Welcome ELSA To The Endeavor Network

July 17,2020

Together with five entrepreneurs from five different countries around the world, Van Dinh Hong Vu (Founder & CEO – ELSA) officially became Endeavor Entrepreneur in the 5th Virtual International Selection Panel (ISP). Endeavor currently supports 2,083 entrepreneurs leading 1,300 companies in 37 markets worldwide.

ELSA (English Language Speech Assistant) is a mobile application for English pronunciation training and accent reduction using speech recognition. Powered by the company’s proprietary AI and speech recognition technology, ELSA scores a learners’ speech to pinpoint individual syllable and phoneme level mistakes with real time feedback. Based in San Francisco, ELSA has raised $12 million in capital from Monk’s Hill and Gradient Ventures (Google) and is available on iOS and Android, with 750 thousand monthly active users from 101 countries. ELSA has offices in locations across the world including Vietnam, India, Portugal, Japan, and Indonesia.

From left to right: The Edge (U2; Chairman of Endeavor Ireland), Martín Migoya (Co-founder & CEO, Globant; BM of Endeavor Argentina, Endeavor Entrepreneur), Văn Đinh Hồng Vũ (Founder & CEO, ELSA)

Typically held eight times per year, the ISP is the culmination of a rigorous multi-step selection process to identify high-impact entrepreneurs who demonstrate the potential to leverage Endeavor’s resources and mentorship to create large-scale wealth and jobs, and are committed to reinvesting their time and money in their local entrepreneurship ecosystems to help others take off. Beyond the selection process, ISPs are also unique international gatherings that bring entrepreneurs, dedicated business leaders and staff together across borders and industries, and allow them to make connections they may never have otherwise. This event marks the fifth Virtual ISP that Endeavor has held.

Over the course of three days at the Virtual ISP, panelists utilized Zoom breakout rooms to interview a small group of high-caliber entrepreneur candidates about their businesses. In “deliberation rooms” — private Zoom meetings with only Endeavor staff and panelists — panelists evaluated the entrepreneurs on their potential for high-impact growth, discussed which candidates should be selected to become Endeavor Entrepreneurs, then voted unanimously to select the newest Endeavor Entrepreneurs.

“The beauty of the Endeavor system and culture is how super smart and successful people come together to help others pro bono. I’m 100% pro Bono, but 110% pro the Endeavor global network and community. This Endeavor thing really works,” said The Edge (U2; Endeavor Ireland Board Chairman), who served as a panelist at the event.

Panelists at the ISP also included: Francisco Alvarez-Demalde (Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Riverwood Capital; Endeavor Global Ambassador), Martín Migoya (Co-Founder and CEO, Globant; Endeavor Argentina Board Member, Alumni Endeavor Entrepreneur), Matt Cameron (CEO and Sales Leadership Principal, SaaSy Sales Leadership), Mohamed Azab (CEO and Founder, Seha Healthcare; Co-Founder, AR ventures; Endeavor Entrepreneur, Endeavor Egypt Board Member), Shari Loessberg (Senior Lecturer, MIT Sloan School of Management), Ayman Ismail (Partner and Chairman of the Board of Directors, DMG; Endeavor Egypt Board Chairman), Elaine Coughlan (Managing Co-Founder and Partner, Atlantic Bridge; Endeavor Ireland Board Member), Jason Green (Partner, Emergence Capital Partners; Endeavor Global Board Member), Jean Michel Enriquez (Managing Partner, Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, s.c.), Mauro Schnaidman (Independent Board Member), Vassil Terziev (Co-Founder, Telerik Academy; Partner, Eleven VC; Endeavor Bulgaria Board Co-chair)

As part of Endeavor’s network, the entrepreneurs selected at the Virtual ISP will gain access to comprehensive, strategic, global support services, including introductions to local and international business mentors, investors, and volunteers from Fortune 500 consulting firms who will help them address key needs.

Endeavor Entrepreneurs have had a significant track record of impact. Endeavor Entrepreneurs have created 4.1M+ jobs, generated $24+ billion in revenues in 2019, and help build sustainable growth models in their home countries.