Edgard Duque

Vice President - Innovation Economy, Startup Banking

2024 - Current

Google for Startups Accelerator - Product Strategy Mentor

2015

• Google AI Impact Challenge Accelerator: mentored selected global organizations from the AI Impact Challenge in partnership with Google.org and Google AI that aim to use AI to help address social and environmental challenges. • Google Launchpad Start TheVentureCity (Miami): mentored early-stage tech startups from Latin America, the US, and Spain. • Google Launchpad Accelerator San Francisco: mentored tech startups from Africa, Europe, Asia, and Central/South America. • Google Launchpad with IMPAQTO Lab Tech Quito: mentored economic, social, and environmental impact startups from Ecuador; speaker on How to Make a Successful Pitch for Investors. • Google Launchpad Start Bogotá & Medellín (Colombia) editions: mentored digital startups in strategy, marketing, and fundraising. • Google Product Strategy Expert (2015)

Investment Manager

2023 - 2024

Investment Associate

2022 - 2023

Investment Director - Americas

2021 - 2022

First Ticket Investments + Product-Led Growth Support: We give you your first ticket, minimum of $100K, and depending on performance follow-on so that you can get your product to market and keep building your team. We also provide you with a hands-on fully remote support focused on preparing high-potential startups for efficient growth. • Sourced, vetted, and ran comprehensive deal due diligence on prospective First Ticket investments. • Managed and supported existing portfolio companies including managing quarterly KPIs, advising on product developments, and connecting to relevant experts. • Coordinated pipeline of deals across key stakeholders and managed deal review.

Product-Led Growth Program Manager - Americas

2019 - 2021

An international, operator-led venture acceleration model designed to make the global entrepreneurial ecosystem more diverse, international and accessible to capital. • Managed the planning, strategy, and operations of the 5-month Product-Led Growth Program (a boutique growth accelerator) and its calendar for 23 companies: sourcing/evaluating/selecting early-stage tech startups from United States and Latin America, designed program schedules and sessions for Onboarding Week for selected startups, tracked the performance/cross-functional work of portfolio startups, and successfully oversaw the founders' experience during the program and beyond as alumni. • Coordinated and carried out bi-annual demo days for program founders with curated international investors, quarterly program alumni reunions, and founder community events with guest speakers and mentors from TheVentureCity's mentor network as part of the Product-Led Growth Program. • Planned and executed 4 editions of The Product-Led Growth Week, a 5-day virtual event where founders had the chance to hear how TheVentureCity approaches Product-Led Growth. The event was aimed for founders of software-enabled companies to discover how their product can be the main driver of growth and why this approach has been used by successful startups like Slack, Dropbox, Zoom, and many others.

Director

2015 - 2018

Holding company that contributes to economic development through technology and entrepreneurship through its owned and operated companies encompassing venture capital, public relations & communications, media, recruiting, and co-working. • Worked cross-functionally and drove strategic initiatives involving multiple teams, contracts, functions and offices of the holding company. • Developed and pitched proposals for corporate innovation programs (banks, airlines, universities, and media).

Digital Entrepreneurship Center National Director

2015 - 2018

Initiative in partnership between Socialatom Ventures and city of Medellín’s innovation agency Ruta N, which contributed to economic development of the city by promoting tech entrepreneurship and connecting the city’s top entrepreneurial and engineering talent with top global companies, capital, and markets. • Directed cross-functional team of 15 members for smooth execution of program of 70 global tech startups to meet objectives as per established timelines; strategically addressed operational and program-related challenges. • Coordinated evaluation and selection process of participating startups; oversaw offer of personalized advisory services to startups with mentor network. • Managed the Center’s annual operational and startups’ grant budgets; prepared closing financial reports for each contract presented to Ruta N agency for audits. • Facilitated relationships and maintained close communication between the Center’s stakeholders.

Incubation & Acceleration Program Advisor & Mentor (ICT Ministry of Colombia)

2017 - 2017

• Growth & Consolidation Program (Accelerator): provided financial advisory to 20 digital companies through 1:1 sessions and workshops to prepare them to receive venture capital investment or reach break-even point. • Discovery Program (Incubator): mentored 6 digital startups to validate business idea and produce MVP in 8 weeks; positioned each startup to scale product by designing business model using canvas methodology during 12-week phase. • Designed and held workshops: How to Launch Your Startup Internationally, Financial Planning, PR, and Sales Pipeline.

Managing Director

2016 - 2017

Venture capital fund that invests in tech startups that have provided positive indications of exponential growth in the United States market and partner with them to deepen and scale their technology, while also removing obstacles to growth. • Worked with portfolio companies in aspects of international expansion, from legal to business development and marketing; managed due diligence processes of startups aligned with Fund’s investment thesis.

Business Development Director

2015 - 2017

Boutique PR firm that worked with tech companies looking to expand in Latin America and reach from niche to mass audiences. • Handled commercial business relationships and managed accounts with clients in Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, and Japan. • Boosted agency’s revenue and client acquisition; streamlined financials, business development activities, and client pipeline management; implemented team KPIs and measured account executives’ performance.

Associate

2014 - 2015

Venture capital firm that combines seed investments in global tech startups with advisory services, ranging from recruiting to business development, to help founders grow faster. • Accomplished successful structuring of venture capital fund in Colombia by managing technical and financial project aspects and relationships with key stakeholders: legal firms, financial institutions, financial regulation government agency, and potential corporate and individual investors. • Associate of Firstrock Capital Colombia I, aimed to invest in digital startups from Colombia that have achieved exponential growth with solutions that are either global or applicable to all of Latin America. Mapped local ecosystem to construct deal flow pipeline of 240 startups to be evaluated.