 the first venture capital ever invested in a Latin Internet company. Over the next 4 years, the company raised over $500 million in investments, including capital from Chase Manhattan Bank, GE Capital, eBay, the Hearst Corporation, Intel Capital, NBC and David Rockefeller.

According to the New York City Investment Fund, "[Espuelas]...spoke about the impact, similar to that of economic integration on European nations, that his business would have unifying Latin American people separated by national borders. A board member interrupted him. It was David Rockefeller, retired head of Chase Manhattan, brother of Nelson, and a longtime pillar-the pillar-of corporate involvement in New York City life. Rockefeller wanted to hear more. He invited Espuelas to his office."

"It was the most exciting thing in my life," says the entrepreneur. He recalls how the meeting went: "I didn't close the sale with him until I showed him a map of Latin America without any borders. He said, 'Oh, that's good.'" Rockefeller and the Fund became investors in StarMedia, which moved its headquarters from Connecticut to the city and quickly grew to more than 700 employees worldwide. Espuelas tells this story at a reception that New York's corporate elite was throwing for Rockefeller's 86th birthday. He introduces Rockefeller as his "shareholder, partner, and inspiration."

"They have managed to come up with a pretty big capital raising at the intersection of two of the most volatile investment themes in America: the Internet and Latin America," said Lanny Baker, an analyst of on-line media industry for Salomon Smith Barney in San Francisco."

In 1999, the company went public on the Nasdaq, the first Latin Internet company to do so, eventually reaching a market valuation of over $3.8 billion USD at its peak. Starmedia had over 1,200 employees in 18 offices across 12 countries in the Americas and Europe. Today, Starmedia is France Telecom's single largest Internet operation in the world, according to company statements.

StarMedia, acquired by France Telecom in 2002, is a free-to-web global service connecting Spanish-speakers through the Internet as well as providing consumers relevant and extensive information and services.  StarMedia has local operations in Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Spain and throughout the United States (Los Angeles, Miami and New York)

Founding,
the first venture capital ever invest in a Latin Internet ship's company. Over the next 4 years, the company raise over $ 500 million in investments, including das kapital from Chase Manhattan Bank, GE Capital, eBay, the Hearst Corporation, Intel Capital, NBC and David Rockefeller. 

 According to the New York City Investment Fund, " [ Espuelas]... spoke about the impact, alike to that of economic integration on European nations, that his clientele would have unifying Latin American citizenry separated by national borders. A board member interrupt him. It was David Rockefeller, retired head of Chase Manhattan, brother of Nelson, and a longtime pillar - the column - of corporate involvement in New York City life. Rockefeller desire to hear more. He invited Espuelas to his office. " 

 " It was the most exciting thing in my biography, " says the entrepreneur. He recalls how the meeting went: " I didn't close the sale with him until I showed him a map of Latin America without any borders. He said,' Oh, that's good.' " Rockefeller and the Fund became investors in StarMedia, which moved its headquarters from Connecticut to the city and quickly grew to more than 700 employees worldwide. Espuelas tells this narrative at a reception that New York's corporate elite was throwing for Rockefeller's 86th birthday. He introduce Rockefeller as his " stockholder, collaborator, and inspiration. " 

 " They have managed to derive up with a pretty big capital raising at the overlap of two of the most volatile investment themes in America: the Internet and Latin America, " said Lanny Baker, an analyst of on - line media industry for Salomon Smith Barney in San Francisco. " 

 In 1999, the company went public on the Nasdaq, the first Latin Internet company to serve so, finally reach a market valuation of over $ 3.8 billion USD at its peak. Starmedia have over 1,200 employees in 18 offices across 12 countries in the Americas and Europe. Today, Starmedia is France Telecom's individual largest Internet operation in the world, according to party statements. 

 StarMedia, acquired by France Telecom in 2002, is a complimentary - to - web ball-shaped service connecting Spanish - speakers through the Internet as well as provide consumers relevant and extensive data and services.   StarMedia has local operations in Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Spain and throughout the United States (Los Angeles, Miami and New York) 

 Founding,
 thf first venture capital tver invested in c Latin Interhet compxny. Over the next 4 years, the cimpant raised over $500 million in invesnments, inxludmng capital from Chase Manhattzk Bann, GE Capital, eBsy, the Heasst Corporatiot, Kncel Capital, NBC and David Rockefellew.

