IMPACT REPORT 2007–2008 - Endeavor Chile

ENTREPRENEUR SPOTLIGHT
SAMEER MEHRA
ENDEAVOR ARGENTINA & CHILE: A DECADE
OF HIGH-IMPACT
COMPANY
Suminter
COUNTRY
India
YEAR SELECTED
2008
Sameer Mehra is bringing the benefits
of the organic movement to struggling
farmers in India. Founded in 2003,
Suminter converts small-scale farms to
international organic standards and then
buys the products at a premium for
export to the global market. Suminter is
modernizing a very traditional industry
and generating incomes for over 4,000
farmers and their families in the process.
With global demand for organics
sky-rocketing, Suminter is growing
exponentially—Sameer has targeted
80,000 acres for organic conversion in
the near term.
Since selection, Endeavor has introduced
Sameer to senior business leaders at
banks and private equity firms to provide
mentorship and advice on raising capital
and other best practices.
Endeavor has facilitated a connection
with Emin Molu, a R&D Director at
Orta Anadolu, one of the biggest cotton
mills in Turkey.
THIS IS THE POWER OF ENDEAVOR: MAKING EMERGING
MARKET-TO-EMERGING MARKET CONNECTIONS ALL OVER
THE WORLD!
BEFORE AND AFTER ENDEAVOR’S ENTRY: 10 YEARS ON
“Endeavor is a fundamental pillar for the creation
of entrepreneurship in Chile and the development
of our country, generating jobs and new horizons
thanks to those leaders who decide to follow the
entrepreneurial path.”
Alvaro Saieh,
President, Corpgroup
Endeavor Chile, Board Member
Both Endeavor Chile and Endeavor Argentina turned 10 years old! Throughout the year,
each affiliate has celebrated with a series of High-Impact events: conferences, workshops,
and, last but not least, a 10km race.
Most importantly, each affiliate has taken impressive steps to create entrepreneurial
ecosystems beyond the capital cities. Endeavor Chile launched operations in Patagonia
and Endeavor Argentina opened a new office in Córdoba in the central region of the
country.
These regional offices not only will uncover tougher-to-find High-Impact Entrepreneurs,
but also will collaborate with local businesses, academia, other NGOs, and the media to
invest in and spread the word on entrepreneurship.
Endeavor Chile has also pioneered the first communal office space for Endeavor staff,
entrepreneurs, and VentureCorps, where entrepreneurs at all stages can come and
work together. None of this could have happened in Argentina without Endeavor’s
first two supporters in emerging markets, Eduardo Elsztain and Woods Staton. After
ten years, Eduardo plans to turn the chairmanship of Endeavor Argentina over to an
Endeavor Entrepreneur—a remarkable first for Endeavor and a dream come true
for Eduardo.
In Chile none of this could have happened without the support of Alvaro Saieh, Jose
Luis del Rio, and Salvador Said, who resurrected Endeavor Chile after a perceived lack
of business interest in supporting up-and-coming entrepreneurs. Now, Endeavor Chile
has among the most prominent boards of directors of any institution in the country.
Congratulations to both affiliates on ten incredible years!
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