ENDEAVOR'S HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS

2006
James Wolfensohn, The World Bank former president, joins Endeavor’s Board of Directors; Endeavor launches operations in Colombia and Turkey and plans to expand its network in Africa.

2005
Endeavor is awarded the Fast Company/Monitor Group Social Capitalist award.

2004
Endeavor launches operations in South Africa as part of a new global expansion strategy and  selects its first class of African Entrepreneurs.

2003
As the UN embraces entrepreneurship and the building of a viable private sector as “the challenge for international development,” the IFC (private-sector arm of the World Bank) funds Endeavor scoping missions for the launch of Endeavor Africa in 2004.

2002
The Endeavor model is the subject of a Harvard Business School case study taught to all 900 first-year students in the “Entrepreneurial Manager” course and to MIT Sloan Fellows. The Schwab Foundation and World Economic Forum endorse Endeavor as one of 40 leading examples of social entrepreneurship from around the world and as a pioneer in the “Global Digital Divide Initiative.”

2001
Time magazine recognizes Endeavor’s founders as among the “Top 100 innovators for the 21st Century” in its November 5, 2001 issue and Endeavor CEO Linda Rottenberg is named one of 100 “Global Leaders for Tomorrow” by the World Economic Forum.

1999
Endeavor Entrepreneurs are featured as role models on the covers of international magazines and in business school case studies. Endeavor organizes its first venture forums, linking international investors with emerging-market entrepreneurs.

1998
The AVINA Group provides $500K in seed capital for Endeavor’s launch in Chile and Argentine and an Argentine business leader provides a $200K matching grant.

1997
In the same year that the Thai baht collapses, devastating regional economies and threatening the global economy, Peter Kellner and Linda Rottenberg establish Endeavor to spur economic growth in emerging markets by supporting high-growth entrepreneurs who fall between the cracks – too small for private equity investment or commercial bank loans, yet too “well-off” for micro-credit programs.

“Endeavor has played an instrumental role in promoting entrepreneurship as a tool for development. It is a model that should be replicated around the world.”

- James D. Wolfensohn, Former President of the World Bank