5 Latinx Businesses to Support During Hispanic Heritage Month
Discover 5 Latinx creators who are breaking barriers and forging a path for indie creators.
September 15 marks the beginning of National Hispanic Heritage Month which recognizes Hispanic and Latino/a/x contributions toward American achievements and culture. One way that I’m celebrating is by supporting and promoting Hispanic- and Latinx-owned businesses. There are so many amazing small businesses out there. Below, I’ve shared 5 Latinx creators and entrepreneurs who have inspired me this year.
Ana Bermudez, creator of TAGit
About TAGit
Hollywood has been setting fashion trends for decades, inspiring retailers to create collections based on hit TV shows like “Mad Men” and “Pretty Little Liars.” Instead of searching around the web to find out what these stars and characters were wearing, the mobile app TAGit does the legwork for you. It even finds similar looking items for any budget.
About Ana Bermudez
Ana Bermudez launched the app TAGit after several successful years in the finance industry which enabled her to cover her younger brother’s college tuition and buy her mother a house in a safer neighborhood. Like most Latinx businesses, Ana used her savings and retirement to fund her venture. When she began running out of funds she turned toward organizations like Accion to help find angel investors and venture capital. With little success for over a year and a half, her patience, persistence and preparation eventually landed multiple investments at once during the annual Women’s Venture Summit. She also received a grant from the Eva Longoria Foundation. Today, Ana serves as a mentor and helps other women and people of color gain access to venture capital and funding though an organization called Stella Angels. She is also passionate about serving her community and promoting STEM and higher education in under-served communities. She currently serves as President of the San Diego High School Foundation, and is on the Advisory Board of the University of Notre Dame Institute for Latino Studies.
Maxeme Tuchman, Creator of Caribu
About Caribu
Caribu is an interactive video-calling app where kids and parents can schedule virtual play dates with friends and family. The app has been included in lists like Apple’s 15 “Best Apps of 2020,” TIME Magazine’s Best Inventions, Fast Company’s list of World Changing Ideas, and Forbes’s ‘Top Ten EdTech Companies to Watch.’ The app is available for free and includes 15 books or activities each month. The paid subscription starts at $9.99 for unlimited games, books, and activities.
About Maxeme (Max) Tuchman
Maxeme Tuchman, who goes by Max, is the winner and finalist of 30+ pitch competitions. She’s the first Latinx founder, male or female, to raise $1M in equity crowdfunding, and was named one of Inc. Magazine’s Top 100 Female Founders. Max has an impressive resume. Before co-founding Caribu, Max was appointed by President Obama to serve as a senior policy advisor and White House Fellow at the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Prior to her appointment, Max served as the Executive Director of Teach For America Miami-Dade. Earlier in her career, she served in Mayor Bloomberg’s bullpen where she co-created the NYC Civic Corps and managed The NYC Waterfalls art installation, bringing in $69M of economic impact to the city. Her commitment to educational equity began as a Teach For America corps member in inner-city Miami where she taught 480 high school students and led educational innovation projects with organizations such as the Harlem Children’s Zone, DC Public Schools, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Yreina Flores, Creator of ¡Ay Mujer!
About ¡Ay Mujer!
¡Ay Mujer! is a family-owned business that sells hand-crafted and originally designed papel picado that are perfect for weddings, graduations, Dia de los Muertos, and any fiesta. Their banners have been featured on the Food Network’s hit TV show “Giada At Home” and popular digital and print magazines like Apartment Therapy, Design*Sponge, Style Me Pretty, and Martha Stewart Weddings.
About Yreina Flores
Yreina Flores is a self-taught artist who has been making papel picado since she was a young girl. People began discovering her beautiful designs after she created custom pieces to promote Barack Obama’s first campaign for president. A campaign staff member purchased her banners and posted a picture of it hanging in their DC campaign headquarters. Shortly after opening her first online shop in 2008, she received a call from Martha Stewart Weddings about creating an exclusive line for the magazine. Since then, she has earned her BFA in Photography from Art Center College of Design and continues to sell her exquisite work from Indio, California.
Iliana Galvez, Creator of GrowMija
About GrowMija
GrowMija was created to celebrate diversity and cultivate positivity, love, and respect for Black and Brown bodies. Iliana Galvez, the talented artist and founder of GrowMija, highlights the beauty of Black and Brown bodies in her colorful original prints and stickers. Consider becoming a supporter on Patreon to receive exclusive access to new releases and discounts.
About Iliana Galvez
Iliana Galvez created GrowMija as a love letter to her baby sister, Chachis, who was constantly teased about the color of her skin. Iliana wanted to create art that would help her little sister and others like her feel worthy and beautiful too. This work is not always easy. Iliana is queer and dyslexic and she gets her regular share of trolls who try to diminish her accomplishments. In spite of their negativity, she continues to paint and draw to escape painful events in her life and to continue fostering confidence uplifting others. Her work is supported by her adorable pug Theodoro Joseph Duarante.
Diana Silva, Creator of Molé Mama
About Molé Mama
Molé Mama shares delicious Mexican recipes like pork tamales and chicken flautas, along with traditional American recipes with a Mexican twist. For anyone who prefers to visually follow along, there are videos that accompany many of the recipes. You can find more videos on the Molé Mama YouTube Channel which often features other talented Latinx chefs and entrepreneurs.
About Diana Silva
Diana Silva (aka Molé Mama) began her culinary training when she was nine years old, on the day her mama asked her to help make flour tortillas. Since then and over several decades, her master chef and beautiful mama taught her how to make over a 100 Mexican family recipes. Diana shares the stories behind these recipes in a book that she dedicated to her mama, “Molé Mama: A memoir of love, cooking and loss.” After losing her mama, Diana encourages everyone to preserve those precious recipes and the stories that make them special. She believes that there are plenty of recipes and traditions to share, and you just might be inspired to create your own because “Every Recipe Tells a Story.”
