Edrizio De La Cruz: From selling guavas in a barrio to selling his startup to Mastercard

In The Underdog Founder. Edrizio De La Cruz shares his odyssey as a Dominican immigrant who grew up in Harlem, dropped out of college and the US Air force, to become aircraft technician and help makes ends meet. He later returned to college, worked on Wall Street, and earned his MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. In 2013, Edrizio co-founded Arcus, a fintech company that was backed by Y Combinator, Citi Ventures, SoftBank, and Ignia. In 2021, the company was ultimately sold to Mastercard.We discussed the importance of understanding what fuels one's entrepreneurial spirit. As Edrizio wisely puts it, "Ideas may change, teams may change... But what doesn't change is what drives you." Being in the company of smarter individuals, the significance of cultivating grit, and the role of sheer perseverance in the startup world are key highlights of our conversation.A captivating moment from our talk was Edrizio's recollection of rejecting a stable job at Citi for a more uncertain future. His conviction shines through when he says, "Sometimes you have to burn the bridges, and the only way to move forward is to have nothing to go back to."Listeners can expect an infusion of motivation, drawing from Edrizio's own experiences, and the assurance that every obstacle can indeed be transformed into a massive opportunity.Key Takeaways:The unparalleled power of understanding what drives you."Cultivate grit, startups become a game of stamina."Surrounding yourself with smarter people can elevate your game.The pivotal role of tenacity in startup success.