Connect Who or what is your inspiration in business?

I draw inspiration from my Latina roots and my experience working in my family’s small business. My passion for creating equitable opportunities fuels my resilience and drives the mission to empower entrepreneurs. At FounderFuego, we eliminate "Founder Fear," helping diverse business owners build confidence and achieve success. Inspired by accomplished Latina and BIPOC leaders and the businesses we've supported, I’m dedicated to championing diversity, inclusion, and growth

How do you stay motivated?

With every diverse entrepreneur I help to launch, increase sales, create and implement a growth and partnership strategy that grows their business, creating new jobs, and hiring people – THAT is why I do this work. I stay motivated by my passion for making a meaningful impact and seeing diverse entrepreneurs succeed, breaking through barriers, and achieving their dreams. I am grateful to see my efforts create a lasting change and economic mobility in our communities.

What would you do with the $25,000?

We would use the $25,000 to launch and grow the FounderFuego community, built on three pillars: Community, Funding, and Learning. Funds would support networking events and an online platform (30%), a strategic partnership program to connect diverse entrepreneurs with investors, mentors, and industry leaders (40%), and workshops and resources to develop critical business skills (30%). This investment will tackle key barriers to create an inclusive, thriving ecosystem.