Four years ago, a spark ignited what would become a transformative movement. FounderFamilia was born out of an urgent need to challenge the odds stacked against Latine entrepreneurs—a system that too often undervalues, excludes, and limits. For generations, Latine founders have navigated a world where the right networks, Ivy League pedigrees, and access to capital were privileges beyond reach. These barriers have forced many to fight unseen battles, all while building dreams that reflect their grit, resilience, and boundless potential. Today, with over 500 members, we stand as a testament to what is possible when Latine founders unite with courage, resilience, and a shared vision for the future.
At FounderFamilia, we envisioned something different: a community where Latine founders could fully show up as themselves, free of pretense or compromise. A place where shared struggles create unbreakable bonds and where the stories of our heritage and lived experiences are celebrated as assets—not obstacles. More than just a network, we’ve cultivated the spirit of Familia, where our values of courage, authenticity, and collective strength guide everything we do.
FounderFamilia serves as a connector and catalyst for Latine founders, connecting them with the networks, resources, and partnerships essential for their growth. By facilitating access to venture capitalists, creating spaces for collaboration, and fostering meaningful mentorship, we provide the tools and connections needed to navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship with confidence and community.
Today, FounderFamilia is a thriving ecosystem that proves the power of unity. It’s a space where challenges are met with collaboration, where innovation flourishes because diversity is at the heart of every idea, and where no dream is too big to pursue. We don’t just aim to navigate the existing system—we aim to rewrite it, ensuring that every Latine founder has the opportunity to lead, grow, and thrive.
This impact report is a celebration of that journey: the milestones we’ve achieved, the struggles we’ve overcome, and the unwavering belief in what is possible when Latine founders are empowered to rise. Within these pages, you’ll discover stories of determination, programs that open doors, and a vision for a future where our community’s brilliance isn’t just recognized but celebrated and amplified.
As a community, we take pride in the significant financial contributions and funding milestones achieved by FounderFamilia founders. Together, we are driving innovation, creating jobs, and fostering economic growth that reflects the strength and potential of Latine entrepreneurship.
Among our 523 founder members, over 72% of FounderFamilia startups generate revenue, with 36% surpassing $1M annually—well above the industry benchmark, where fewer than 10% of startups achieve this milestone. These achievements showcase the resilience and leadership of Latine founders, with FounderFamilia fostering their growth through mentorship, collaboration, and community support.
One in eight startups within FounderFamilia generates over $5M in annual revenue, reflecting significant growth beyond the seed stage. These companies are achieving critical milestones, positioning themselves for Series A funding, and showing the community's strength.
Over 40% of FounderFamilia members have raised at least $1M in funding, with more than 13% surpassing $5M. This achievement of our community members is particularly significant given that less than 2% of venture capital funding in the U.S. was allocated to Latine-founded startups. (Crunchbase, 2022) These figures highlight the resilience and determination of Latine entrepreneurs in overcoming systemic barriers to capital access.
Among FounderFamilia members who have raised at least $1M, the estimated total funding exceeds $825M, with the actual figure likely higher. This remarkable sum underscores the community's substantial role in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, reflecting its capacity to foster innovation, create jobs, and contribute to economic growth.
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Our community includes Latin founders who are successfully gaining admission to top accelerators like Y Combinator and Techstars, which have acceptance rates of only 1-3%. These founders are also securing funding from leading venture capitalists who invest in only 0.05% of the startups they evaluate each year. This highlights the resilience and innovation of Latino entrepreneurs, showcasing their potential to thrive and compete on a global scale.
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Highlighting how FounderFamilia startups are actively fundraising, building pipelines, and advancing through early growth stages to secure capital, scale their businesses, and deliver remarkable returns while promoting innovation and enhancing the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Currently, 40% of FounderFamilia startups are either actively fundraising or plan to do so within the next 12 months. This indicates a strong wave of capital-seeking activity among Latine entrepreneurs, driving innovation and economic growth in both the U.S. and LATAM. Meanwhile, 60% of startups are not yet fundraising, presenting an ideal opportunity for investors to establish early relationships with these founders. This makes FounderFamilia a community with optimal timing for investors to capitalize on the momentum and support the scaling efforts of these startups.
Members engaged in fundraising are collectively targeting over $200 million in capital. Research from the Kauffman Foundation (2023) indicates that startups led by diverse founders, such as those in our community, can achieve a 30% higher return on investment (ROI) when supported by venture funding. This positions FounderFamilia as a vital link to high-potential investment opportunities that promote scalable growth while delivering exceptional returns for investors.
These startups demonstrate remarkable resilience in overcoming systemic challenges, showcasing a strong commitment to building effective teams and validating their business ideas. FounderFamilia offers customized programs designed to empower early-stage founders. By equipping them with essential tools and resources, we help Latine entrepreneurs navigate and achieve their growth milestones.
Within FounderFamilia, 60% of startups are actively progressing beyond the idea stage. These companies are focusing on product development, market validation, and scaling operations. This significant portion of the community highlights the resilience and proactive nature of Latine entrepreneurs as they transform their ideas into viable, market-ready solutions. These startups are not only refining their products but also expanding their teams and strategizing for market entry, which signals a shift towards sustainable growth. FounderFamilia continues to support these ventures through advanced mentorship, access to funding opportunities, and strategic partnerships, all aimed at facilitating their journey toward achieving substantial economic and social impact.
Mexico stands out as the community’s second-largest hub. As a growing powerhouse in fintech, e-commerce, and innovation, Mexico underscores the importance of Latam markets in global entrepreneurship. FounderFamilia bridges these markets, creating cross-border opportunities and supporting scalable growth across diverse ecosystems.
