Rodrigo Santibanez

Mad respect for Rodrigo Santibanez, this guy’s the real deal in the startup world. He’s a Mexican entrepreneur who’s been crushing it for over a decade, and his story is pretty sick.

So, he kicked things off back in 2010 with EAT Club out in Silicon Valley. That’s a food tech company, right? He was the co-founder and COO, and dude, they scaled that thing to like 85 million bucks. They raised Series A, B, C, the whole shebang. That already shows he’s got what it takes to build something big, to hustle and really grow a company from scratch.

Then, he didn’t stop there. Fast forward, he jumps into ControlHub in 2020, a SaaS company that automates purchasing and accounts payable for mid-size businesses. He’s the co-founder and CEO now, and honestly, he’s building something super needed, cutting out all the bullshit in corporate procurement. They’re part of YC W21, so he’s clearly recognized as a legit founder in the startup scene.

What’s crazy is, his background is super diverse. He studied industrial engineering and ops management at Tecnológico de Monterrey, then went to Stanford for an MBA. That combo? It’s like the perfect mix of nuts-and-bolts tech and business smarts. Before jumping into startups, he was in corporate finance, strategy, marketing, working at Disney, Capella Hotels, British American Tobacco, all over places like Italy, Singapore, Mexico, the US. Basically, he’s been everywhere, learning how big companies tick.

But here’s the kicker, Rodrigo isn’t just about making money. He’s really into empowering Latin American software dev talent and building cross-border teams. That’s a big deal. It shows he cares about lifting others up, creating opportunities, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible outside the usual Silicon Valley bubble.

What does all this say about him? It’s simple: he’s driven by solving real problems, not just chasing shiny VC checks. His process from food tech to SaaS proves he’s all about building expandable solutions that make life easier for businesses. And his background in strategy and finance? Yeah, he’s got the brains to back up his hustle.

Long story short, Rodrigo’s a guy who saw gaps, jumped in, and built companies that actually matter. He’s all about innovation, empowering talent, and making a dent in the world of B2B tech. No Cap, he’s one to watch, a true startup builder who’s not just in it for the quick win, but for the long haul.