Ep 73. RENÉ LOMELÍ, 500 Global - "Investing in Latin American Entrepreneurship is a Marathon"

Entrepreneurial Thinkers with Rob Ryan

In this episode, Rob and Ileana are joined by René Lomelí, the Director of Operations at 500 Startups LATAM, a renowned venture capital firm in Mexico City. With over 10 years of experience at the company, René has played a crucial role in creating and leading the 16-week program for investments in Spanish-speaking Latin America, known as Somos Lucha, and has been involved in over 240 investments in the region.

During the interview, René shares his inspiring origin story, growing up on the east coast of Mexico in Merida, and not being a "big city kid, and not being a Stanford or Harvard guy." He discusses his move to Mexico City and how it marked a significant serendipitous turning point in his life.

The conversation delves into René's "entrepreneurial origin story" and experience organizing and facilitating Startup Weekends across Mexico, showcasing his dedication to fostering entrepreneurship in his City and now Mexico. He also shares valuable insights about his journey with 500 Startups, explaining how he met his partner at 500 Startups, Santiago Zavala, and how he became involved with the company. René sheds light on the inner workings of 500 LatAm and its mission to assist early-stage startups in various aspects such as business strategy, marketing, fundraising, and team building.

One of the highlights of the conversation is René's reflection on the most memorable startups he has worked with and why they stood out to him. He offers a unique perspective on the role of technology, innovation, and capital in driving economic growth in emerging markets, emphasizing the potential for transformative change.

Throughout the interview, René's genuine enthusiasm for the industry and positive energy shines through. His journey from witnessing the nascent stages of the Mexican entrepreneurial landscape to actively contributing to its consolidation, showcases his determination and commitment. Additionally, his passion for marathon running, having completed 10 marathons, offers a unique lens through which he has learned to endure pain and experience greater satisfaction upon reaching the finish line.

Don't miss this captivating episode with René.

Feel free to follow and engage with RENÉ here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rlomeli88/?originalSubdomain=mx

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rlomeli88/?hl=en

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rlomeli88?lang=en

Website: https://500.co

Website for LATAM: https://latam.500.co/

We're so grateful to you, our growing audience of entrepreneurs, investors, builders, influencers and those interested in the entrepreneurial economies of Latin America and the under-represented entrepreneurial communities in the USA!

Plug in, relax and enjoy some Spanish, English and a fun dose of spanglish as always. We're here to help inspire, educate and empower you, so that you can build the future!

¡Salud y gracias!,

Mentors Today's Team