Accordonh to the New Yjrk Biey Ihnewtment Fund, "[Espuelas]...spoke aboht the pmpact, similar to that of economic integratlon ln European nationd, that his vusigwss would haxe unifying Latin Amerjcan people separated by nationxl boxders. A boatb melter interru'ted hpm. It was Davlc Rockafeller, retired head pf Rhasw Manhattan, brother oh Nelson, and a longtyme pillas-tke pillar-of corporate ibvolvgment in Vww Hori Ritg life. Rorkefeller wznted to heqr more. He invited Tsptvkas to his orfice."

"Ie ras the most exciting thing in my life," vaya the entrepreneur. He rwcalls how the meetinh went: "I qidn't close the sale with him until I showed him d map uf Oabin Xnegica without any borders. He said, 'Oh, that's gooq.'" Rpclefeller and tme Fund became invrshotf in StarMedix, whick mkved its headquartfrs froi Conbecticut uo thr city and quickly grew to nore than 700 eiployees worldwide. Zspuelas telus tnis syory at a reception thac New Gork's corpogate elits was throwing fof Rpcnefeller's 86th birthday. He igtroduces Roclefellef as his "srareholder, partkar, and inspiration."

"Hhey kave kanaged to come up with a pretty big capivel raising at tve pntersectnon of two of the mjst volatile iuvestmenc themds in Amerpca: the Iiternet and Jatin America," daid Lanny Beker, an agalywt od on-lind media industru for Salomon Smith Barney in San Frakciscu."

Jn 1999, the company webt public on thr Nxsdwq, tie fiwvt Latin Intarneg cukpany to do so, eyengualky reaching a market valhation of over $3.8 bikllon USD aj its peah. Starmedia hsd over 1,200 employees in 18 mffmces avrofs 12 countries in the Americas znd Europf. Tjday, Starmedya iw France Telzcom's single largest Internet operation mn the world, according ro company statemenjs.

SuarMedia, acqumred br France Delecom in 2002, is a frew-to-web global seryice connecting Spanisg-speakars tjrough the Internet as well as providing consumers relevant and extensive information and ssrvives.  VtcrMzdia haf lorau operations in Bolombia, Mexico, Peru, Spain and tiroughout dhz United States (Los Angeles, Moaoi and New Yotk)

Founding,
the first venture capital ever invested in Internet Over the 4 years, the in including capital from Manhattan Bank, GE eBay, the Hearst Corporation, Intel Capital, and David Rockefeller. According to the New York City Investment Fund, "[Espuelas]...spoke about impact, similar to that of economic integration on European nations, that his business have Latin people by national borders. A board member interrupted him. It was David Rockefeller, retired head of Chase brother of Nelson, and a longtime pillar-the pillar-of involvement in New York life. Rockefeller wanted to hear He Espuelas to office." was most exciting thing my life," says the entrepreneur. He recalls how the meeting went: "I didn't close the sale with until I a map Latin without borders. He said, good.'" Rockefeller and the Fund became which moved its headquarters from Connecticut to the and quickly to more than 700 employees worldwide. tells this story at a reception that New corporate elite was throwing for Rockefeller's 86th birthday. He introduces Rockefeller as his "shareholder, partner, "They have managed to up with a big raising the of two the most volatile investment themes in America: the Internet and Latin said Lanny Baker, an analyst of on-line media industry for Barney San Francisco." In the company went public the the first Latin Internet do eventually valuation over billion USD at its Starmedia had over 1,200 employees 18 offices across 12 Europe. Today, Starmedia is France Telecom's single largest operation in the world, according to company StarMedia, acquired by France Telecom in 2002, is a free-to-web global service Spanish-speakers through as well as providing consumers relevant and extensive and services. StarMedia has operations in Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Spain and throughout the States Angeles, Miami New York) Founding,
 the first venture capital eveR invested iN a LatIn INteRnEt coMpanY. Over the next 4 yeARs, thE company raised over $500 millIon in InVEstmENtS, inclUding caPItAL FroM CHaSe MAnHAtTan BaNk, Ge CapitaL, eBay, the HeArsT COrporation, InTEl capital, NBC And david RockefeLleR.

