Currently, there are over 4.5 million Hispanic and Latinx-owned businesses in the United States. They make up $2.8 trillion of the economic output and generate over $800 billion in revenue each year. Regardless of their product or service, these businesses serve as the backbone of the U.S. economy and continue to impact their communities through employment opportunities and more.
Below, we celebrate a few of the Hispanic and Latinx-owned companies that are changing our world for the better:
Ana Flores: #WeAllGrow Latina
Ana Flores isn’t just succeeding as a Latina entrepreneur; she’s helping others in the community to do the same. In 2010, Flores founded #WeAllGrow Latina—a 100% Latinx-owned-and-operated digital platform designed to foster community and change for Latina and femme Latinx entrepreneurs. Under Flores’ leadership, #WeAllGrow Latina provides everything from free resources, coaching sessions and networking opportunities to annual summits and paid programs centered on personal and economic growth. The platform also puts an emphasis on intersectionality, as well as caring for the LGBTQ+ and disability communities. “I quickly understood that I had to be my own biggest advocate and stubbornly believe in my vision,” Flores told Medium in an interview. “I had to find and create my own community of other women and Latinas that were also invested in their vision.”
Photo: Ana Flores attends the 17th Annual L’Oréal Paris Women of Worth celebration at The Ebell of Los Angeles on Dec. 1, 2022. VIVIEN KILLILEA/GETTY IMAGES FOR L’ORÉAL PARIS WOMEN OF WORTH.
Patty Delgado: Hija De Tu Madre
Growing up, self-taught designer Patty Delgado always had a desire for bringing Latinx culture into the mainstream. But seeing a lack of Hispanic representation in the fashion industry, Delgado decided that she was going to be the one to share her culture through the world of fashion. With just $500, Delgado founded Hija De Tu Madre in 2016—a Latina lifestyle brand aimed to make fashion more inclusive of Hispanic and Latinx styles and culture. In less than 10 years, her brand has grown to be incredibly successful, having sold in over 30 countries and earning Delgado a spot on Forbes’ 30 under 30 list. Delgado now uses her platform to encourage other Latina entrepreneurs. “Hija De Tu Madre is a creative outlet that celebrates the complexities of being a product of more than one culture” Delgado states on her website. “[It] caters to Latinx who bravely question everything, while reconciling our complicated history, culture and identity.”
Photo: Patty Delgado attends the 2019 Girlboss Rally at UCLA on June 29, 2019 in Los Angeles. RACHEL MURRAY/GETTY IMAGES FOR GIRLBOSS.
Sandra Velasquez: Nopalera
As an immigrant from Mexico coming to California, Sandra Velasquez has always taken great pride in her culture. Now she’s sharing the importance of her Mexican heritage in the form of a luxury brand. In 2020, Velasquez founded Nopalera, a bath and body company that creates all of its products from the Nopal cactus—a nourishing plant native to Mexico—and other natural ingredients. In 2021, Velasquez saw an uptick in her consumer base after appearing on Shark Tank, which eventually led to her partnership with Nordstrom and other high-end retailers. Velasquez now uses her platform to help other women and Latinx entrepreneurs through her podcast and encourages the use of natural self-care products to her audiences. “The passion I have for my Mexican heritage extends far beyond the walls of beauty,” Velasquez says in her bio on Nopalera’s website. “My pride is loud, colorful and omnipresent in everything.”
Photo: Sandra Velasquez, founder and CEO of Nopalera, attends the Business of Beauty Global Awards Pitching event during the Business of Beauty Global Forum at Stanly Ranch on June 2, 2024 in Napa, California. MONICA SCHIPPER/GETTY IMAGES FOR BOF.
Julissa Prado: Rizos Curls
While hunting for hair care products with silicone-free ingredients for her naturally curly hair, Julissa Prado came up short. She began experimenting with her own concoctions when she was 15 years old and came up with a solution that helped her and other girls to care for their natural curls. Now, Prado is sharing these secrets with the world through Rizos Curls. Established in 2017, Rizos Curls is a hair care line that uses all natural, clean ingredients to people with differing hair textures and curliness levels. The brand’s roaring success has not only encouraged people of color to embrace their natural hair, but uses its profits to give back directly to the Latinx community by awarding scholarships and donating to charitable causes. “While battling with my hair over the years, I told myself that one day I would create the very best product for curly-haired girls like me,” Prado states on her website. “With Rizos Curls, I finally turned my dream into a reality.”
Photo: Julissa Prado attends the National Hispanic Media Coalition’s 2023 Impact Awards Gala at Vibiana on Oct. 27, 2023 in Los Angeles. KEVIN WINTER/GETTY IMAGES
Read more articles for the Hispanic Community here.
This article was originally published on diversitycomm.net.