Endeavor

When I first met Linda Rottenberg, I couldn't believe that such a passionate, driven businesswoman was nicknamed "la chica loca" (the crazy girl) at the time of Endeavor's launch in 1997. Co-founded with Peter Kellner, Endeavor has always operated under the belief that, if provided with essential support and resources, high- impact entrepreneurs in emerging and growth markets can change the course of economic development. Simply put, Endeavor has always been "of, by, and for entrepreneurs". Twenty years later, Linda has undeniably proved she was anything but crazy. Today, Endeavor operates in 30 countries, and its network welcomes more than 1600 entrepreneurs representing more than 1000 companies. In 2017, Endeavor Entrepreneurs collectively created more than 1.5 million jobs and generated over US$15 billion in annual revenues. These figures showcase the success of Endeavor's model, which provides top entrepreneurs with access to talent, markets, and capital to realize their scale-up potential. The strength of Endeavor lies in its broad, global network that gathers business leaders, executives, and investors who genuinely want to help founders achieve their goals. They are inspired by a merit- based approach and a desire to make an impact and give back to communities: values that represent the heart and soul of Endeavor. Its network is indeed meant to provide entrepreneurs the opportunity to connect and support each other, creating a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem that fosters innovation, economic growth, and societal progress. During our first meeting in 2015, I surprised Linda by immediately accepting her proposal to lead Endeavor's launch in Italy (she probably thought I was the "crazy one" at that time). As an entrepreneur myself, I share Endeavor's vision and values, and I believe its model and network can help Italian high-impact entrepreneurs develop strong companies able to compete on a global scale. Launched in 2016, Endeavor Italy is still at the beginning of its journey. Nonetheless, we have already witnessed the positive impact of our support on the first 13 Italian companies selected into the network. And I am proud to highlight how their entrepreneurs have embraced the giveback philosophy, which is a cornerstone of Endeavor's model. I kindly invite you to read more about Endeavor's network and the 17 Italian Endeavor Entrepreneurs in the following pages. I would like to devote the last lines of this message to acknowledge Linda as well as the amazing people who have joined me in building up Endeavor Italy and are still playing a key role within the network as board members, mentors, and partners. I am truly grateful for Endeavor Italy's incredible team, lead by Raffaele Mauro. To conclude, I would like to thank the entrepreneurs who are teaming up with us to make a positive impact on the Italian economy and society. Pietro Sella CEO, Gruppo Banca Sella and Chairman, Endeavor Italy 1

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