In the tapestry of Silicon Valley’s lore, “The Underdog Founder” emerges as a powerful narrative, unraveling the life of Edrizio De La Cruz from a Dominican barrio to the pinnacle of tech entrepreneurship. It is not merely a memoir; it’s the chronicle of an unyielding dream and the tactical manual for those who start from the ground up, etching their way into the elite circles of innovation.
Edrizio De La Cruz’s tale begins in the dense urban landscape of Harlem, far from the tech utopia of Silicon Valley. His narrative could have stalled at the chapters of dropout and technician, yet it surged forward, propelled by a relentless determination that saw him reclaim his education and earn an MBA from the prestigious Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Photo Credit: Jane Owen PR
The creation of Arcus was a testament to Edrizio’s philosophy: “I think one thing I’ve learned as a founder is that you have got to stick around long enough to get lucky. Just don’t die. Just keep moving forward, keep putting one foot in front of the other, and eventually, good things will happen. If you keep iterating and learning and getting better, you put yourself in a position where ultimately opportunity meets luck, which equals success.” It was this unwavering perseverance that carried Arcus to acclaim and eventual acquisition by Mastercard, against the backdrop of an industry that often felt impenetrable to minorities.
“The Underdog Founder” is more than Edrizio’s personal saga; it’s an inspirational missive for the entrepreneurial spirits who are frequently marginalized. His insight is poignant: “I need to win not in spite of my circumstances but because of my circumstances. For everything that has happened to me to get to that point, not only as a founder but also as a person of color and as an immigrant who grew up in the projects. Indeed, to do this not just for myself, not just for my family, but for my community, I represent something bigger than myself.”
Photo Credit: Jane Owen PR
Through the book, Edrizio champions the critical role of diversity programs and affirmative action. These initiatives are not merely feel-good stories; they are essential frameworks that empower underrepresented professionals to chase and achieve the American dream. The seven key principles he shares are not abstract concepts but lived experiences, tools to navigate through the prejudices of race and the challenges of socioeconomic disparities.
Arcus’s journey, propelled by Edrizio’s indomitable spirit and recognized by Forbes, is a clarion call to all who find themselves as underdogs in their fields. It’s a validation that success can be a function of resilience and that, sometimes, the very factors that seem to be obstacles are the stepping stones to unprecedented success.
Edrizio De La Cruz’s “The Underdog Founder” does more than tell a success story; it serves as a manifesto for the enduring, the dreamers, and the visionaries. It’s a playbook for those who carry not just their dreams but also the aspirations of communities that look to them as beacons of hope and agents of change. It is, in essence, the embodiment of the belief that staying the course can, and often does, lead to the serendipitous intersection of opportunity and luck—where true success is born.
