💰Latinx Businesses are on the Rise and Fueling the Future of the U.S. Economy

Welcome to the second edition of The Latina Wealth Activist Newsletter! 💌

Did you start tracking your accomplishments for compensation season? If you missed last months newsletter, make sure to subscribe and read the first edition focused on Latina Equal Pay Day and how you can learn from my past mistakes where I was underpaid 50k… yes… 50k!

Make sure you catch up, because in this months newsletter I want to talk about entrepreneurship and how Latinx businesses are making big moves for the U.S. economy and yet we are still not invested in enough. I recently became a cohort member of Inicios AngelPath Academy, where I’m learning about the venture capital world and how lil miss Lea can become a future angel investor. Nunca me imaginaba estar aprendiendo de este mundo tan exclusivo, pero mira - if you’re not challenged you’re not growing right!🥳

For the longest time, I felt like financial planning was my destiny, I mean it’s a topic I absolutely love - and of course we need more Latine’s in this field… but the truth is I do not want to serve high net worth individuals.. yet (because I know our people are on the rise to become HNW). In the CFP world, even with training, career growth as an analyst to advisor.. you most likely will. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great knowledge and exposure, but you know me - I’m an activist at heart and need to be with the people. So, I pursued financial coaching instead and decided put that to a pause this year after helping our community for 3 years.

The universe works in mysterious ways and aligned me with AngelPath Academy and honestly what i’m learning so far, has relit the fire within me. Let me drop this recap video of when I went to Chicago a few weeks ago to kickoff our Bootcamp!

@latinawealthactivist

The next generation of Latinx Angel Investors is loading… #investlatinx #latinxbusiness #chicago

#DINEROTALKS

If you have yet to hear, there are more than 5 MILLION Latinx owned businesses in the United States y fíjate que as a collective we generate 8 BILLION in annual revenue. These aren’t just any low numbers mi gente. We are really a force to be reckoned with.

My whole life I watched my parents run a business. My dad has ran his landscaping business for over 30 years. When I reflect on how my dad had no option but to pursue entrepreneurship because he lived in a predominantly White state, who would want to hire him, especially back then without papeles?

There was no capital for him, little to no support on how to start business and all he had was determination. Fast forward to today, my dad runs a successful company providing more than just maintenance and landscaping. He has expanded to masonry and swimming pools. My dads determination got him to where he is today and that spirit is what I see everyday with our gente.

But want to know what hasn’t changed in these 30 years? The lack of financial support for Latinx startups and small businesses.

According to Stanford's research, only 20% of Latino-owned companies that asked for national bank loans exceeding $100,000 were approved, compared to 50% of White-owned enterprises. Even through these financial obstacles, we are still LEADING in business creation - especially our immigrant community.

I share this to emphasize the fact that we are RUNNING the american economy, but you are telling me we can’t get funding? Why? Why are there still gaps in 2024?

It’s time for a change

For so long I have focused on teaching the financial foundations of wealth and have LOVED teaching these concepts. But, for 2025 i’m ready to get into Finance 202-303. Let’s take this education to the next level. It’s time for a change. That is why AngelPath Academy came at such a perfect time for my career.

AngelPath Academy is teaching me the process of how to source, research and close deals as an Angel Investor. As a financial expert in both personal and business finances, it makes so much sense to use this knowledge and apply it to Latinx startup businesses. It’s time to ethically fund and support our gente in gaining capital either through lending or venture funding and I’m going to learn how to do that.

We are entering this new journey together as I not only run a startup - Riqueza but also learn how to fund others ethically. I hope to share my insights with other young founders/entrepreneurs on creating effective business models, understanding their financials for their business and even their personal life.

The vision is clear for me now and so get ready for a lot more focused content on wealth equality, the founder journey, capital and investing.

That being said let’s talk about 3 trends affecting first-gen founders.

👀Three Common Missteps Holding First-Gen Startups Back (And How to Fix Them!)

