Endeavor Selects 24 High-Impact Entrepreneurs in Punta del Este, Uruguay

PUNTA DEL ESTE, Uruguay--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Twenty four high-impact entrepreneurs from 13 companies in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Uruguay were selected at Endeavor’s 18^th Latin American Selection Panel in Punta del Este, Uruguay. Business leaders from North and South America convened as Panelists to interview entrepreneur candidates and deliberate upon whom should become the next Endeavor Entrepreneur. Panelists evaluated candidates and their companies based on the following criteria: 1) entrepreneur initiative, role model potential, and value & ethics, 2) company development impact and business innovation, 3) how Endeavor can add value to the entrepreneur/company and how the entrepreneur/company can add value to Endeavor.

“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.”

Selected Endeavor Entrepreneurs include: brothers Diego and Gustavo Vorobechik of Bibliografika, a “print on demand” company applying innovative digital technology that is changing the publishing industry; Luiz Chacon of SuperBAC, a revolutionary biotechnology company using bacteria compounds to turn waste into water and carbon gas; Hector Alejandro Alvarez of Metco, a company that develops, manufactures, and sells all-natural sweeteners poised to be the healthiest product in the world market; and, Esperanza Morales, the scientist behind Life Systems Technology, a cutting edge biotechnology company that develops and produces high-quality and environmentally-friendly bio-products for clean, sustainable agriculture and food security. For information about other selected Endeavor Entrepreneurs contact: [e-mail]

About Endeavor

Real growth in emerging-market countries ultimately will come from robust private sectors rather than handouts. Since 1997, Endeavor has identified and supported entrepreneurs throughout Latin America, Africa and the Middle East. “High-impact entrepreneurs have the potential to create thriving companies that employ hundreds and generate millions in wages and revenues,” says Co-founder & CEO Linda Rottenberg.

As of December 2005, 260 Endeavor Entrepreneurs from 180 companies have created more than 38,000 high-value jobs paying on average ten times above the minimum wage and generated approximately US$1.375 billion in revenues.

Former World Bank President and Endeavor Global Board Member James D. Wolfensohn says, “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.”