For the first time in six years, Endeavor Brazil is undergoing a leadership change, naming Anderson Thees as its new managing director.
Thees, a seasoned figure in the tech industry, has been tasked with driving the growth of startups, aiming to support the creation of decacorns – companies valued at over $10 billion.
“If, back in 2012, we had predicted that Latin America would have more than 20 unicorns by 2024, it would have sounded outlandish – much like it might seem far-fetched today to say we’ll see that many decacorns in the next twelve years. But it’s entirely possible,” Thees told Brazil Journal.
“I’d argue that this next phase – where numerous companies will grow from $1 billion to $5 billion and then become decacorns – is easier to achieve than the leap from zero to unicorns. The ecosystem is already well-developed; there’s nothing holding it back.”
Thees has been a mentor at Endeavor Brazil for two decades and is set to replace Camilla Junqueira, who is stepping down at the end of her term this month.
Junqueira’s departure was planned back in 2022, when her mandate was extended by two years. According to her, the time had come for Endeavor to be led by someone deeply embedded in the startup ecosystem, capable of guiding affiliated companies to new levels of growth.
“We knew it had to be someone from within the ecosystem, and Linda Rottenberg (Endeavor’s founder) herself said Anderson was the best choice,” Junqueira said.
Thees brings a wealth of experience to the role, with a career that includes positions at UBS, Eccelera, and Naspers. In 2012, he co-founded Redpoint eventures, which went on to invest in five unicorns: Gympass (now Wellhub), Creditas, Olist, Pismo, and Rappi.
While at Naspers, Thees was the first venture capitalist to invest in Movile, and he also chaired the board of the company, which was founded by Fabrício Bloisi.
For the past two years, Thees has been at Itaú, helping the bank develop its venture capital strategy. He is stepping down from that role but will continue to serve as an advisor to Cubo, the startup hub he has been involved with since its founding in 2014.
As he takes over Endeavor, Thees will lead an organization with 70 employees that supports around 200 companies annually through mentoring, investments and networking opportunities.