About one-third of FounderFamilia’s U.S. members are in California, benefiting from a strong venture capital landscape and culture of innovation. Around 20% are in Florida, reflecting its growth as a startup hub. Founders in New York and Texas leverage global financial markets and tech ecosystems. This diversity underscores FounderFamilia's role in fostering Latine entrepreneurial success nationwide and creating opportunities for the entire entrepreneurial community.
FounderFamilia startups are shaping the future across industries like fintech (20%), AI/data analytics (15%), healthcare (8%), Food/Beverage/Ag (8%), and education (7%). This focus positions Latine founders as essential players in shaping the industries that fuel global economies.
FounderFamilia has appointed inaugural city leads for its new chapters in New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, and Miami. This marks a significant expansion in its mission to empower Latine entrepreneurs. These city leads play a crucial role in developing local ecosystems. By establishing dedicated hubs in these major cities, FounderFamilia can better support startups in both the U.S. and LATAM, helping them grow and succeed. This expansion not only increases our community’s reach but also creates more opportunities for investors to connect with talented Latine-led ventures. Now is a great time to join us and support the exciting growth and innovation happening within our community.
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At FounderFamilia, we’re proud of the bold steps our community is taking to rewrite the narrative for Latine entrepreneurs. From breaking systemic barriers to championing diversity and scaling impactful businesses, this section highlights how our members are shaping the future, together.
At FounderFamilia, it’s inspiring to note that 34.5% of women founders have successfully raised over $1 million in funding. This achievement highlights a crucial opportunity for growth, especially when we recognize that only 1.8% of venture capital funding is allocated to female-founded startups across the industry (PitchBook, 2023). Additionally, women-owned businesses often receive less than 25% of the median equity investment of $1 million, indicating a significant area for improvement. Yet, the success of Latine women in FounderFamilia, who continue to secure substantial funding, showcases the potential for change. FounderFamilia provides essential support through tailored programs and resources, contributing to the increasing success rates of Latine women entrepreneurs in securing substantial funding and bridging the persistent funding gap.
FounderFamilia proudly supports a strong community of women founders, with 29% of its members being women, significantly exceeding the industry average of 13.2% reported in 2023 (Carta). Through culturally tailored programs and collaborative networks, FounderFamilia empowers Latine women entrepreneurs to effectively navigate and overcome systemic challenges. This significant representation, combined with a robust support system, not only enhances their entrepreneurial success but also fosters equitable opportunities, driving meaningful growth within the Latine entrepreneurial ecosystem.
FounderFamilia spans 19 Latine countries, with Mexico at the forefront, followed by Colombia, Argentina, Venezuela and Peru. This connection fosters innovation, enabling Latine founders to exchange ideas, grow collectively, and access global opportunities.
FounderFamilia members consistently cite fundraising and go-to-market strategy as their top challenges, with scaling and growth support also ranking high in recent surveys. These hurdles are real, but so is the determination to overcome them. That’s why we’ve aligned our initiatives to directly tackle these pain points and empower our community to thrive. Here’s how we do it:
We provide Latine founders with platforms to showcase their startups to investors, secure non-dilutive prizes, and unlock opportunities for potential capital deployment. These events have directly supported founders in raising critical funding to scale their businesses.
By fostering meaningful connections between founders and venture capitalists through curated happy hours, exclusive dinners, and meetups, we’re creating pathways to funding. These gatherings are breaking barriers and closing the capital gap for Latine startups.
With over 100k+ Slack messages exchanged, our vibrant community provides founders with actionable advice, tips, and peer-to-peer support. Dedicated channels allow members to share their journeys, collaborate on go-to-market strategies, and access hundreds of curated opportunities, from funding sources to accelerator programs. See below some testimonials!
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Our Scaling Groups empower founders in the growth stage with practical insights into sales, customer acquisition, and scaling strategies. Through peer mentorship and knowledge-sharing, founders can access real-world experiences and actionable advice to overcome growth hurdles.
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These localized coworking events bring founders and VCs together in informal, collaborative settings. Beyond just networking, these sessions spark meaningful conversations and partnerships, helping founders refine their market entry and expansion strategies with input from experienced investors and peers.
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FounderFamilia partners with leading organizations like Amazon, Google Ventures, Techstars, JPMorgan, Pivotal Ventures, Comcast, AWS, and Cooley to tackle the challenges Latine founders face. Through events and collaborations, we provide critical access to funding, mentorship, resources, and networks, integrating Latine entrepreneurs into broader startup ecosystems. These efforts drive equitable representation, visibility, and growth opportunities, empowering founders to scale and succeed.
Challenge:
In 2023, Sorenson was interested in tackling the lack of funding made available to Latine investors.
Solution:
Advised and co-created a first-of-its-kind catalytic capital program designed for emerging Latine fund managers.
Impact:
Awarded 8 grants totaling $200K. Partnership covered by Forbes and other publications.
Challenge:
In 2024, needed to identify top Latine early-stage entrepreneurs working in AI.
Solution:
Co-developed a series of 4 roundtables with entrepreneurs, which then translated into prioritized access to AWS resources and support.
Impact:
Identified 20+ funded Latine entrepreneurs to engage and build solutions on the AWS platform.
Challenge:
Lack of representation of Latine VCs and General Partners in the life sciences space.
Solution:
Managed corporate mentorship program to identify top-tier experienced talent. Facilitated individualized introductions to target participants for GV.
Impact:
13 mentorship pairs and 4 GPs participating in GV dinners.
We took a quick peek at the names of our founders and found that Daniels and Juans are the most popular in our community. Here’s how it breaks down:
