La Startup Casa: SXSW’s New Home for the Latinx/e Startup Ecosystem
Latinx/e Startup Founders of Cuyana, Arcus, & Ocho Honored with Icon Award
La Startup Casa, the premier Latinx startup hub kicked off SXSW with a lavish cultural celebration of the diverse achievements, innovations, and successes of the Latinx/e startup community. La Startup Casa, an exciting collaboration of Inicio by Hispanics in Philanthropy and Google for Startups created this new hub to nurture the growing ecosystem of Latinx/e investors, entrepreneurs, and field-builders.
“We launched La Startup Casa to ensure that the Latinx/e startup community feels welcomed at one of the key conferences of innovation, SXSW, and more broadly within the overall startup ecosystem. La Startup Casa serves as a venue for celebration and amplification, where our partners and allies can reinforce a truth we hold dear: our founders, funders, and field builders are not only talented and genuine but also deeply rooted in a history that showcases our resilience and undeniable value as entrepreneurs,” shared Jorge M. Calderon, Managing Director, Inicio by HIP.
“With numerous Latinx/e-focused activations, speakers, and programs, 2024 will be marked as the year SXSW saw the Latinx/e startup ecosystem unite to enhance its visibility and amplify its voice. We depart from Austin with a renewed sense of pride, ready to evolve from a moment to a movement.”
Founders of Cuyana, Arcus, and Ocho, three successful Latinx/e-founded startups, were honored with the prestigious Icon Award at the La Startup Casa. This award recognized Karla Gallardo, Edrizio de la Cruz, and James Gutierrez as trailblazers for their significant contributions to the Latinx/e startup community, remarkable achievements in their respective industries, and for paving the way for aspiring Latinx entrepreneurs.
The data shows that Latino entrepreneurs start more businesses, yet receive only 2% of venture capital – and for Latina founders, it’s even less. That’s why, ahead of the La Startup Casa event, Inicio by HIP, Google for Startups, and NetSuite Accelerator also convened startup ecosystem leaders of the Venture Latinx Coalition to prioritize collective action.
The intimate gathering featured Latinx/e entrepreneurs and field builders who shared their experiences throughout the week to gain exposure, build meaningful partnerships, and attract potential investors. They joined expert-led workshops and panels covering a wide range of topics relevant to the Latinx startup ecosystem. Including navigating anti-DEI sentiment to founder well-being, sessions provided valuable insights and practical advice for the Latinx/e ecosystem looking to participate at the next level.