Internship Description
Cristina Rubio ’25 was a summer fellow at Endeavor Miami, part of a global organization that supports high-impact entrepreneurs to scale their ventures and drive economic growth. Endeavor’s mission is to select, mentor, and accelerate the most promising founders in emerging markets. At Endeavor Miami, Rubio conducted diligence on pipeline companies, engaged directly with founders, and contributed to internal selection meetings. She also developed investment-style memos and helped improve internal systems to support data-driven decision-making and long-term founder success.
I spent my summer with Endeavor’s selection team in the Miami office, helping more local founders understand the value of joining the global Endeavor network. Endeavor’s mission is to support high‑impact entrepreneurs by connecting them with mentors, investors, and peers. In Florida many founders are unfamiliar with this model, so I worked to “Endeavorize” high‑potential companies. I improved research and outreach workflows to identify promising start‑ups, participated in founder interviews and pipeline reviews, and helped one company prepare for the International Selection Panel. These initiatives strengthened our ability to attract exceptional founders in Florida and create the network effects that fuel Endeavor’s impact worldwide.
My Columbia MBA provided a blend of strategic, technical, and interpersonal skills. I used AI tools and research frameworks from my coursework to streamline internal processes and evaluate a wide range of business models. Case‑based classes and start‑up projects helped me ask better questions during founder interviews and identify the indicators of strong growth potential. Soft skills were equally important: I built trust with the Endeavor team and adapted to the fast‑paced environment by drawing on leadership and communication experiences from team‑based assignments.
A key challenge was balancing deep research on each founder with the need to develop sustainable processes that would outlast my fellowship. I wanted to create tools that would help the team operate efficiently without requiring heavy maintenance. I also had to stay flexible as Endeavor’s internal structure evolved during the summer; teams merged and priorities shifted, requiring continuous alignment of my efforts with new objectives. Despite these changes, I remained focused on strengthening founder selection and positioning Endeavor as the go‑to resource for top entrepreneurs in Florida.
This fellowship was immensely rewarding. I felt welcomed by the Endeavor Miami team and quickly gained a sense of belonging, which allowed me to contribute confidently. I sharpened my judgment about what makes a founder and company truly high‑impact, learned to navigate tools like Salesforce, and broadened my knowledge across industries. The experience reinforced my interest in working at the intersection of entrepreneurship and venture support, and I am grateful to Endeavor for the opportunity to contribute to such a mission‑driven organization.