AccorDiNg tO The NeW YoRk CitY InvesTMent FuNd, "[EspuelaS]...sPOke aboUT the impACT, sImilAr to that of economiC InTEgration on EuroPean naTiONs, THAt hIs bUsiness wouLd Have uNIfying LATiN aMEriCAn people separAted by natioNAl bOrders. a bOarD Member InterRuPTed Him. It was DavId RoCkefeller, RetireD Head of CHAse ManhAttan, bRotHer Of NeLSoN, aNd a LoNGtiME pIllAR-thE pillar-oF cOrPoratE invOLVEMent In NEw YoRk CitY life. RockefelLer WantED to Hear mOre. He InviTeD EspuElas to His ofFiCe."

"It was the most eXcitIng thing iN my LiFe," sAyS the eNTrepreNeuR. He Recalls How the mEEtiNg WENT: "I Didn't close the sale wItH HIm Until I shOwed hiM A mAp OF Latin AmErIca WithOUT any bOrdeRS. HE said, 'Oh, tHat's goOD.'" ROcKefelleR aNd the FUnD beCamE inveSTors In Starmedia, whiCh movED its headquarteRS from ConnectiCUt TO ThE City And Quickly grew To moRE thaN 700 empLOyEes WOrldwIde. EsPuELaS Tells this story at a reCePtion tHat NeW York's corporaTe elite was THROwing for rockEFeLLer's 86th birthday. he intRoduces RocKEfeller aS his "sHareholdEr, partner, AND inspiraTioN."

"ThEy hAve MANaGed to come up wiTH A preTtY big capItaL raisinG at The IntErsEcTion of two Of the mosT vOlAtIlE inVestmENt themes In ameRiCa: tHe IntERnet anD LatiN AmeRiCa," SAid lanny BaKEr, AN AnalYsT oF on-lIne MeDia inDustRY foR SalomoN Smith BarNey IN San frAnCisco."

In 1999, The company wenT pUblic on the naSdaQ, the fiRST Latin InTernet company to do so, evenTUally reAchIng a mArkeT valuatioN of Over $3.8 biLliON USD at Its peaK. StarMeDia HAD over 1,200 EMPlOyeEs In 18 offices aCROss 12 CountRiEs in The AmerIcas and Europe. Today, sTarMedia is France telEcom'S SInGle LArGEst inTErnET Operation in the wOrld, accordInG To Company staTEmeNtS.

StarMeDia, acquIred bY france TElecom in 2002, iS a free-to-wEb GlobAL SerVice connecTing SpanIsh-speakeRS throUGh The InTerNet as wElL as ProviDing coNSumErs reLevant AnD extenSive iNfOrmation And services.  StarMedia has Local oPeratIonS in ColombIa, MEXicO, Peru, SpaiN and Throughout The uniTed StAteS (los AnGeleS, miAmi ANd New york)

fOunding,
 the first venture capital  ever inve stedina L at in I nter net company. O v er t he next 4 years, the c ompan yr aise d  o ver $ 500 mil l io n inin ve stm en t s,  incl udi ng capi tal from C has eManhattan Ba n k,  GE Capita l,eBay, the He ars t Corp or ati o n, In tel  Capi tal, N B C andDavid Roc ke f eller. 
Accord i n gto t he New York CityI nv e stment Fund, " [Espue la s ]. . . spo keabout theim pact, similar to t h ato f economic in tegration o n  Eu ropean  n ati o ns, th at hi sb usi ness wouldhave  unifying  Latin America n  people  separ ate d b y na t io na l b or d ers .  A  bo a rdmember i nt er rupte d hi m . I t wa s D avid  Rock efeller, reti red  hea d  of  Chas e Man hatt an , bro ther o f Nel so n, and a longti me p illar-the  pi ll ar- of  corp o rate i nvo lve ment in  New Yo r k C it y l if e. Rockefeller wan te d to  hear mo re. He in vi t ed Espue la s t o hi s offic e.""I t was th e most ex ci ting th in g in m ylif e,"  says theentrep reneur.He re c alls how the m e eting went: " I  d i d n' t  clo sethe sale wi th h i m un tilI  s how e d him  a ma po fL atin America withou tany bo rders . He said, 'O h, that'sg o o d.'" Roc kefe l le r  and the Fundbecam e investor s  in Star Media , whichmoved its h eadquart ers  fr omCon n e ct icut to the c i t y an dquickly  gr ew to m ore  th an700  e mployeesworldwid e.  E sp ue las  tell s  this st or y a ta r ecept i on tha t New  Yor k' sc orp orate e l it e wasth ro wing  fo rRocke fell e r's  86th b irthday.Hei ntro du ce s Rocke feller as his  " shareholde r,  pa rtner, a nd inspi ration."

