Endeavor
Endeavor is a global nonprofit founded in 1997 that selects and supports high-impact scaleup entrepreneurs across 45+ markets through a rigorous ISP process, offering curated network access, mentorship, executive education, and passive co-investment via its $540M+ Catalyst fund.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Endeavor does
Endeavor is a global nonprofit organization founded in 1997 and headquartered at 28 Liberty Street, New York, that identifies, selects, and supports high-impact scaleup entrepreneurs across 45+ markets in Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and the U.S./Canada. Its selection process—a 12-18 month search culminating in a 2.5-day International Selection Panel (ISP)—is highly selective, with fewer than 5% of 100,000+ screened companies advancing and approximately 70% of ISP participants selected into the network. Selected entrepreneurs gain access to a 3,000+ founder community, sector-based verticals, mentor matching, curated investor introductions, geographic expansion support, executive education at MIT, Stanford, Harvard, and Oxford Saïd, and the year-long Outliers program for top performers. Endeavor does not take equity as a condition of selection or membership.
The organization's revenue model combines philanthropic donations from foundations (Omidyar Network at $10M+, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Kauffman), multilateral institutions (European Union, Inter-American Development Bank), and corporate partners (J.P. Morgan, Bain & Company, Morgan Stanley, EY, PwC, UBS, Payoneer) with returns from Endeavor Catalyst, a rules-based co-investment fund that invests passively in qualified rounds of Endeavor Entrepreneurs without additional diligence or terms. Catalyst manages $540M+ AUM across multiple funds (Fund I-V) and has made 405+ investments across 35+ markets, with 37 realized exits and 71-93 portfolio unicorns depending on the reporting period. Executive education tuition ($5,500-$8,800 per participant), strategic partnerships, and research/content monetization through Endeavor Insight and Elsewhere Magazine (25,000+ subscribers) provide supplementary revenue. The core methodology is the "Endeavor Multiplier Effect"—a framework combining curated peer networks, mentorship, capital facilitation, and personal leadership development to compound entrepreneurial impact.
Since inception, Endeavor Entrepreneurs have collectively generated $88.5B in annual revenue and created 4M+ jobs globally; the 2026 Outliers cohort of 238 companies alone raised $31.4B in three years with 93 unicorns. The organization has 600+ staff on the ground and operates through wholly-owned subsidiaries including Endeavor Catalyst, Endeavor Insight, Elsewhere Magazine, and Endeavor Outliers. In May 2025, Silver Lake completed a take-private acquisition of Endeavor, following its January 2025 divestiture of PBR, On Location, and IMG to TKO Group Holdings for $3.25B. The organization is now positioning around AI investing in emerging markets through a planned $300M Catalyst deployment and partnerships with OpenAI, Visa, Prosus, and others.
Endeavor firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Endeavor
- Legal name
- Endeavor Global, Inc.
- Website
- https://endeavor.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Endeavor is a global nonprofit founded in 1997 that selects and supports high-impact scaleup entrepreneurs across 45+ markets through a rigorous ISP process, offering curated network access, mentorship, executive education, and passive co-investment via its $540M+ Catalyst fund.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Endeavor industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nonprofit Entrepreneur Support Network
- NAICS
- Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)
Keywords
Where Endeavor is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Endeavor business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Endeavor Catalyst Co-Investment Fund: Endeavor Catalyst is a rules-based, co-investment fund that invests passively in qualified funding rounds of Endeavor Entrepreneurs. It does not take additional terms or conduct separate diligence. Returns from Endeavor Catalyst provide revenue to sustain Endeavor's long-term operations in a mission-aligned way, contributing to financial self-sustainability across both global and local levels.
- Donations and Grants: Endeavor receives philanthropic donations and grants from a broad donor base including foundations (e.g., Omidyar Network, Gates Foundation), multilateral organizations (European Union, IADB/IDB), corporations (J.P. Morgan, EY, PwC), and individual philanthropists. Donors at the $10M+ level include Omidyar Network; $5M+ donors include the European Union, EY, and the Multilateral Investment Fund of IDB.
- Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorship: Endeavor generates revenue through strategic partnerships with corporations (e.g., Bain & Company, J.P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley, UBS, Payoneer, Chubb, HubSpot, NYSE, Orrick, Gunderson Dettmer). Partners provide financial support, in-kind services, mentorship access, and co-programming in exchange for proximity to high-growth entrepreneurs and ecosystem influence.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Executive Education at Stanford GSB: Leadership, Innovation, and Growth program |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Executive Education at Harvard Business School: Scaling Entrepreneurial Ventures program |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Executive Education at Oxford Saïd Business School: Inside VC & Emerging Tech program |
| Freemium | Annual | Endeavor Network Membership (Entrepreneur Selection) — free of charge |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Endeavor product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Endeavor is a nonprofit organization that selects, supports, and invests in high-impact scaleup entrepreneurs across 45+ markets worldwide. It runs a 12-18 month International Selection Panel process, provides post-selection mentorship, peer networking, investor introductions, and executive education programs, and operates the Endeavor Catalyst rules-based co-investment fund (with $540M+ AUM) that passively invests in Endeavor Entrepreneur-led companies without taking equity as a condition of network membership.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Endeavor Catalyst: Rules-based co-investment fund of Endeavor that invests exclusively in Endeavor Entrepreneur-led companies
- Endeavor Insight
- Elsewhere Magazine
- Endeavor Outliers
- International Selection Panels
- Executive Education
Products and services
- Endeavor Catalyst Fund Rules-based co-investment fund that invests exclusively in Endeavor Entrepreneur-led companies. With $540M+ in assets under management across multiple funds, it has made 405+ investments across 35+ markets and counts 71 companies valued at $1B+ in its portfolio, having realized 37 exits to date. Designed for LPs seeking exposure to early-stage emerging market unicorns without taking additional terms or conducting separate diligence.
- International Selection Panels (ISP) Endeavor's rigorous 12-18 month entrepreneur selection process culminating in 2.5-day interview panels where global business leaders evaluate scaleup candidates. Fewer than 5% of candidates advance to the ISP stage; approximately 70% of those who reach ISP are selected into the network. Selection is free, with no equity taken as a condition of entry.
- Endeavor Outliers Year-long elite experience for the top 10% of Endeavor Entrepreneurs at similar growth stage. Includes curated programming, peer circles, AI in Practice program, Paths to Liquidity program, and annual Outliers Retreat in Comporta, Portugal. Categories span Early Breakout ($30-50M), Scaling Up ($50-100M), Scaled & Growing ($100M+), and Multipliers ($500M+ exit).
- Executive Education Programs Week-long certificate programs delivered in partnership with MIT, Stanford GSB, Harvard Business School, and Oxford Saïd Business School. Programs focus on leadership, innovation, scaling, and Inside VC & Emerging Tech. Tuition ranges from $5,500 (Oxford) to $8,800 (MIT, Stanford, Harvard) and includes lodging, meals, and course materials.
- Endeavor Insight
Quantifiable outcome
- 3,000+ entrepreneurs selected from 100k+ companies screened, with <5% advancing to the ISP stage
- +8 more outcomes
Companies that use Endeavor
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Endeavor technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability8 records
Endeavor partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered key, flagship and core.
- Greek Film Center, Audiovisual Media and Creation (EKOMED)keyEKOMED and Endeavor expanded their strategic cooperation to jointly support audiovisual, technology, digital creation, and innovation sectors in Greece. The partnership connects creative talent with business and investment networks to accelerate growth, enhance international outreach, and strengthen Greece's position as a regional hub for creative industries.
- OpenAI (Greece)keyOpenAI partnered with the Greek government and Endeavor Greece to organize a mission of 18 Greek AI startups and 40+ founders to Silicon Valley (May 18–22, 2026). The program included visits to major technology companies, meetings with investors, and engagement with the Greek diaspora entrepreneurial community. At least one participant, Hermetica, closed its largest deal to date with a fund managing over $150 billion.
- Visa (Europe)flagshipVisa's 2026 Innovation Programme Europe is implemented in collaboration with Eleven Ventures and Endeavor Greece. The program selects fintech startups from Cyprus, Greece, and Malta focused on AI, agentic commerce, B2B solutions, money movement, open finance, and data. Since 2019, the program has expanded across 15 countries and received over 1,900 applications.
- Sebrae (Brazil)keySebrae selected 30 startups for Scale AI, a national program to accelerate AI adoption among Brazilian small and medium-sized enterprises. Endeavor is a strategic partner alongside AWS, NVIDIA, and the Federal University of Goiás. The six-month program runs from May to October 2026.
- Prosus (Romania)flagshipProsus, in partnership with Endeavor Romania, launched the Prosus Found-HER Challenge Romania, offering EUR 100,000 in equity-free grants to women-led startups. This is the first European edition following successful stages in India and Africa, addressing the gender funding gap where less than 5% of VC flows to female-founded startups.
- BoosteroidkeyBoosteroid CEO Ivan Shvaichenko joined Endeavor as a member, following a selection process evaluated by prominent venture capitalists and Silicon Valley investors. Boosteroid simultaneously expanded its GPU infrastructure across Europe with new server nodes in Poland, France, and the Czech Republic.
- McKinsey & Company (Brazil)coreEndeavor partnered with McKinsey to reimagine its support model for Brazil's entrepreneurs. The partnership aims to enhance Endeavor Brazil's service delivery and strategic guidance for scaleup founders in the Brazilian market.
- OpenAI / Greek AI Accelerator (Greece)keyGreece and OpenAI signed an MoU to launch 'OpenAI for Greece,' piloting ChatGPT Edu in select educational institutions. Endeavor Greece partners on the Greek AI Accelerator Program to support local startups building AI products.
- Bain & CompanycoreBain & Company is a global consultancy partner to Endeavor. The partnership involves shared ambition, high-impact engagement, and active collaboration across all levels of both organizations since 2011.
Scale indicators23 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Endeavor competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Techstars: Techstars operates a global accelerator network and mentorship-driven programs that select and support early- and growth-stage founders, directly comparable to Endeavor's selection panel and network model. Both monetize through corporate partnerships and run programs in multiple geographies.
- Y Combinator: Y Combinator is the leading global startup accelerator, offering seed funding, mentorship, and a powerful founder network. While focused earlier-stage than Endeavor, both compete for top entrepreneur mindshare and investor deal flow globally.
- 500 Global: 500 Global (formerly 500 Startups) runs a global accelerator and venture fund with presence in 70+ countries. Its emerging-markets focus and large founder community closely parallel Endeavor's model of selecting and backing founders outside traditional tech hubs.
- Plug and Play Tech Center: Plug and Play operates a global innovation platform connecting startups with corporate partners across multiple verticals and geographies. Its corporate-sponsored accelerator model and global footprint mirror Endeavor's partner-driven approach to scaling founders.
- Antler: Antler is a global early-stage VC and founder generator operating in 30+ cities across six continents. It focuses on identifying founders at the earliest stage and building companies from scratch, comparable to Endeavor's mission of finding and supporting high-impact entrepreneurs globally.
- Village Capital: Village Capital runs impact-focused accelerator programs supporting entrepreneurs solving major global problems. Its peer-driven, network-based approach and emerging-market focus closely align with Endeavor's mission-aligned selection and multiplier model.
- Founders Forum: Founders Forum is a private global community of tech founders, CEOs, and investors. Its curated, trust-based peer network of high-growth entrepreneurs directly mirrors Endeavor's selective membership model for elite founders.
Broad incumbents
- Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation: The Kauffman Foundation is a major U.S. philanthropic organization funding entrepreneurship research and programs. It partners with Endeavor Insight on ecosystem research and is comparable as a large-scale, mission-aligned supporter of high-impact entrepreneurship.
- World Economic Forum: The World Economic Forum operates a global multi-stakeholder platform connecting governments, business leaders, and entrepreneurs. Its Young Global Leaders and Uplink programs serve a comparable function to Endeavor's selective global network for high-impact leaders.
Emerging players
- EchoVC Partners: EchoVC is an early-stage venture fund focused on African technology companies. Its regional, founder-supportive approach in emerging markets aligns with Endeavor's model of backing high-impact entrepreneurs in underserved geographies.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Endeavor social profiles
Digital presenceEndeavor financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Endeavor leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Endeavor subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
Endeavor funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Endeavor M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments74 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Endeavor
What does Endeavor do?
Endeavor is a nonprofit organization that selects, supports, and invests in high-impact scaleup entrepreneurs across 45+ markets worldwide. It runs a 12-18 month International Selection Panel process, provides post-selection mentorship, peer networking, investor introductions, and executive education programs, and operates the Endeavor Catalyst rules-based co-investment fund (with $540M+ AUM) that passively invests in Endeavor Entrepreneur-led companies without taking equity as a condition of network membership.
Is Endeavor a public or private company?
Endeavor is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Endeavor founded?
Endeavor was founded in 1997. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Endeavor based?
Endeavor is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Endeavor make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Endeavor Catalyst Co-Investment Fund is the primary driver. The others are donations and Grants and corporate Partnerships and Sponsorship.
Who are Endeavor's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Techstars, Y Combinator, 500 Global, Plug and Play Tech Center, Antler, Village Capital and Founders Forum. Broad incumbents are Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and World Economic Forum. EchoVC Partners is listed as an emerging player.
Does Endeavor have an API?
No public API is recorded for Endeavor.
What industry is Endeavor in?
Endeavor's product category is Nonprofit Entrepreneur Support Network. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAAAM, Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated). Its NAICS code is 813 and its SIC code is 8600.