Edrizio De La Cruz

Yo, have you heard of Edrizio De La Cruz? Dude’s the real deal. Born in the Dominican Republic, grew up in Harlem, and started his hustle selling guavas when he was just a kid back in Santo Domingo. That’s some old-school entrepreneurial spirit right there, like, from the jump, he was about that grind.

Then, the guy jumps into the US Air Force Reserve and works as an aircraft technician with Swissport. No fancy startup creds at first, just straight-up hard work. But he’s not stopping there. He circles back to college, gets an MBA from Wharton, and then dips his toes into investment banking at J.P. Morgan. Basically, he’s stacking skills and experience, playing it smart, building his foundation.

But what really sets him apart? In 2013, he co-founds Arcus (originally Regalii), a fintech company all about payments and remittances, helping people send money across borders. Think about it: Latin Americans sending cash back home, and Arcus made it easier, faster, cheaper. They got into Y Combinator, crushed it, raised over $19 million from big names like SoftBank, Citi Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, and YC. That’s no small feat, they went from a idea to serving over 100 clients, including giants like Walmart, Santander, 7-Eleven, BBVA, and Rappi. And in 2021, Mastercard scooped them up in their biggest Latin America deal ever. Holy shit, right?

What’s even cooler? Edrizio’s not just a founder, he’s a mentor now. He became the first Latino Visiting Partner at YC, guiding new founders and sharing his process. The guy knows what it’s like to be an underdog, and he’s about lifting others up.

He also wrote ‘The Underdog Founder,’ which is basically a playbook for anyone who feels like they don’t fit the mold but still wants to crush it. Plus, he’s an Echoing Green Fellow, meaning he’s recognized as a changemaker, someone using business to make a difference.

So, what’s his story telling us? It’s about hustle, resilience, and never forgetting where you come from. From selling guavas as a kid to building a fintech empire, Edrizio’s process screams that no matter your background, you can flip the script. He’s about turning obstacles into opportunities, and now he’s helping others do the same. That’s why he’s so important, he’s living proof that with grit and smarts, anyone can go from underdog to undefeated.