comprende 037: Hispanic Heritage Month Edition

BIENVENIDO

¡Saludos! Happy Friday and welcome to the 37th edition of Comprende.

This week we’re doing a little something different. We’ve had a lot of new readers recently join and in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, instead of our Core 3 stories, we’re going to revisit and spotlight a few of our past features on Latino & Latina-founders and their businesses. Plus our usual Founder’s Esquinita, a delicious Pozole recipe, and last week’s trivia answer.

So, grab your cafecito or cervecita (depending where you are), settle in, and if you enjoy, please forward the newsletter to friends or share it on social media! ☕️ 🍺

Hispanic Heritage Month: Revisiting Past Founder Features

Siete Family Foods, The Garza Family: Featured in issue 008.

Siete Family Foods' journey from a kitchen in Laredo, TX, to a nationally recognized brand is a powerful tale of resilience and innovation rooted in family values. Born from Veronica Garza's need to adopt a grain-free diet, the Garza family transformed personal health challenges into a thriving business by creating grain-free tortillas that preserved the flavors of their Mexican-American heritage. Today, with products in over 16,000 stores and a commitment to uplifting the Latino community, Siete Family Foods continues to honor tradition while adapting to modern dietary needs.

Duolingo, Luis von Ahn: Featured in issue 012.

Luis von Ahn, a Guatemalan immigrant and tech visionary, co-founded Duolingo to make language learning accessible worldwide, inspired by his own journey of learning English. His earlier innovations, including CAPTCHA and reCAPTCHA, revolutionized online security and digitization, earning him global recognition and numerous prestigious awards. Today, Duolingo, with over 74 million monthly users, reflects von Ahn's commitment to bridging educational gaps, while he continues to advocate for greater diversity in tech and social impact initiatives in Guatemala.

DRAFTED, Karina Martinez and Jennifer Yepez-Blundell: Featured in issue 016.

DRAFTED, co-founded by Karina Martinez and Jennifer Yepez-Blundell, is reshaping the sports industry by centering the Latina experience. Born from their shared passion for sports and a desire to challenge underrepresentation, the platform fosters a community where Latina athletes and fans can thrive. Through strategic partnerships, DRAFTED amplifies Latina voices, reflecting a broader movement of empowerment, inclusion, and visibility in sports culture.

Pachama, Diego Saez-Gil and Tomas Aftalion: Featured in issue 023.

Diego Saez Gil and Tomas Aftalion, co-founders of Pachama, are pioneering environmental change by using AI and satellite data to monitor and verify forest conservation efforts. Their Argentinian-led Climatetech startup has garnered global recognition and partnerships with major companies like Salesforce and Airbnb, highlighting its effectiveness in advancing sustainability. With $88 million in funding, Pachama continues to scale its impact, blending technology with nature restoration to combat climate change.

Yola Mezcal, Yola Jimenez: Featured in issue 029.

Yola Mezcal, founded by Yola Jimenez, is a women-led brand that blends Oaxaca's mezcal traditions with female empowerment, providing local women with meaningful employment and leadership roles. Inheriting her grandfather’s mezcal recipe from 1971, Jimenez partnered with Lykke Li and Gina Correll Aglietti to create a socially impactful company, where every bottle is distilled and bottled by an all-female team. Yola Mezcal not only crafts premium mezcal but also champions women's rights and supports the Oaxaca community, showcasing the powerful intersection of heritage, business, and social responsibility.

Wellhub Raised $85 Million for their Series F, Daniel Lubetzky Joins Shark Tank, Plus Upcoming Events and Funding Opportunities.

Breaking Down a Fundraising Deal: How Wellhub Raised Their $85 Million Series F Round

This week, we're examining a later-stage investment with Wellhub’s recent Series F round, led by EQT Growth. Originally founded as Gympass by Cesar Carvalho, Wellhub was born out of Carvalho’s personal challenge to balance a healthy lifestyle with a demanding career. What started in Brazil as a way for employers to offer corporate-sponsored gym memberships has now evolved into a global wellness platform supporting employees' physical, mental, and emotional health.

According to Wellhub’s fundraising announcement, the company achieved several key milestones before raising this round, including:

• Surpassing 15,000 corporate clients, with notable customers like Aflac and Zendesk.

• Engaging over two million employee subscribers.

• Expanding its offerings to encompass mental health, nutrition, and financial wellness.

EQT Growth cited these impressive levels of engagement and diverse product offerings as some key factors in their decision to invest in Wellhub. In addition, they were also drawn to Wellhub’s resilient team and adaptability, particularly during the pandemic—a challenging period for the wellness industry as a whole. By helping existing partners transition to virtual services and bringing in new virtual partnerships, Wellhub successfully grew its revenues from 2019 to 2021.

With its latest fundraising round, Wellhub is positioned to continue its global expansion and scale its impact on employee wellbeing.