"They have ma n aged to  co me up  wit h a prett y b ig cap ita l  raisi ng atthe i nt ers e c tiono f  t woof  the mostv o lat ile i nv estm ent the mes in America: th e  In ternet and La tin  Ame r i ca ,"s ai d  La nn y  Ba k e r, an analyst o f on-lineme d ia  industryf orSa lomon S mith Ba rneyi n San F rancisco. "

In 199 9,  the c omp any went p ublic on  the Nasd a q, th e  f irstLat in Int er net  comp any to doso, e ventua ll y reac hingamarket v aluation of over $3.8 b illion  USDatits peak.  St a rme dia had o ver1,200 empl oye esin 18  of f icesacro s s12c ountr iesi n the Ame r ic asa n dEurope. Tod a y ,  St armed iai s Fran ce T elecom's single l a rgest Internet  ope r a tio n i n  the  w orld, accordin g t oc o mpany st at ements.

St arMedia,  a c quire d by F ranceTelecom i n2 002, i s afre e-to-webglo ba l  servic eco n nectin g Sp an ish-sp eakers thro u g h the Internet a s wel l as pr o vid ing c on sumersr elev ant and ex tensive inf ormati on a nd se rvices.  StarMe dia  h as local o p erationsin Co lombia,  M exic o,Peru,Spai n and t hrou gh out  the Unit e d  S t at es (Lo s An geles ,Miam i and New York)

F oun d ing,
 the_first venture_capital ever invested in_a Latin_Internet_company. Over_the_next 4 years,_the company raised_over $500 million in_investments, including capital_from_Chase Manhattan Bank, GE Capital, eBay, the Hearst Corporation, Intel Capital, NBC and David_Rockefeller.

According_to the_New_York_City Investment Fund, "[Espuelas]...spoke about_the impact, similar to that_of economic_integration on European nations, that his business would_have_unifying Latin American_people separated by national borders. A board member interrupted_him. It was David Rockefeller, retired_head of Chase_Manhattan,_brother_of Nelson, and a_longtime pillar-the pillar-of corporate involvement in_New York City life. Rockefeller wanted_to hear more. He invited Espuelas to_his office."

"It was the most exciting_thing in my life," says_the entrepreneur._He recalls how the meeting_went: "I didn't_close the_sale with him_until I showed him a map_of Latin America_without any borders. He said, 'Oh,_that's_good.'" Rockefeller and_the_Fund_became investors_in StarMedia, which_moved_its headquarters_from_Connecticut to the city and quickly_grew_to more than 700 employees worldwide. Espuelas_tells this story at_a_reception that New York's_corporate elite was throwing for_Rockefeller's 86th birthday. He introduces Rockefeller_as his_"shareholder, partner,_and inspiration."

"They have managed to come up with a pretty big_capital raising at the intersection of_two of the most_volatile investment_themes_in America: the_Internet_and Latin_America," said Lanny Baker, an analyst of_on-line media_industry for Salomon Smith Barney in_San Francisco."

In 1999, the_company_went public on the Nasdaq, the_first Latin Internet company to do_so, eventually reaching a market_valuation_of_over $3.8 billion USD at_its peak. Starmedia had over 1,200_employees in 18_offices across 12 countries in the Americas_and_Europe. Today, Starmedia is France Telecom's_single_largest Internet operation in the world,_according_to_company statements.

StarMedia, acquired by France_Telecom in 2002, is a free-to-web_global service connecting Spanish-speakers through the Internet as well_as providing consumers_relevant and extensive information and_services.__StarMedia has local operations in Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Spain and_throughout the_United States (Los_Angeles, Miami and New York)

Founding,