Founder, Operator, Investor: Lessons Across Every Seat in Latin American Tech w/ Jimena Pardo, Co-Founder, Carrot; Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Hi Ventures
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In this episode of Outsider Inc., host Ian Hathaway speaks with Jimena Pardo, co-founder of Carrot, Mexico’s first car-sharing platform, and now Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Hi Ventures. Jimena opens up about the rollercoaster of building Carrot, the lessons of operating in a tough market, and how she transitioned from founder to investor. She shares candid reflections on founder identity, resilience after burnout, and her vision for Latin America as a launchpad for globally recognized startups. From raising capital in an emerging market to shaping Hi Ventures into a firm that champions bold, outsider entrepreneurs, Jimena’s journey is a masterclass in grit, adaptation, and long-term vision.
Show Notes:
(03:18) Early ambitions, education, and what drew Jimena into entrepreneurship
(07:42) Founding Carrot and tackling mobility challenges in Mexico
(15:33) Lessons from scaling Carrot and navigating the exit
(22:06) The personal toll of entrepreneurship and founder burnout
(29:47) Transitioning from founder to investor and joining Meta
(36:21) The importance of founder identity beyond the startup
(43:18) Launching Hi Ventures and its mission to back bold entrepreneurs
(52:04) Breaking capital barriers in Latin America and building global companies
(1:01:19) Why transparency, humility, and mentorship matter in entrepreneurship
(1:09:33) Jimena’s vision for the next generation of founders in Latin America
(1:16:55) Beyond the Bio with Jimena Pardo
✅ Host: Ian Hathway - Co-Founder & Managing Partner, FOVC
✅ Guest: Jimena Pardo, Co-Founder of Carrot & Co-Founder and Managing Parter at Hi Ventures
Produced by Spellbinder Media. Executive Produced by Bridge Five Ventures. Copyright ©️2025, Bridge Five Ventures, LLC, All rights reserved.
Listen & subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or at outsiderinc.substack.com.
15 episodes