Daniel Lubetzky, Founder of KIND Snacks, is Shark Tank’s newest full-time member 🦈

As Mark Cuban steps away from Shark Tank, Daniel Lubetzky will be joining the panel full-time after five years of appearing as a guest shark.

Lubetzky, who was born and raised in Mexico before moving to the U.S. as a teenager, grew up watching his father run various businesses. Inspired by his upbringing, Lubetzky’s entrepreneurial spirit grew, leading him to launch several ventures before founding KIND Snacks. His passion for innovation continued with the creation of his investment firm, Camino Partners, which focuses on consumer brands.

In a recent interview about his new role on Shark Tank, Lubetzky shared insights into his investment approach. When assessing a pitch, he looks for authenticity and tries to get a clear sense of the entrepreneur’s character. Additionally, he views creativity as an edge and evaluates a founder's potential for growth. So, if you're a consumer-focused entrepreneur planning to pitch to the sharks, be prepared to see Daniel Lubetzky join the panel full-time in 2025.

Upcoming Events & Opportunities:

• Pepsico Juntos Crecemos Grants Programs| Apply by September 27

  • For women small business owners in the food and beverage industry, $10k grants.

  • Apply Here

• Galaxy of Stars Galaxy Grants | Apply by September 30

  • For women and minority-owned small businesses, $4,250 grants.

  • Apply Here

• Walmart Spark Good Local Grants | Apply by September 30

  • For local organizations, $5k grant

  • Apply Here

• Mentors & Angels Accelerator | Apply by November 1

  • For underrepresented founders, free 7-week program

  • Apply Here

La Esquinita is written by Comprende Collaborator, Adriana Román. Learn more about Adriana or connect with her on LinkedIn here

FOUNDERS:

If you’re a founder who wants to get further connected and learn more about Comprende, be featured in our newsletter or marketplace, or inquire about our creative and strategy agency services, please fill out this form:

How to Make: Mexican Pork Pozole

As one of Mexico's most beloved and comforting dishes, pozole is the perfect way to warm up during chilly days—especially with the cold front rolling in where I am, I find myself craving a bowl!

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds pork shoulder, cut into 1-inch cubes

• 8 cups water

• 1 large white onion, halved

• 6 garlic cloves, peeled

• 2 bay leaves

• 2 teaspoons salt, plus more to taste

• 1 tablespoon oregano

• 1 teaspoon cumin

• 1 teaspoon black pepper

• 4 dried guajillo chiles, stems and seeds removed

• 2 dried ancho chiles, stems and seeds removed

• 2 (15 oz) cans hominy, drained and rinsed

Toppings (optional but recommended):

• Shredded cabbage or lettuce

• Radishes, thinly sliced

• Avocado, sliced

• Fresh cilantro, chopped

• Lime wedges

• Diced onion

• Dried oregano

• Chile powder or hot sauce

• Tortilla chips or tostadas

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Pork Broth:

   • In a large pot, combine the pork shoulder, water, halved onion, garlic cloves, bay leaves, oregano, cumin, pepper, and salt. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 2 hours, skimming off any foam that forms on the surface.

   • Once the pork is tender, remove it from the broth and set it aside. Strain the broth to remove any solids and return the clear broth to the pot.

2. Prepare the Chile Sauce:

   • While the pork cooks, bring a small pot of water to a boil. Add the dried guajillo and ancho chiles and cook for about 10 minutes, until the chiles are soft.

   • Transfer the softened chiles to a blender along with 1 cup of the cooking water, and blend until smooth. Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve to remove any solids.

3. Combine the Pozole:

   • Add the hominy and chile sauce to the pork broth, stirring to combine. Return the pork to the pot and simmer for another 30 minutes to let the flavors meld.

   • Taste and adjust the seasoning with more salt if needed.

4. Serve:

   • Ladle the pozole into bowls and top with your choice of garnishes like shredded cabbage, radishes, avocado, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime.

Enjoy your Mexican Pozole, it’s perfect for gatherings and can be customized with a variety of toppings to suit your taste!

Last week, we asked: Which famous Colombian writer won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1982?

The right answer was: Gabriel García Márquez

Gabriel García Márquez, the famous Colombian writer, won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1982. He was honored for his exceptional body of work, particularly for his novel Cien años de soledad (One Hundred Years of Solitude), which is widely regarded as a masterpiece of magical realism. García Márquez's writing blends the fantastical with the real, reflecting the rich cultural and political landscapes of Latin America. His Nobel Prize citation praised him for "his novels and short stories, in which the fantastic and the realistic are combined in a richly composed world of imagination." García Márquez remains one of the most celebrated Latin American authors, whose works have influenced writers and readers worldwide.

Question:  Which Cuban dance became internationally popular in the 1940s and is characterized by fast-paced rhythms?

Reply with your guess! Answers will be revealed in the next newsletter!

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