Endeavor Catalyst has raised $320M to invest in startups outside Silicon Valley, reinforcing its commitment to global entrepreneurship.
Endeavor Catalyst has officially closed its fifth fund, securing $320 million in capital commitments. This latest funding round increases the firm’s total assets under management to over $850 million. This development is particularly pivotal for entrepreneurs located outside technology-and-power-in-today-s-silicon-valley/">Silicon Valley, who often find themselves overshadowed as investors flock towards AI sectors in California.
Rooted in its broader nonprofit initiatives, Endeavor Catalyst serves as the venture capital arm of Endeavor, a New York-based global nonprofit dedicated to supporting founders globally—especially in regions referred to as “elsewhere.” Founded more than 30 years ago, Endeavor aims to cultivate entrepreneurship and innovation beyond traditional tech hubs.
Leading the charge at Endeavor Catalyst are managing partner Allen Taylor and managing director Jackie Carmel, both of whom have extensive experience within the organization. Taylor has been with Endeavor for two decades, while Carmel joined the team 12 years ago. With a 16-member strong investment team, they work under Endeavor’s auspices, wherein the organization itself serves as the official general partner for the fund.
According to Endeavor co-founder Linda Rottenberg, half of the profits generated from the fund are reinvested back into Endeavor. This unique structure ensures that each investment made through Endeavor Catalyst contributes to supporting the next wave of founders from nontraditional backgrounds and locales. “Every investment helps the next generation of founders who are building elsewhere,” Rottenberg explained.
Securing investment from Endeavor is no small feat. Founders must first gain admission into the Endeavor network, which provides access to extensive mentorship and a robust network of resources. Last year, Endeavor screened over 10,000 candidates but selected only 88 entrepreneurs to join its growing community. Currently, the network includes more than 3,100 entrepreneurs across over 50 countries.
Investments typically come into play when a company, backed by Endeavor’s network, raises at least $5 million in a funding round led by another institutional investor. Endeavor Catalyst is allowed to participate alongside that lead investor, with checks ranging from $1 million to $3 million, although they cannot exceed 10% of the total fundraising round.
Over the next few years, Endeavor Catalyst seeks to make between 40 and 50 investments each year, aiming to support up to 150 companies using this newfound capital.
While specific performance metrics on returns from previous funds remain undisclosed, the firm boasts impressive achievements. To date, Endeavor Catalyst has backed 437 companies across 44 markets. Notably, among these, 83 startups are already valued at over $1 billion. Additionally, the investment arm has recorded 39 exits and 11 IPOs across its portfolio.
Among its standout holdings is ElevenLabs, a four-year-old company specializing in AI voice tools, valued at an astonishing $22 billion in a recent secondary sale. Additionally, Bending Spoons, a well-established Italian technology conglomerate, went public recently and is now valued at $26 billion.
Other prominent investments include Reflection AI, founded by two former researchers from Google DeepMind and currently valued at $25 billion, Checkout.com, which achieved a valuation of $12 billion last year, and African payments infrastructure company Flutterwave, recently valued at $3.2 billion. AI coding service Replit also makes the list, with a valuation of $9 billion secured earlier this year, co-founded by Palestinian-Jordanian Amjad Masad.
Endeavor is closely associated with several high-profile individuals who enhance its reputation and reach. Board members include Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn; Nick Beim, a leading venture capitalist; and Edgar Bronfman Jr., who previously led Warner Music and Seagram and now chairs Endeavor’s board.
Notably, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has longstanding ties with Endeavor, having attended Harvard with Rottenberg. In a recent visit to San Francisco, he engaged with tech founders and the Greek expatriate community, reflecting Endeavor's global footprint.
The latest fund includes backing from 400 limited partners, featuring notable investors such as Bill Ackman and the Dutch investment group Prosus. Approximately 30% of these backers are Endeavor founders, which include individuals behind successful companies like Nubank, Revolut, and Checkout.com.
As investors remain concentrated on trends emanating from San Francisco, Endeavor Catalyst’s investments provide a counterpoint, revealing opportunities that many are dismissing. The firm has robust teams and mentors operating in numerous countries, giving it an edge in identifying potential outside of the U.S. market.
Approximately 90% of Endeavor Catalyst’s investments are made outside the United States, with Europe showing immense growth. Recently, Endeavor has noted significant activity in Europe, with 12 new investments made in the first half of 2026 compared to only 14 in all of the previous year. However, Latin America continues to dominate as the region with the highest number of investments.
Repeat founders are also becoming increasingly significant in Endeavor's investment portfolio. Taylor noted that roughly 14% of the fourth fund was allocated to follow-up ventures launched by Endeavor founders at seed or Series A stages. With the new fund, that allocation is expected to rise to 20%, reflecting a trend towards investing in familiar faces within their network.
The latest fund positions Endeavor Catalyst to navigate a changing landscape in venture capital and entrepreneurship, advocating for a diverse array of opportunities outside the well-trodden paths of traditional tech hubs.
With $320 million at its disposal, Endeavor Catalyst is ready to take the next steps in shaping the future of entrepreneurship across the globe. By focusing on regions beyond Silicon Valley and reinforcing its commitment to fostering the next generation of founders, the organization is poised to make a lasting impact on the global entrepreneurship ecosystem.
As the firm scales its operations, Endeavor Catalyst’s ongoing investment strategy underscores its belief in the potential of global startups, especially in economies that are frequently overlooked by traditional venture capital narratives. Investing in innovation, accessibility, and entrepreneurship across diverse regions can yield remarkable growth opportunities, which organizations like Endeavor Catalyst are now championing.
The challenge remains: can they convince more traditional investors to explore these ‘elsewhere’ opportunities? Given the results Endeavor Catalyst has already achieved, many eyes will be watching closely to see how this newest fund performs.
Founders must first be accepted into the Endeavor network, where they receive mentorship and access to a vast network of resources. Endeavor screens thousands of candidates each year to identify promising entrepreneurs.
Approximately 90% of Endeavor Catalyst’s investments are made in regions outside the U.S., with Europe being its fastest-growing area.
Endeavor Catalyst’s notable investments include ElevenLabs, Reflection AI, Bending Spoons, and Flutterwave, many of which hold billion-dollar valuations and reflect the diversity of innovation across various markets.