1. Understanding Personal & Business Finances: Setting a Solid Foundation

Many first-gen founders face a unique challenge—they often don’t have access to the same financial knowledge or mentorship that others might. For Latinx founders, this can mean not only handling business finances but also balancing personal money matters and family obligations.

Why It’s a Problem: Without a clear understanding of their financials, founders risk overspending, undersaving, and missing critical financial insights that can help them scale sustainably. Many also fall into the habit of mixing personal and business finances, which makes tracking profitability difficult.

Actionable Steps:

• Separate Your Accounts: Create dedicated bank accounts for your business expenses to easily monitor cash flow and profitability. Riqueza has partnered with my business bank: Relay Financial to help entrepreneurs create efficient systems for their banking needs - especially if you follow the Profit First Method!

• Know Your Cash Flow: Get comfortable with a monthly or quarterly financial review, tracking where each dollar goes.

• Seek Out Resources: Look for bilingual financial workshops or programs (such as Riqueza’s) that break down business finances in culturally relevant ways.

2. Building Social Presence & Community: Why It’s Essential for Startups

For first-gen founders, building a community may feel like an intimidating task. However, having a social presence is key to creating brand trust, connecting with customers, and finding collaborators or mentors. Many founders hold back, worrying they need “perfect” content or professional branding, but the truth is, authenticity resonates more.

Why It’s a Problem: Without a social presence, founders miss out on organic growth opportunities and may struggle to gain the trust of potential customers. A lack of community can lead to feeling isolated, which can impact motivation and growth.

Actionable Steps:

• Start Small: If creating content sounds overwhelming, commit to posting once a week on a platform where your target audience spends time (e.g., Instagram, LinkedIn, or Threads).

• Build Partnerships: Reach out to other first-gen founders or communities with similar audiences. Supporting one another amplifies reach and builds a sense of solidarity.

• Share Your Journey: People want to support brands they feel connected to. Share your struggles, milestones, and victories—it builds a loyal community that cares about your story.

3. Understanding When & Why to Seek Capital

One common misstep for first-gen entrepreneurs is the misunderstanding of when outside capital is necessary. Many feel they need investment to start, but bootstrapping and small-scale growth are often more strategic in the early stages.

Why It’s a Problem: Prematurely seeking investment can lead to unwanted pressure, giving away ownership, or growing too quickly without a solid foundation. It’s essential to understand when capital is necessary and how it will accelerate your growth rather than just cover basic expenses.

Actionable Steps:

• Evaluate Your Needs: Determine if capital will help you scale or if it’s more of a “nice to have.” Look for key signs, such as increased demand or the need to hire talent, as indicators that funding may be beneficial.

• Explore Alternatives: Before seeking outside capital, consider grants, pitch competitions, small business loans, or crowdfunding as ways to maintain ownership.

• Consult with Startup Advisors: Seek advice on the pros and cons of different funding types. A simple mentorship session with a startup advisor can provide insight into when it makes sense to look for capital.

I’ll actually be starting a new offering soon focused on consulting with entrepreneurs gauge their readiness to capital - more to come on that soon! 😎🚀

Founder Favorites of the Month 🤩

Money Tool 🛠️: Relay Financial an online banking and money management platform puts you in complete control of your cashflow.

Food 🌯: Since it’s been raining a lot in Dallas, i’m on an Earl Gray tea latte kick. Trust me, order a London Fog

Book📚: Your First Million x Arlan Hamilton 

App📲: I had been booking last minute trips for work and Hotel Tonight literally SAVED me on hotel rates - Sign up and get $50 OFF your first booking.

Music 🎶: Can’t Take My Eyes Off You - Ms. Lauryn Hill

So besties, what do you think? Reply with your thoughts, tips or story - I’d love to be your soundboard and share your insights with our community of millonari@s. 💞

This is the first of many more newsletters to come - stay tuned!

Con cariño,
Lea Landaverde
Leading Latine’s to Financial Freedom
The Latina Wealth Activist