RPG (Montigo) and Respond.io announced as Malaysia’s Endeavor Entrepreneurs After Passing Endeavor’s International Selection Panel in Singapore
Kuala Lumpur, Thursday, February 26, 2026:-
In a major milestone for Malaysia’s entrepreneurial landscape, Melvin Chee (CEO & Co-Founder of Montigo, RPG), and Gerardo Salandra, better known as Jerry (CEO & Co-Founder of Respond.io), have been selected as the latest Endeavor Entrepreneurs at the prestigious International Selection Panel (ISP) in Singapore this month, joining a global network of high-impact entrepreneurs scaling category-defining businesses. This milestone marks a significant step forward for the two companies, underscoring their rapid growth, global impact and potential to unlock the next wave of innovation from Malaysia to the world.
The ISP represents the culmination of Endeavor’s rigorous selection process, designed to identify and support high-impact entrepreneurs who demonstrate exceptional leadership and vision. These entrepreneurs are empowered to scale their businesses, create jobs, and reinvest in their local ecosystems.
“Our two new entrepreneurs are outstanding examples of how globally scalable companies can be built from Malaysia for the world,” remarked Shan Li Tay, Managing Director, Endeavor Malaysia. “Both Jerry and Melvin are growing their businesses beyond borders, serving customers across multiple markets and demonstrating the global potential of Malaysian based businesses,” she added.
“Melvin represents a new generation of local entrepreneurs proudly building world class brands such as Montigo from Malaysia,” remarked Andy Hwang, General Partner, Wavemaker Partners, who served as one of the panelists that assessed Melvin, as an Endeavor Entrepreneur. “I’m confident that RPG’s story will continue to inspire other entrepreneurs in Malaysia and beyond,” he further added.
Founded in 2017, RPG (Rocket Paradise Group) is a Malaysian “house of brands” creating lifestyle brands loved by consumers across Southeast Asia and the Middle East. The company builds and scales lifestyle brands across categories like drinkware, children’s foodware, and mobile accessories through Montigo, OiYO, and Casebang. Today, RPG has more than 60 physical stores across Southeast Asia and the Middle East, with a mission to create authentic, joyful brands loved by consumers.
“Endeavor has meaningfully accelerated our growth by surrounding us with an ecosystem of founders, mentors, and operators who’ve been there before.” said Melvin Chee. “The quality of conversations and shared experience has sharpened our decisions and raised our ambition”.
“Jerry’s journey is one of resilience and relentless belief. When cash was tight, he did whatever it took ,offering lifetime subscriptions to survive. That grit built the foundation for what is now a profitable AI-powered SaaS platform serving 10,000+ brands in 126 countries,” noted Endeavor Global Ambassador Roshini Bakshi, Managing Director Private Equity & Head of Impact, Everstone Capital Advisors, who served as one of the panelists that assessed Jerry, as an Endeavor Entrepreneur. “He is intellectually agile, decisive under pressure, and unafraid to evolve the model when needed. Respond.io is at a pivotal moment, and with Endeavor behind him, the upside feels meaningful and very real,” she further added.
Founded in 2017, Respond.io helps businesses in high-consideration sectors turn customer conversations into revenue. Respond.io brings together messaging, email, web chat, and voice in one place, with AI tools that allow companies to deliver fast, personalized support at scale. Businesses can answer customers quickly and accurately across any channel, with AI agents enabling scale. Today, thousands of companies in 126 countries use Respond.io, including British Airways, Mazda, and Radisson Hotels.
“The ISP process gave us the opportunity to step back and gain a deeper perspective on our business,” said Jerry Salandra. “Being part of Endeavor’s global network, with strong local landing support, will be pivotal as we continue expanding our global footprint”.
“Malaysia has ambitious, resilient, and talented founders, and we can feel the momentum starting to pick back up after the recent slowdown. In Jerry and Melvin, Endeavor is proud to select two entrepreneurs who are thinking BIG,” highlighted Evan Bullington, Lead Director of Entrepreneur Selection at Endeavor Global. “They join a peer community of over 3k entrepreneurs and a global network to support them through this next phase of growth,” he added.
As Endeavor Entrepreneurs, Melvin and Jerry will gain access to an unparalleled network of global mentors, strategic resources, and potential investors. This support is designed to address key challenges and accelerate RPG and Respond.io’s growth trajectory, enabling the company to expand its impact and continue driving innovation within the industry.
Panelists involved in the ISP included notable figures such as Hooi Ling Tan, Co-Founder, Grab; Matt Harris, Partner, Bain Capital Ventures; Veronica Serra, Founding Partner, Innova Capital; Arvind Rajan, Co-Founder and Chairman, Cricket Health; Abdulmajeed Alsukhan, Co-Founder and CEO, Tamara; and Raoul Oberman, Managing Director, Sasya Terra Pte Ltd. Their diverse expertise and leadership across sectors such as venture capital, fintech, healthcare, and strategic consulting brought invaluable insights and guidance to the selection process, underscoring the high standards and global perspective of the panel.