Operating, Investing, & Everything in Between Across Mexico | Eric Schwartz

SummaryIn this conversation, Eric Schwartz shares his journey from growing up in New York City to establishing a career in the credit and debt space in Mexico. He discusses his educational background, experiences in the U.S. Embassy, and his transition to Payoneer, where he played a key role in building credit solutions for global SMBs. Eric reflects on his time at Covalto, a leading SME lending company in Mexico, and the unique challenges and opportunities in the Latin American market. He also delves into his foray into angel investing, emphasizing the importance of relationships and the evolving landscape of fintech in the region.Chapters00:00 Journey: From NYC to Mexico04:04 Academic Pursuits: Philosophy, Politics, and Economics06:50 Diplomatic Aspirations: Interning at the U.S. Embassy08:46 Disparity in Nations: Relational vs. Formal Frameworks09:49 Career Transition: From Diplomacy to Business12:54 Payoneer Experience: Building a Global Credit Business15:08 Early Days: Building Product at Payoneer17:44 Team Building: Payoneer's Credit Team 18:48 Lessons Learned: Organizational Design and Strategy22:02 Covalto: A New Opportunity in SME Lending24:57 Understanding the Mexican Banking Landscape25:38 Covalto's Product Offering & Customer Profile28:11 Cavalto's Market Position and Competitive Landscape28:37 The Journey to Mexico: Inspiration and Opportunity31:04 Embracing Angel Investing in Latin America31:39 Careers for Curiosity: VC & Consulting33:52 Building Networks: The Importance of Relationships34:15 Experience as LP with Gilgamesh Ventures35:34 Building Deal Flow & Relationships across LATAM38:12 Evolving Investment Thesis: Lessons Learned41:41 Opportunities in Emerging Markets vs. Established Markets55:05 Cut The Check Outro.mp3Send us Fan MailCut The Check w/ Mack Meyer is a podcast about venture capital, startups, and entrepreneurship in Latin America and beyond.New episodes drop every week.Subscribe on SpotifyStay connected with us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram,Have a guest suggestion? Email us at [email protected]