Endeavor partners with McKinsey to reimagine its support for Brazil’s entrepreneurs
In a major overhaul of its organizational strategy, Endeavour worked with McKinsey & Company on its ambitious plan to transform Brazil into a top global hub for innovation by 2035.
Endeavor, a non-profit with chapters around the world, identifies and supports high-impact entrepreneurs and founders that use technology to make a difference. The organization’s Brazil chapter recently began redesigning its approach to supporting local business leaders.
As the Brazilian business landscape becomes more complex, the organization has recognized a need to modernize its own internal structure and service model to remain effective in a changing market.
Entrepreneurs needs shifting
Working alongside McKinsey & Company consultants to evaluate the specific needs of its network, Endeavor discovered that the challenges entrepreneurs face change significantly as their companies mature.
While those in the early stages focus on building a basic business model and securing initial capital, leaders of established companies require specialized help with international expansion and professional governance. Despite these varying stages of development, the most consistent demand across the entire network is the need for high-quality talent and leadership development.
To address these findings, the organization has simplified its vast array of mentorship programs and investment opportunities into a clear, unified portfolio. This new map allows the team to communicate value more effectively to founders and identify gaps where support may be lacking.
“When McKinsey showed us everything on one page, it was eye-opening. Now we use that map to show entrepreneurs exactly how Endeavor supports them,” said Paula Oliveira, chief of strategy and operations at Endeavor in Brazil.
By organizing services around the journey of the entrepreneur rather than internal administrative processes, Endeavor aims to provide a more seamless and intuitive experience for its Brazilian members. This shift represents a move away from rigid internal silos toward a more agile, client-focused operation.
Expanding the network core
A major shift in this new strategy is the expanded definition of who the organization serves. While the focus was previously limited strictly to founders and co-founders, Endeavor now includes key executive leaders in its outreach and support services.
Recognizing that senior executives are essential to the long-term success of rapidly growing companies, the organization believes that supporting entire leadership teams will strengthen the broader economic ecosystem and ensure more sustainable growth.
This internal cultural shift also involves a deeper integration of data and product teams to ensure that decisions are driven by the real-world experiences of business owners. By aligning its local operations with a global vision for the year 2035, the organization is positioning itself to help Brazilian companies compete on the world stage.
These changes reflect a commitment to ensuring that as businesses scale, they remain connected to the network as mentors and investors for the next generation of innovators, creating a virtuous cycle of entrepreneurship that benefits the entire country.
Through these improvements, Endeavor is not only helping individual companies but is also working to ensure that the national economy is powered by innovation and resilient leadership for decades to come.
“What we discovered was that entrepreneurs’ pain points evolve as their businesses grow,” says Bruna Losada, a senior engagement manager at McKinsey & Company. “Early-stage founders need help building the business. Later-stage leaders need help building up themselves and their teams.”
