, resulting in consumers spending less time cooking their own meals, contributes to the growing trend of the Ready-To-Eat (RTE) food products. Strong Roots is on a mission to revolutionize the way frozen vegetable products are marketed, packaged, and ultimately perceived by consumers by offering tasty, plant-based, and environmentally responsible foods designed for busy lives. Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, with regional offices in NYC and London, the company started with 1 SKU in Ireland, and quickly increased its market share to 15+ SKUs in UK and US, with placements in food giants such as Tesco, Walmart, Whole Foods, Sainsbury’s, Wegmans and Harrods.

KENYA

Entrepreneurs: Benjamin Njenga and Eli Pollak
Company: Apollo Agriculture
Description: Apollo Agriculture delivers bundled seed, fertilizer, insurance, advice and access to market to smallholder farmers across Kenya through a digital, vertically integrated, and cost-effective approach. The company builds software to drive each customer touchpoint, from customer acquisition and automated credit decisions, to providing training and collecting repayment. The company’s first product provides a customized bundle of maize inputs (fertilizer, seed, etc.) on credit, along with farming advice delivered via automated voice calls (“IVR”) and SMS. Founded in 2016, Apollo has partnered with agro-dealer shops and field agent contractors to provide bundled loans across the country, which has resulted in increased yields and incomes for farmers.

MEXICO

Entrepreneur: Ricardo Weder
Company: Jüsto
Description: Jüsto is Mexico’s first fully-online supermarket, intended to provide doorstep delivery of food products and other consumer non-durables. The company’s portal offers more than 5K SKUs ranging from fruits, vegetables, meat products, beauty products and house supplies, enabling consumers to have quality, healthy and fresh food products at competitive prices through home delivery. Founded by the former CEO of Cabify, Ricardo Weder in 2019, Jüsto saw an opportunity to use technology to disrupt the $62B market (Mexico) that relied on high-asset business models and inefficient, expensive delivery solutions.

NIGERIA

Entrepreneur: Abasi Ene-Obong, PhD
Company: 54gene
Description: 54gene is an African genomics research, services, and development company addressing the need to include under-represented African genomic data (currently around 3% of available genomics data) in research which could lead to medical breakthroughs and new healthcare solutions worldwide. Through research collaborations and commercial partnerships, 54gene enables the study of African genetics to learn the underlying genetic drivers of disease affecting everyone globally. Additionally, 54gene strives to understand the genetic impact on disease penetrance and risk in Africans with a goal of developing better diagnostic and risk assessment tests to inform a more targeted approach to healthcare. Africans house the most genetically diverse DNA in comparison to all other world populations combined. In gathering insights from the African genome, 54gene seeks to enable medical breakthroughs and discoveries that will change the entire landscape of healthcare, globally.

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS, USA

Entrepreneurs: Kevin Clark and Jeremy Wilson
Company: NOWDiagnostics
Description: NOWDiagnostics is a provider of innovative diagnostics testing, revolutionizing the industry. The tests, specifically designed to make rapid diagnostic testing possible at home, simplifies the testing process for pregnancy, food intolerance and allergies, STDs, communicable diseases, respiratory/chronic illnesses, and other health statuses. NDx’s innovative tests deliver high-quality results in less than 15 minutes without a lab or any additional supplies, buffers, or reagents, enabling patients and caregivers to make quicker, more intelligent healthcare choices. With eight tests CE Marked, one FDA 510k cleared for use in the U.S., and an additional 36 tests in the pipeline including COVID-19 antibody and antigen tests, NDx is dedicated to the development and commercialization of affordable, rapid diagnostic tests that are simple enough to be self-administered at home and deliver accurate, laboratory-quality results with just a drop of blood or saliva.

WESTERN NEW YORK, USA

Entrepreneur: Songe LaRon and Dave Salvant
Company: Squire
Description: Founded in 2016, Squire is a provider of barbershop management software designed to help barbers and shop owners operate their businesses with cashless and contactless pay transactions. The company’s application has the capability to serve independent professionals, stand-alone locations and multi-location franchises, with tools such as point of sale, scheduling, payroll, CRM and a host of other features, enabling barbers to manage waitlists, set up loyalty programs, have their customers book and pay for services and much more. Now, with close to 1K clients in the US, UK, and Canada, Squire aims to scale its business to become a market leader in barbershop management software.