Endeavor Honors Blackstone’s Steve Schwarzman and Skype’s Niklas Zennstrom & Janis Friis

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Endeavor, www.endeavor.org, the leading supporter of high-impact entrepreneurs in emerging markets, honored Blackstone Group Chairman & CEO Steven Schwarzman and the founders of Skype and Joost Niklas Zennström & Janus Friis at Endeavor’s 10 Year Anniversary Gala in New York City.

“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.”

Endeavor’s gala is an annual event that hails the achievements of high-impact entrepreneurs world-wide. On the occasion of its 10 Year Anniversary, Endeavor honored Mr. Schwarzman as Entrepreneur of the Decade and Messrs. Zennstrom & Friis as Entrepreneurs of the Year.

“Steve Schwarzman started the Blackstone Group along as a private equity firm. Today, Blackstone is one of the world’s leading financial firms that is transforming economies world-wide. Transforming and boosting emerging market economies is exactly what Endeavor is about. We couldn’t be more honored to have Steve as an honoree and a role model for our Endeavor Entrepreneurs” said Endeavor Co-founder & CEO Linda Rottenberg.

“What Niklas and Janus started Skype as a matter of necessity and as a result have radically transformed the way we communicate. More importantly their initiative has invigorated the entrepreneurial drive to invent and develop breakthroughs that will improve our lives. It is the example we want our Endeavor Entrepreneurs to follow,” Rottenberg said.

About Endeavor

Endeavor breaks down barriers that prevent emerging-market entrepreneurs from reaching their high-impact potential. Hailed by NYT columnist Thomas Friedman as the "mentor capitalist" model, Endeavor identifies entrepreneurs leading high-growth innovative companies in emerging markets. These entrepreneurs are given world-class strategic advice, access to key networks and other tools that will catapult them to success. With Endeavor's guidance they become “high-impact” – expanding employment, generating wealth and inspiring others to innovate. Often overlooked, these local entrepreneurs are now jumpstarting private sector development in their countries.

As of January 2007, Endeavor Entrepreneurs throughout Latin America, South Africa and Turkey have created 79,000 new jobs and generated over $1.9 billion in revenues. Endeavor plans to launch operations in Egypt and India in early 2008. For more information, visit www.endeavor.org

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.”