Rodrigo Cruz

Bro, let me put you onto Rodrigo Cruz. This guy’s the real deal in the startup world, straight up hustler with a story that’s all about jumping into big problems and crushing them. So, he’s a YC alum from W21, which means he’s legit been through the trenches of startup life and came out swinging.

Rodrigo started out in the finance and asset management game, he’s got a background at Itaú Asset Management and even worked as an Equity Research Analyst at Bank of America Merrill Lynch covering retail and consumer stuff in Latin America. Basically, he knew the ins and outs of markets, consumer behavior, and money flows. But something was always burning in him to build something bigger.

That desire pushed him into the startup scene. He worked as Strategy Manager at Facily, a sick social commerce platform in Brazil, you know, the kind of company that’s changing how everyday people shop and sell stuff. But he didn’t stop there. In 2020, he co-founded Gonddo, a B2B wholesale marketplace, right in São Paulo. The goal? Modernize how independent retailers buy from brands, making inventory easier and more fast for SMBs. It’s basically a tech-powered bridge for small shops to get what they need without bullshit middlemen or outdated processes.

And yo, Gonddo was part of YC’s Winter 2021 batch, so they must’ve been doing something right. That’s no joke, YC’s pretty much the gold standard for startups, and Rodrigo’s company was right there, proving he’s got what it takes to build expandable, effective tech.

What’s crazy about Rodrigo is how he’s jumped from finance and strategy into actually creating value on the ground. It’s like he’s always been obsessed with solving real problems, and that drive shows in everything he does. Now, he’s in London, working as a Senior Product Manager at Verto, a fintech that’s doing cross-border payments and FX solutions. So, he’s still in the game, helping businesses move money smarter and faster, kind of the same spirit as Gonddo, just in a different space.

He’s fluent in both English and Portuguese, which makes sense, he’s been navigating Latin America’s markets and then jumping into the global scene. His story’s about taking his knowledge, his hustle, and his desire to innovate, and then jumping straight into the fire. That’s what makes him so interesting, he’s not just talking about change, he’s building it.

Bottom line: Rodrigo Cruz is that guy who saw a problem, jumped into the startup game with everything he had, and kept pushing forward. His process from finance to social commerce to wholesale marketplaces and now fintech shows he’s all about making big moves and creating real impact. No Cap, he’s one to watch, a perfect example of how grit, smarts, and a little bit of that startup magic can turn ideas into real-world change.