Sixteen High-Impact Entrepreneurs from Six Countries Join Endeavor Network at the 78th International Selection Panel in the Philippines

MANILA, Philippines – April 6, 2018 – Endeavor selected 16 entrepreneurs leading nine companies from six countries at the 78th International Selection Panel (ISP) in Manila, Philippines. Endeavor now supports 1,637 entrepreneurs leading 1,023 companies in 30 growth markets around the world.

Panelists at the event, held April 4-6, 2018, in Manila and hosted by Endeavor Philippines, included top business leaders and investors from the region and around the world who were drawn from Endeavor’s extensive network of board members, mentors, and supporters.

The ISP is the culmination of a rigorous multi-step selection process to identify innovative and driven entrepreneurs who are committed to advancing an ecosystem of entrepreneurship.

“The Manila selection panel is a testament to the fact that high-growth companies are spreading throughout the world’s emerging markets, despite larger economic challenges,” said Endeavor Co-founder and CEO Linda Rottenberg. “Led by innovative entrepreneurs, the companies selected in Manila are creating jobs, generating revenue, and inspiring future founders. We’re thrilled to welcome them to the Endeavor network!”

At the Manila ISP panelists from around the world interviewed entrepreneur candidates about their businesses, evaluating them on their potential for high-impact growth, and then deliberated on which candidates should be selected to become Endeavor Entrepreneurs. Once selected, Endeavor Entrepreneurs gain access to comprehensive customized services, including introductions to local and international business mentors and volunteers from Fortune 500 consulting firms who will help them address key needs.

“When I look at markets where Endeavor operates, places like Chile, I see that because of Endeavor, the ecosystem is really prospering,” said Nix Nolledo, founder of Endeavor company Xurpas, who served as a panelist at the Manila ISP. “As an Endeavor Entrepreneur, the world becomes a much smaller place. When you join the Endeavor network from an ecosystem like Manila or Detroit and you see extremely successful mentors who have built multi-billion dollar businesses give you the time of day, there is nothing more motivating.”

Endeavor Entrepreneurs have had a significant track record of creating hundreds of thousands of jobs, generating billions of dollars in revenues, and building sustainable growth models in their home countries.

The Manila ISP was made possible through primary sponsorship from Ayala Corporation, ABS-CBN, and J.P. Morgan.

Endeavor will host ISPs in 2018 in Louisville, Ky. (May 7-9), Milan (June 27-29), Detroit (July 30-August 1), Buenos Aires (September 5-7), Athens (October 24-26) and South Africa (December 11-13).

Learn more about the companies and entrepreneurs selected below.

BRAZIL

Company: Ecoville
Entrepreneurs: Leonardo Castelo, Leandro Castelo
Description: Ecoville is Brazil’s leading cleaning products franchise that sells high-quality, environmentally friendly products at a 30% lower price than its competitors. Ecoville is the only Brazilian cleaning products company to control the entire product manufacturing chain, and to franchise its direct-to consumer sales model through door-to-door resellers and stores locations throughout Brazil.

Company: Rock Content
Entrepreneurs: Diego Túlio Tomaz Gomes, Edmar Ferreira, Vitor Peçanha
Description: While content marketing can help companies generate more leads than traditional marketing strategies, only 40% of marketers consider themselves effective at using content to attract and retain target customers. Rock Content combines SaaS with customer service and leverages its large freelance community to help clients execute effective content marketing strategies

DETROIT

Company: DocNetwork
Entrepreneurs: Kirsten Pearson, Michael Ambrose
Description: Over 80% of summer camps and schools rely on pen-and-paper systems to keep track of children’s healthcare needs, which can result in life-threatening mistakes. DocNetwork provides an electronic health record (EHR) system that makes it easy for these organizations to manage information about allergies, medications, illnesses, and injuries of the children they serve.

JAPAN

Company: Global Mobility Service
Entrepreneurs: Tokushi Nakashima, Kazumasa Nakashima
Description: Global Mobility Service, Inc (GMS) is innovating at the intersection of fintech, transportation, and IoT. Through its proprietary payment assurance and data collection devices and mobility service platform, GMS partners with financial institutions to offer auto loans to those who fail credit screenings. Through its operations, GMS addresses some of society’s most challenging issues, including financial inclusion, poverty reduction, and carbon emissions elimination.

KENYA

Company: Africa’s Talking
Entrepreneurs: Samuel Gikandi, Bilha Ndirangu
Description: Today’s successful apps incorporate numerous technologies (such as texts, videos, payments, analytics etc.), but in Africa, software developers face abundant barriers to embed these same capabilities. Not only does it take more than 6 months to be granted access to one mobile provider, but each service also requires a separate integration. Frustrated by these roadblocks, Africa’s Talking (AT) set out to connect the continent. AT provides software developers with efficient, affordable integration to multiple infrastructure providers via one seamless interface.

LOUISVILLE

Company: MXD Process
Entrepreneur: Mark Franco
Description: MXD Process manufactures mixers, dispersers, and tanks for processing all types of liquid, as well as the control systems that tie this equipment together. As companies seek to optimize and automate their production processes, MXD has positioned itself as a one-stop-shop for high tech production systems of any size in an industry where all other major equipment providers are slow to adopt modern technology.

MALAYSIA

Company: Photobook
Entrepreneurs: Mark Koay, Wee Jonn Leow
Description: Photobook is an online printing platform that allows consumers (individuals and corporations) to personalize any of its 90+ SKUs using their own photographs and designs. Customers can design any personalized item through the company’s website or mobile app, which processes the order in under 24 hours.

PHILIPPINES

Company: Lay Bare
Entrepreneur: Juan Paolo Hilario
Description: Lay Bare is the no.1 waxing-only salon chain in the Philippines with 108 locations and 800 employees. Instead of using hot wax and strips like most salons, Lay Bare uses a natural mix of sugar, honey, and lemon to safely and less painfully remove hair. The company pioneered this technique, known as “sugaring,” as well the concept of hair-removal-only salons in the Philippines back in 2006. The company also sells its own beauty products, such as anti-irritating lotions and exfoliating creams.

Company: Zark’s Burgers
Entrepreneur: Rolandrei Viktor “Zark” Varona
Description: Zark’s Burgers, founded in 2009 by Zark himself, is a Filipino fast casual burger chain that has created an entirely new burger experience across the Philippines. Dedicated to bringing consumers the best value meal for their money, Zark’s Burger’s are served with a competitive edge, making consumers enjoy the ride as they sign up for a “challenge” burger or stick to the major leagues. The brand has grown to 40+ restaurants and expects to reach 60+ by the end of 2018.