BIENVENIDO

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

Today, we’re talking about something bigger than just one founder’s story, we’re talking about a movement. I recently spoke with Arturo Cazares, CEO of the Latino Business Action Network (LBAN), and what came out of that conversation was a powerful reminder: Latino entrepreneurs are driving the U.S. economy forward–even if the system hasn’t caught up yet.

This piece is about numbers, yes, but more than that, it’s about power. The kind we’ve always had. The kind we’re finally claiming out loud. If you’ve ever felt like there had to be a better way, a bigger table, or more seats for our community, this one’s for you.

So, depending on where you are in the world, grab your cafecito, your agua fresca (or hey, a mezcalito. It’s Friday.), and settle in. And if it resonates, forward it to your gente or share it online. Let’s keep growing this comunidad together. ☕️🥂

The Future of the U.S. Economy Is Latino. The System Just Hasn’t Noticed Yet.

I recently sat down for a virtual cafecito with Arturo Cazares, CEO of the Latino Business Action Network (LBAN). Within minutes, I knew this wasn't going to be a typical Comprende interview.

Here was someone who'd spent decades building global sales organizations, from Sun Microsystems to 3Com across Latin America, Europe, and Asia, but the message he hoped I’d help carry forward was one I know well: the untold story of Latino entrepreneurship in America. It’s what drives us at Comprende each week, and it's never been more necessary than it is today.

The numbers alone should rewrite every conversation about economic growth in this country. We've built over 5 million Latino-owned businesses generating more than $800 billion annually across the U.S. Latino-owned companies grow revenues faster than any other demographic. We create jobs at twice the rate of our non-Latino peers. We offer better benefits across the board. Yet we still face an uphill battle, that honestly? Defies logic.

When we walk into a bank, even with stronger financials, Latino business owners are 60% less likely to get a loan. Less than 2% of venture capital reaches Latino founders. Government contracts? Ours are 31 times smaller than those awarded to white-owned businesses for comparable work. The pattern repeats, across sectors, across the country.

"We've bought into the myth that we're not good at finances," Arturo tells me, his frustration palpable. "Even our own community has bought into these misconceptions."

But here's what the data actually shows: "We're not the ones underperforming," Arturo said, his voice cutting through any lingering doubt. "It's the ecosystem that's failing us."

That reframe changes everything. For too long, we've internalized the narrative that we're not finance-savvy enough, not connected enough, not quite "ready" for the big leagues. But LBAN's research, developed in partnership with Stanford, proves something remarkable: our businesses are already thriving. It's the system around us that needs to change.

This is where Arturo's corporate background becomes essential. He's built high-functioning systems around the world, he knows what good looks like. LBAN isn't just about connecting Latino entrepreneurs; it's systematically rebuilding the entire ecosystem through three key pillars: groundbreaking research that's being used by the likes of the Federal Reserve to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, business scaling programs that have graduated over 1,400 Latino founders from across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, and intentional ecosystem development that connects entrepreneurs to capital providers, mentors, and corporate partners.

Their approach leverages something we've always possessed. Take those 1,400 program graduates and teach them through one guiding principle: Do business with each other. Get business for each other. 

During exercises, Arturo watches transformation happen in real time. He shared how a Latino deep-tech founder gets paired with a pizzeria owner from El Paso. Different industries, different cities, different challenges. But in that space? They discover a dozen ways to accelerate each other's success.

Latinos represent 20% of the U.S. population and drive a disproportionate share of economic growth. Our collective economy now tops $4 trillion, making us the fifth largest economy in the world. "Our parents, with very little education, they did that," Arturo says, visibly proud. "They did it with nothing."

That line resonates because it reflects our superpower. We've always known how to lift each other up. "At a community level, we connect with each other and help each other," he continues. "We share information. We share access." We've done it as families, as neighbors–now we're scaling it as founders.

Arturo shared that one of the challenges has been translating that community strength into professional spaces where different rules have long applied. For generations, we've celebrated the exceptional individual while accepting artificial scarcity, the idea that there were only one or two seats at the table.

But the landscape is shifting dramatically. "There's thousands of Latinos coming out of colleges like you never had before," Arturo declares. "One or two spots won't cut it anymore. We have to build a different game."

"Once you start to see this," he adds about recognizing these systemic barriers, "you can't unsee it. And you'll be more fair with everyone."

The message is clear: we're not waiting for permission anymore. We're building our own ecosystems–where being Latino isn't something to overcome, but our greatest competitive advantage. The country needs what we Latinos bring, and organizations like LBAN are making sure our community has the tools, knowledge, and networks to lead.

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