Endeavor hosted curated industry tours for entrepreneurs surrounding the organization’s 20th Anniversary celebrations at the end of November, providing them with unique opportunities to learn from and network with NYC-based CEOs, founders and leaders in their fields. Hailing from over 10 countries around the world, nearly 30 Endeavor Entrepreneurs working in retail and healthcare verticals gathered in New York City for several days of specialized programming.
On Wednesday November 29, a group of Endeavor Entrepreneurs from both industries convened for a Design Thinking workshop at SAP’s “garage on the 52nd floor.” Participants were split up into groups to work through a case-study with the objective of creating “the perfect competitor” to an Endeavor company represented there that day.
During the specialized retail tour, entrepreneurs visited Brooklyn-based, e-commerce giant Etsy, where they met with CEO Josh Silverman. They also sat down for intimate discussions with GILT Groupe founder Kevin Ryan, and Shan-Lyn Ma, co-Founder & CEO of ZOLA, the country’s most successful online wedding registry.
Entrepreneurs participating in the healthcare vertical tour had the opportunity to hear from former Aetna CEO Jack Rowe in a small group discussion at Endeavor’s offices, and then visited innovative urgent care provider CityMD, where they met with CEO Dr. Richard Park, and the offices of insurance industry disruptor Oscar Health, where they heard from co-founder and CEO Mario Schlosser.
Wrapping up the day, entrepreneurs on both industry tours had a unique chance to sit down with Endeavor’s 2017 Gala Honoree, General Atlantic CEO Bill Ford, who shared with the group anecdotes from the fund’s early days and his vision for the future.
The retail and healthcare vertical tours were part of Endeavor’s ongoing initiative to offer entrepreneurs industry-specific, enriching programming. In 2017, Endeavor hosted similar events in New York City for Endeavor Entrepreneurs working in fintech, food and beverage, and data, marketing and media industries.