Hispanic women might not yet be as well represented in corporate boardrooms as they should be, but they’re more than holding their own in the U.S. business community. They’ve made quite an impact as company owners and business franchise operators all over the country and beyond.
The Size and Scope of Hispanic Women-Owned Businesses in America
The Hispanic business woman has achieved remarkable success wherever her passions and talents take her. According to the National Women’s Business Council’s 2023 annual report:
- Just over 2 million businesses were owned by Latina female leaders that year.
- These Hispanic women businesses employed 845,000 people.
- Hispanic women-owned businesses generated some $175.2 billion in annual revenue in 2023.
10 Business Success Stories for Latina Entrepreneurs
Of the millions of U.S. companies founded by Hispanic women, here are 10 that stand out.
1. Progeny Coffee
Yes, we think of South America and other Latin nations when we think of the richest blends of coffee. Now, you can also think of Maria Jose Palacio, who co-founded Progeny Coffee in 2016 in Palo Alto, California.
As a fifth-generation coffee grower in Colombia, Palacio knew that, while there has always been a great deal of money to be made in producing and selling quality beans, the grower tended to get the least of it. Through her company, Palacio helped the farmers grow more productively and get a bigger slice of the pie while still attracting an impressive customer base.
2. HoneyBook
This digital financial management firm for smaller companies was started by first-generation Mexican immigrant Shadiah Sigala. By 2021, the tech firm was valued at more than $2 billion.
HoneyBook offers smaller companies features such as invoicing and online payments, project management, automated workflow, and many other services and tools. The company is based in San Francisco and has an office in Israel.
3. Stoke Therapeutics
This biotech company was co-founded by Isabel Aznarez, who today serves as its chief biology officer. The company is based in Massachusetts and pioneers new ways of treating the causes of serious diseases.
Stoke Therapeutics was founded in 2014 and is a publicly traded firm. As of the end of 2023, the company had just over $200 million in cash and marketable securities.
4. The Mujerista
This new media platform was founded by Marivette Navarrete, a Nicaraguan-American media veteran. Its purpose is to serve as a community and information source for Latinas.
The platform offers articles and a marketplace for Latina-owned businesses and communities. The stated goal of The Mujerista is to “empower and build an equitable future for the next generation of Latinas.”
5. The Honest Company
Here’s a familiar name and face. Actor and celebrity Jessica Alba was one of the co-founders of The Honest Company, a Santa Monica, California, business creating and marketing eco-friendly household, personal care, and wellness products. The billion-dollar company was started in early 2012 and is publicly traded.
In addition to serving as the company’s chief creative officer until recently, Alba wrote The Honest Life, a best-selling book about the business and her guiding philosophy.
6. Nopalera
Sandra Velazquez turned down a Shark Tank capital offer. The investors on the program liked the idea behind her skincare and beauty products company. The show might have also been impressed by the founder’s personal story of starting out making soap bars in her kitchen.
At any rate, they offered Velazquez a fat check, but she’d have to give up more of her company than she wanted, so she turned down the offer. However, the resulting publicity resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars in sales over the next few weeks. Velazquez has only been in business since 2020, but today, she sells her product line in more than 250 retail locations around the nation.
Nopalera is based out of New York City, and Velazquez is still independent. Her business generates about $2 million in annual revenue.
7. Hija de tu Madre
The company name loosely translates from Spanish to English as “your mother’s daughter.” The idea that founder Patty Delgado had was to capture the essence of Hispanic heritage in the apparel and accessories she designs for women and girls.
Delgado is herself the daughter of Mexican immigrants. Starting with less-than-bountiful funding of $500 from her personal savings account, Delgado has attracted a global customer base from out of Los Angeles.
8. Maker’s Row
Co-founded by Tanya Menendez in 2012, Maker’s Row is a community of small and medium-sized manufacturers of shoes and apparel, packaging, furniture, and other products. Maker’s Row serves at the center of a collaborative effort to get products designed, created, and taken to market.
9, NuBank
This isn’t an American company at all, but it deserves mention as the largest digital banking system outside of Asia. The Brazilian digital financial company was co-founded by Cristina Junqueira. Today, it serves some 105 million customers in Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil.
NuBank’s second-quarter 2024 net income was $2.8 billion. Forbes wrote that the enterprise is “leaving U.S. digital banks in the dust.”
10. Beautyblender
First came Hollywood. As a professional makeup artist on the set of Girlfriends, Rea Ann Silva got good at making attractive people look even better. But how could non-celebrities on a budget achieve an airbrushed finish without spending a fortune or using professional equipment?
Her answer was Beautyblender, an edgeless makeup sponge that changed how women applied foundation. Her invention and her company took off, with avid customers of all skin tones and types.
Silva is of mixed heritage, including Mexican, Portuguese, and Spanish. Beautyblender, as well as the company’s associated products and accessories, can be bought on the company website.
We Encourage Hispanic Women in Business to Also Look at Owning a Freeway Insurance Franchise
There are many avenues to good fortune and empowerment in America for Hispanic women in business. If you’re considering owning a successful business franchise, we invite you to explore ownership of a Freeway Insurance franchise.
As a highly motivated entrepreneur and businesswoman, Freeway offers you a leading brand, a loyal customer base, and an established reputation as one of the largest personal lines insurance companies in America.
In addition to our strong brand, we offer top-tier industry training, guidance, and support. We’ll teach you step by step how to build a financially rewarding insurance franchise. The entry cost is low, and we have franchise opportunities all across the country. Tell us where you live or want to operate a business, and we’ll tell you what’s available.
Find out more by contacting us online or calling (877) 822-3024 to speak to a representative today.
