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- Spotlighting the Power and Impact of Latino Entrepreneurs Driving Innovation Nationwide
Spotlighting the Power and Impact of Latino Entrepreneurs Driving Innovation Nationwide
LatinosBuild
October 15, 2024
We knew this newsletter, LatinosBuild, was needed. With growing sign-ups each week and an open rate above 60%, it’s clear there’s a strong appetite for stories that showcase the power of Latino innovation and entrepreneurship. Latinos are building across industries, and it’s essential we keep telling these stories to amplify their impact.
With more than 63 million Latinos making up 19% of the U.S. population and contributing $3.2 trillion to the economy, the impact is undeniable. Latino entrepreneurs own nearly 5 million businesses, generating more than $800 billion annually, a force shaping the future of economic development and innovation (Source: Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative, March 2024).
This momentum was on full display last week at the third annual TejanoTech Summit in Houston, hosted by the Latinx Startup Alliance. For an entire week, the event celebrated Latinx innovators revolutionizing sectors like AI, healthcare, and sustainability—proof that this innovation thrives nationwide. Read more in this LinkedIn post and comments: Post | Feed | LinkedIn
We hope LatinosBuild brings that same energy to life for our readers. Each issue reflects the excitement and progress we witness across the country—part of a growing movement we are proud to amplify. We will also highlight some of the challenges along the way, ensuring a fuller picture of the journey.
Latino Builder: Christian Narvaez
Each week we profile a Latino/a leader and ask them two questions. Meet Christian: Investor, Community Builder, Emerging Markets
What made you decide to launch a startup?
I decided to launch Rayo Capital because I saw there was top technical talent building great startups that are solving real world problems in regions and for cohorts overlooked due to lack of "venture backable signals" leveraging frontier tech like Blockchain & AI.
What advice do you have for anyone launching a business?
It's the hardest job in the world. Go after a problem that your lived experiences have given you unique insight on and combined with high conviction go after it and chip away every single day. Create something that solves a problem people need and don't assume people need it. Put yourself and the product out there and get as much feedback as possible fast. Surround yourself with people who are better and smarter than you in areas you are not. Surround yourself and get advice/feedback from experienced operators who have built, scaled and sold businesses as there is no one right way. Take that advice and execute on your vision.
