Founder, Operator, Investor: Lessons Across Every Seat in Latin American Tech w/ Jimena Pardo, Co-Founder, Carrot; Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Hi Ventures

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.

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