Moneda Moves: Building Strong Startup Hubs, LIVE with Inicio
Mi gente!
Welcome back to a very special episode of Moneda Moves. It’s no secret that this year has been a challenging one for Latino-centered companies and business owners. From shifting economic tides to political uncertainty, the landscape is testing us—but also pushing us to innovate and build smarter.
As some of you may know, I had the honor of moderating a panel at SXSW all about the state of Latino startup hubs across the U.S.—and today, I’m thrilled to bring you that conversation as a live podcast episode!
This panel was packed with real talk and insight from powerhouse women in business and investing. We explored what it really looks like to build in this moment: the challenges, the strategies, and the money moves Latinos are making as we continue to chase generational wealth.
Yes, things feel uncertain right now. But uncertainty is also a call to strategize, not just survive. As a community, we can plan, pivot, and uplift one another.
Here’s one thing we do know: Latinos now hold the fifth-largest GDP in the U.S.—and Latinas are leading the charge in new business creation. The women on this panel are proof of what’s possible, and I can’t wait for you to hear their wisdom.
Here’s who joined us down in Austin in our LIVE podcast with our friends (who we did angel investing training with just last year!) at Inicio, impact-focused organization that supports and invests in early-stage Latino-led startups, working to close the capital gap and grow Latino entrepreneurship across the U.S:
🎤 Eneida Roman is the President & CEO of Amplify LatinX, a business organization advancing the American economy by championing leadership representation, economic mobility, and public policy solutions that consider the immense contributions of Latino Americans. Amplify LatinX has grown three-fold under her leadership as she continues expanding opportunities to advance its mission.
🎤 Jessica Salinas serves as Co-President of New Rising Ventures and New Media Ventures, impact investment funds supporting entrepreneurs who are innovating for social and political power, respectively. Previously, she was a partner at a global impact fund, the founding Social Impact Lead at Headspace, and the founding Director of the Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative Business Scaling Program.
🎤 Maria Jose Palacio is a fifth-generation Colombian coffee farmer with an unwavering passion for empowering her community. Born and raised in a celebrated coffee region of Colombia, Maria spent several years working in design in New York City before her heart led her back to her roots in 2016. Witnessing the struggles of her loved ones in Colombia to make a living through coffee farming, Maria knew she had to take action by co-founding Progeny Coffee. With a fierce commitment to uplifting others, Maria overcame numerous small business obstacles to co-create a thriving distribution platform that empowers coffee farmers and helps lift them out of poverty. Her innovative approach and dedication have not gone unnoticed, as she has been recognized on numerous esteemed lists, including Forbes Next 1000, