The economic influence of Latine and Hispanic communities is on the rise. Nearly 5 million businesses in the US are Latine or Hispanic-owned, contributing over $800 billion annually to the nation’s economy. Latine and Hispanic communities are not just big contributors; they’re also big spenders. According to Nielson, their buying power surpasses the GDP of countries like Australia, Mexico, and Spain. So, this Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re spotlighting the online directories that help consumers connect with these Latine and Hispanic businesses nationwide. 1. Shop Latinx Shop Latinx, founded by Brittany
This Hispanic Heritage Month we are spotlighting the Hispanic and Latine people shaping the tech world. What is Hispanic Heritage Month? National Hispanic Heritage Month is from September 15 to October 15, and it celebrates the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. The celebration started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was extended to 30 days in 1988. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988, on the approval of
A report by McKinsey and Co. found that representation for Black, Latina and Native American (BLNA) women in the tech workforce has shrunk over the past four years. McKinsey and Co. surveyed over 2,000 tech employees to calculate the experiences of BLNA women. The report is a collaborative effort by Reboot Representation and McKinsey in partnership with Pivotal Ventures. It explores effective strategies employers can use to attract, train and advance BLNA women. It additionally provides tools to help companies assess their current policies and practices and intentionally implement new strategies
Latinx people make up one-fifth (20%) of the US workforce but account for 8% of people working in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), according to Pew Research. Data from Built In also revealed that between 2007 and 2020, Latina and Hispanic women made up only 2% of computing-related jobs. Given the underrepresentation of Latinx professionals in tech, here is a roundup of some of the organizations and communities ensuring they have the tools and support needed to thrive in the industry. Supporting Latinx Professionals SHPE (Society of Hispanic Professional
Japanese conglomerate SoftBank has recently announced the launch of its second fund under the Opportunity Growth Fund, now rebranded as the Open Opportunity Fund (OOF). The fund aims to raise and invest $150 million in startups led by Black and Latine entrepreneurs. New name, chairman, & access Taking the reins as chairman of the fund is serial entrepreneur and investor Paul Judge, who previously served as a founding investment committee member. Alongside SoftBank and select affiliates, Judge and others have agreed to acquire an ownership stake in the OOF. The
Cisco is hiring on pocitjobs.com Meet Naomi Colon – a woman who embodies the definition of a modern-day superhero. Juggling the demands of motherhood, community service, and a thriving career as a project specialist at Cisco, it’s no surprise that Naomi’s story has caught the attention of many. POCIT sat down with Naomi to find out more about how she does it. Tell me about your career trajectory and your journey to Cisco. I started my career in healthcare right out of high school, and pretty much stuck around until
SHENIX® is an innovative fintech company built by Latinas/x, for Latinas/x, to close the wealth gap by providing culturally relevant financial services. Created by Chicago-based entrepreneurs Olga Camargo, Juan Carlos Avila, and Patricia Mota, the web-based app provides financial education, career planning, and salary negotiation resources through a unique digital experience that prioritizes the Latina cultural mindset. After selecting the investment services they need, users are prompted to answer a short survey about their financial and career goals. Immediately after the survey, users get a customized budget recommendation and the
EVEN, a creative platform that enables artists to sell their music directly to fans, has closed a $2.2 million seed round led by CSA Partners. Mag Rodriguez founded the platform last year to help Black and brown artists retain equity in their creative work. The blockchain-based direct-to-consumer platform allows artists to sell their music directly to their fans before uploading their music to streaming platforms. When fans purchase music, they can get access to it one to two weeks before they drop on streaming platforms, as well as exclusive content,
The nonprofit social startup digitalundivided has released its latest Project Diane report unveiling the experiences of Latina and Black women tech entrepreneurs. Catalyzing Latina and Black women’s growth Founded in 2012, the Newark-based startup leverages data, programs, and advocacy to catalyze economic growth for Latina and Black women founders at all stages of their entrepreneurial and funding journeys. In 2016, digitalundivided launched the Project Diane Report, the first biennial demographic study that captures the experiences of Latina and Black women tech founders. “Building on the legacy of women like Diane Nash who worked
Silicon Valley Bank’s (SVB) collapse has reignited debates about whether the US government is doing enough to regulate financial institutions – but another debate is brewing. Here’s an excerpt from a Wall Street Journal opinion piece published on March 12: “Was there regulatory failure? Perhaps. SVB was regulated like a bank but looked more like a money-market fund. Then there’s this: In its proxy statement, SVB notes that besides 91% of their board being independent and 45% women they also have “1 Black,” “1 LGBTQ+” and “2 Veterans.” I’m not
