Amazon empowers entrepreneurs through DSP Program

For Pedro Mangiamarchi, joining Amazon’s Delivery Service Partner (DSP) program was more than a career move—it was a life-changing opportunity.

Mangiamarchi was always a hard worker. A soccer scholarship helped him earn a bachelor’s in business administration followed by a master’s in international business. But after 27 years working professionally in the oil industry, he experienced a period of uncertainty and job loss.

He found a new path through Amazon, launching his own delivery business and building a thriving logistics business named KAVAC, a nod to parrots found in his native Venezuela.

“I figured Amazon—the biggest company in the world—I can do this,” Mangiamarchi said. “And they’ve given me everything I need to succeed. They give us all the tools; they help you out. Where else do you find that?”

A New Beginning

With a background in business, Mangiamarchi had built a successful career in the oil industry. But political instability in his home country sunset his former career and he found himself unemployed in his late 40s, trying to support his family.

“We were struggling,” he said. “I was out of work for two years. My wife had to take on two jobs.”

After working odd jobs while his wife took on retail positions, Mangiamarchi learned about the DSP program through a friend. The rigorous selection process took six months and multiple interviews, culminating in an invitation to Las Vegas for the final stage.

“I was 50 years old, with three kids, sitting in a room with 30 other people, all with the same uncertainty in our eyes,” he recalled. “Three interviews later, I got the call—I was in. I had to pull over, I was so excited. I was screaming!”

The Road to Success

With Amazon’s support, Mangiamarchi and his wife packed up their lives and moved from Florida to Los Angeles to start their DSP business. They began in April 2020—right as the COVID-19 pandemic hit—with five trucks. His wife worked as a delivery driver for two years, while he managed operations as a dispatcher.

“We were hiring drivers from the reception of our hotel,” Mangiamarchi said. “It was one of the most challenging things we’ve ever done, but Amazon gave us all the tools we needed. They made it possible.”

Today, KAVAC operates 50 routes, delivering around 12,400 packages per day with a team of 120 employees.

“Where else do you find a company that trains you for free, helps you launch your business, and gives you a $30,000 grant to get started? Only Amazon is offering that.” – Pedro Mangiamarchi, Amazon Delivery Service Partner 

Building a Team, Creating a Family

One of Mangiamarchi’s proudest achievements is fostering a strong sense of belonging among his team. The name KAVAC comes from his Venezuelan roots—a cave in the Amazon region home to vibrant parrots.

“I wanted my team to feel like they belong to something bigger,” he said. “That’s why every driver who has been with us for over two years wears the parrot symbol on their vests. You have to see their eyes when we give them the vest—it means something.”

KAVAC is more than just a workplace—it’s a family. The team recognizes milestones, celebrates achievements and even plays soccer together.

“We go through the day together, and now we play together,” Mangiamarchi said. “It’s about building something meaningful. Everyone wants to be KAVAC.”

Amazon’s Commitment to Success

Since launching in 2018, Amazon’s DSP program has helped over 4,400 entrepreneurs build businesses, creating 390,000 jobs and generating $58 billion in revenue. Amazon invests heavily in state-of-the-art technology, safety features, and programs like Road to Ownership (R2O), which helps DSP delivery employees become owners themselves.

“Amazon works perfectly,” Mangiamarchi said. “A consistent paycheck, so many benefits for your drivers—health insurance, 401(k), continuing education, even childcare support. Amazon makes sure we’re taken care of, and in turn, we take care of our team.”

Through the Road 2 Ownership program, high-performing DSP employees receive free training, mentorship, and a $30,000 grant to launch their own business.

“It’s an amazing program,” Mangiamarchi said. “Where else do you find a company that trains you for free, helps you launch your business, and gives you a $30,000 grant to get started? Only Amazon is offering that.”

As KAVAC approaches its five-year anniversary in April 2025, Mangiamarchi remains as driven as ever.

“You have to be the best,” he said. “Amazon has been my best partner, always there, always helping. And I couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve built. From a time of great uncertainty to now—I feel like the proudest man alive.”