Dusko Kelez

Can’t sleep on Dusko Kelez, this guy’s the real deal in the startup scene. He’s a total hustle machine and one of those dudes you look at and think, “Yep, he’s been grinding for a while.”

So, he’s the founder and CEO of Hapi, this sick app that’s all about making stock and crypto trading super easy for folks in Latin America. No bullshit, no minimums, zero commissions, that’s how he’s trying to democratize investing and shake up the game down there. The cool part? He started Hapi in 2020 with Piero and Billy, and by 2021, they got into Y Combinator, one of the top startup accelerators in the world, and raised over $4 million. That’s no small feat, especially considering the market he’s going after.

But this guy’s process didn’t start with Hapi. Nah, he’s been in the trenches way before that. He’s worked at a bunch of places, like Nexus Group, PwC in Peru, Jockey Plaza, and held roles from Senior Business Analyst to Project Manager. He’s also been COO and Country Manager at a couple of mobility startups, Grin Scooters and Grow Mobility, which means he’s no stranger to moving fast and leading teams.

And get this, back in the day, he founded DUKE Clothing and ran it as CEO for six years. Plus, he started Mambo and Club J. Basically, he’s always been about building stuff, whether it’s a clothing brand or a tech app. That entrepreneurial fire? That’s just who he is.

Education-wise, he’s got a B.A. in Economics from Universidad del Pacífico in Peru and even took some courses at Harvard in Computer Science for Business Pros. Oh, and he went through the YC Fellowship program in 2021, which shows he’s all about leveling up and learning from the best.

Now, he’s based in California, but his mission is clear: he wants to give Latin Americans access to the same investing tools as the big guys in the US. It’s personal for him, this isn’t just about making a quick buck. It’s about really pushing financial inclusion and shaking up the status quo.

Honestly, what I see in Dusko is someone who’s been through the grind, always learning, always building. He’s the guy who jumped into the startup world, crushed it in YC, and is now on a mission to change how people invest in Latin America. No Cap, he’s one of those founders you gotta watch, he’s got the skills, the drive, and the vision to make real waves.