Tech Companies with Latinx Founders in the US
As we celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, I wanted to spotlight the incredible work being done by Latinx innovators in the tech space. I set out to test the oft-repeated claim that the number of Latinx tech entrepreneurs is small, so I combed through existing resources online, asked social media, and put together THIS LIST.
I was thrilled to find around 150 active tech companies founded by about 217 Latinx entrepreneurs who are using their talents and expertise to offer business development tools, cutting edge financial instruments, and critical social services; who are making major interventions in education, advancing women’s causes, and championing self-care; who are building new platforms that offer smarter ways for individuals to connect with the professional help they need, for anything from creative services to healthcare; and who are inventing the next generation of tech infrastructure, with applications from computing to aerospace engineering. In total, these tech companies have raised over $5 billion in funding, while the exited companies for whom we have financial data have sold for a combined $5.2 billion.
The breadth of these contributions is impressive, but it is matched by the overarching commitment of these founders to making the world a better place for all — including those who are too often left behind in our society. Latinx innovators often find themselves breaking into sectors where their presence is an exception, and they bring this experience with them as they shape the core values of their enterprises. These accomplished professionals see the untapped promise of their respective tech fields, and they know that to realize that promise fully the tech sector must become more inclusive.
They also know each other. A vibrant intellectual community has formed, where leaders from different areas admire the work of their fellow Latinx creators and offer encouragement, support, and networking opportunities. This list is intended to be part of that community. It represents an ongoing effort, to be updated over time so that we can continue to witness the important tech contributions being made, but also so that we can have a directory for aspiring innovators. Whether you are looking for inspiration or hope to solicit advice from someone who knows your field, this list can be a starting point for your search. We welcome additions, corrections, and potential extensions of this project.
In putting this list together, I was reminded that National Hispanic Heritage Month serves as a celebration in two ways: it both commemorates the history and accomplishments of the Latinx community, and it reminds us that this history is woven into that of the United States as a whole. This dual spirit is perfectly captured by the contributions of our tech experts, whose work is a testament to their individual talents, the strength of the communities supporting them, and the value of diversity itself. With events all over DC and across the nation, there is ample opportunity both for members of the community to celebrate their heritage and for the wider community to learn more about the history of Hispanic and Latino Americans. For a list of events from The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, please click here. If there are events happening in your community, please share them widely, and tell us about them if they connect to the tech world.
Click here to see the LatinX tech Founders List
