RPG and Respond.io founders join Endeavor’s global network following international selection

• RPG and Respond.io join global network of 3,000+ high-impact founders
• Selection reflects growing global scale of Malaysian-built brands and SaaS platforms

Melvin Chee, CEO and co-founder of Rocket Paradise Group (RPG), the company behind lifestyle brand Montigo, and Gerardo Salandra, CEO and co-founder of Respond.io, have been selected as Endeavor Entrepreneurs following the organisation’s International Selection Panel (ISP) in Singapore. 

Their selection places them within Endeavor’s global network of more than 3,000 high-impact founders building category-defining companies across multiple markets.

The ISP marks the final stage of Endeavor’s rigorous screening process, designed to identify entrepreneurs with strong growth potential, scalable business models, and the ability to generate significant economic impact, including job creation and reinvestment in local ecosystems.

Founded in 2017, RPG operates as a Malaysian “house of brands”, building and scaling lifestyle labels including Montigo, OiYO and Casebang across Southeast Asia and the Middle East. The group operates more than 60 physical stores across the region, focusing on categories such as drinkware, children’s foodware and mobile accessories.

“Being part of Endeavor’s global network connects us to founders and mentors who have scaled businesses internationally,” said Chee. “The quality of insights and shared experience strengthens our decision-making as we expand.”

Andy Hwang, general partner at Wavemaker Partners and an ISP panelist, said Chee represents “a new generation of Malaysian entrepreneurs building globally competitive brands from Malaysia”. He added, “I’m confident that RPG’s story will continue to inspire other entrepreneurs in Malaysia and beyond.”

Also founded in 2017, Respond.io is an AI-powered customer conversation platform serving more than 10,000 brands across 126 countries. The company integrates messaging, email, web chat and voice into a unified platform, helping businesses in high-consideration sectors convert customer conversations into revenue. Clients include British Airways, Mazda and Radisson Hotels.

“Endeavor provides both global perspective and local support as we continue scaling internationally,” said Salandra. “The ISP process helped us step back and gain a deeper perspective on our business. Being part of Endeavor’s global network, with strong local landing support, will be pivotal as we expand our global footprint.”

An Endeavor Global panelist described Salandra’s journey as one marked by resilience, noting the company’s evolution into a profitable AI SaaS platform with global reach.

Shan Li Tay, managing director of Endeavor Malaysia, said the selection reflects the growing maturity of Malaysia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. “Both Salandra and Chee are growing their businesses beyond borders, serving customers across multiple markets and demonstrating the global potential of Malaysian-based businesses,” she said.

As Endeavor Entrepreneurs, Chee and Salandra will gain access to Endeavor’s global network of mentors, investors and strategic partners to support their next phase of growth.

The ISP panel included Hooi Ling Tan, co-founder of Grab; Matt Harris, partner at Bain Capital Ventures; Veronica Serra, founding partner at Innova Capital; Arvind Rajan, co-founder and chairman of Cricket Health; Abdulmajeed Alsukhan, co-founder and CEO of Tamara; and Raoul Oberman, managing director of Sasya Terra Pte Ltd.

Their expertise across venture capital, fintech, healthcare and strategic consulting underscores the international standards and global perspective applied in the selection process.