The Underdog Founder

How to Go From Unseen to Unstoppable

By: Edrizio De La Cruz

Narrated by: Jesse Sussman

The Underdog Founder shares Edrizio De La Cruz’s improbable odyssey from selling guavas in a Dominican barrio to co-founding his startup, Arcus, in Silicon Valley. Arcus was recognized by Forbes as one of the most successful startups of 2021 and was later sold to Mastercard.

This no-nonsense playbook is for the entrepreneurial dark horse, a memoir and business narrative that presents seven key principles to rise above racism, poverty, imposter syndrome, and every imaginable and unimaginable startup obstacle.

The Underdog Founder is the inspirational and practical guide needed to transform obstacles into opportunities and manifest the life you’ve dreamed of—a life that goes against all odds.

©2023 Edrizio De La Cruz (P)2023 Edrizio De La Cruz

Critic reviews

“Brutally candid...the most powerful book I’ve read on how to succeed as an underrepresented founder." (Michael Seibel, Y Combinator)

Very inspiring

I really enjoyed reading about Edrizio’s journey, all the ups and downs, rejections, and victories. This is a must-read for every Latin American entrepreneur.

Muy recomendado para todos los fundadores de startup, especialmente latinos.

WoW, must read for any founder!

This book masterfully charts a hero's journey, offering insightful guidance and an incredible roadmap for preparing oneself for the entrepreneur's rollercoaster. It also reveals hidden gems on how to look within and learn what one is capable of, making the seemingly impossible possible.

Solid founder story

Overall a solid story of overcoming challenges to succeed with good tactical steps for any founder.

A must read for all aspiring tech entrepreneurs

The Underdog Founder turned out to be so much more than just a story of overcoming struggle. Its central focus is the author's compelling journey through poverty, impostor syndrome, and the pervasive unconscious bias within the VC community and tech sector in general. To me, what set this book apart was the author's candid self-assessment and the personal growth that emerges with such raw honesty — something that is not found in many leaders.

What was most surprising, and in some way an unexpected gift in the book, is the clear blueprint for building a successful tech company, irrespective of one's background or advantages. It's like a how to build a great company and product 101 book. The author lays this out by detailing the mistakes he made and you can avoid repeating them. This makes the book an invaluable resource for aspiring entrepreneurs, particularly those in tech who don't have the benefit of starting on "third base."

I highly recommend this book for anyone trying to make it as an entrepreneur, particularly tech entrepreneurs and definitely anyone not born on third base trying to make it.

An amazing and inspiring story for any leader

I definitely encourage anyone, if they are entrepreneurs, leaders or young people, to get motivated and moving with Edrizio’s story.