Children’s publisher Lil’ Libros has acquired worldwide rights to a series of five STEAM-themed books in Spanish and English written by Dr. Ellen Ochoa, the American engineer who became the first Latina woman to go to space. STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. The series, titled Dr. Ochoa’s Stellar World, Dr. Ochoa has compiled together experiences and adventures as a NASA astronaut and it aims to celebrate enthusiasm for scientific curiosity, the fundamentals of STEAM subjects, and the American Latino experience among younger readers. “I wish I
The US elderly population is projected to nearly double to 90 million by 2050 as more eldercare shifts from institutions to the home where the family can take care of them. But most of the current 53 million caregivers are ill-prepared for their responsibilities and struggle to balance both their jobs, children and taking care of those in need. Bianca Padilla saw a gap in the market and together with her husband Jonathan Magolnick they launched Carewell, the leading e-commerce resource for caregivers. The inspiration for the firm came when Padilla and her mother became unexpected
Latinas in Tech have released the Latina Founders list, a compilation of founders from the community who have raised $1M or more and start-up owners that are on track to raise a similar amount. Latinos have always represented just a tiny share of Venture Capital investment, and firms have long thought that Latinas aren’t represented at all, so Cecilia Corral and Latinas in Tech set out to prove this wrong. According to Crunchbase, Black and Latinx founders have raised $2.3 billion, representing 2.6% of overall funding. However, Latina-founded ventures are not even listed in the findings. At the
Pamela Lujan From Latinas In Tech Believes It Takes A ‘Village’ To Make A Difference In The Industry
Board Member at ‘Latinas in Tech’ Pamela Lujan, who also works at firm Oportun, is helping pave the way for those in the community that wants to get into the tech scene. In her interview with the organization, where she also works as a secretary, the recent ‘Top 40 under 40’ honoree said it “takes a village” to make a difference in the industry and elevate the community. Currently, Black and Latino people are being “left out” of the tech industry, and big firms like Google still have a lot
The Black founded start-up with a mission to make culturally competent healthcare accessible for minority communities has announced that it raised $1.6 million in seed funding led by the Female Founders Fund with participation from Serena William’s venture firm. Founded in 2018, HUED’s database now features over 600 healthcare providers tailored specifically towards communities of color and has developed a digital training curriculum for healthcare systems and stakeholders. The curriculum provides tools to dismantle structural and policy barriers that prevent these communities from accessing the care they need. Other round
Latinx women are severely underrepresented in technology and Venture Capital—as are Latinx people in general. For example, while a dismal 0.2% of all venture capital goes to Black women in the US, a mere 0.4% goes to Latinx women. According to a new report published by Project Diane, of the Latinx women who are reported to have received that 0.4% [of the $400 billion in venture capital funding between 2009 and 2017], only 58 ever raised over $1 million, But there are five women who are making great strides in the venture capital
El Salvador has become the first country to accept Bitcoin as a legal currency in a move that has got the world debating whether cryptocurrency should be used in this way. The country has reportedly already bought its first 400 bitcoins, worth an estimated $21 million based on bitcoin’s value at the time of the announcement, according to a series of tweets by the country’s President – Nayib Bukele. Millions of people are now expected to download the government’s new digital wallet app which gives away $30 in Bitcoin to every
We rounded up a list of talented, passionate, and hardworking tech entrepreneurs who are inspiring business innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship. Here is a short intro on four AfroLatinX who are making waves in the industry and are ones sure to watch! The Founder Providing Capital to Underrepresented Entrepreneurs A first-generation Afro-LatinX immigrant is undoubtedly making a name for himself in the startup world, using his talents to create a space for more people like him in tech. Luis Martinez is the founder of We Tha Plug, an incubator designed to help
Growing up as a child of immigrants had its struggles. I could see my parents’ difficulty adjusting to a new country, culture, and language. I didn’t want to have the same challenges, so I got into a habit of not mentioning my heritage. While doing volunteer work, I learned a lesson. I shared with colleagues that I grew up in the U.S., but one of them realized I was leaving out vital details, my heritage. With a sparkle in her eyes, she wanted to know all about my home country and its culture. Her
As a Latina founder of a social impact company, raising VC money hasn’t exactly been easy. Especially in Chicago, where I’m based, the VC community, while close-knit and easily accessible, is small, homogenous, and focused on later-stage investments. On the startup side, of the 65 Chicago-based startups backed by Chicago-based venture capital funds, only 16 (about 25%) have a non-white founder, and only 15 (or 23%) have a female founder to Chicago Blend. From firsthand experience, the lack of access to early-stage capital compared to the coasts has an oversized impact on underrepresented
