About

 

Introduction

The size and impact of the Latino population is being felt
across multiple sectors-banking, consumer markets, services, construction,
agriculture, transportation, real estate, education, international trade, small
business creation and entrepreneurship. And yet despite huge growth and gains,
the Latino community lags behind in wage earnings, house hold net worth,
business revenues and participation in the highest value sectors of the economy
– the innovation economy.

The level of economic productivity of the Latino community
should concern everyone. According to the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, Latinos currently fill 1 of every 3 jobs in the United States and Hispanic workers accounted for more than 1 million of the 2.5 million new jobs created by the U.S. economy in 2004 (Pew Hispanic Center). By 2025, Latinos will
comprise 50% of the population in California. It is imperative that the private sector,
academia, government and civil society organizations work together to
accelerate, acculturate, educate, connect and empower the Latino community to
reach their full economic potential.

Blog’s Mission

Based in Silicon Valley, this blog was formed to accelerate the full participation of Latino entrepreneurs in the innovation economy. Unlike other efforts that have focused on the usual formulas of networks, access to capital, incubation and high tech company formation, our focus is to examine best practices around the globe where previously underperforming regions and communities have been able to leapfrog to the top of economic value chain through the strategic application of technology and other innovative practices to their existing economic base.

Vision

Full Participation of the Latino Community in the Innovation Economy

• Focus on existing and emerging Latino entrepreneurs
  • Cross sector, with concentration in areas with high Latino participation

• Use of technology, process innovation as levers
  • Accelerate adoption of technology as lever for value added entrepreneurship
  • Move enterprises up the value chain

• Linkages to Existing Networks
  • Connect to multinational corporations

• Linkages to and trade with global regional economies
  • Access to capital networks

Guiding Principles

The emergence of new technology, processes for utilization
of technology for commercial purposes, combined with increased entrepreneurial
activity can accelerate the creation of wealth for US Latino individuals and
the whole community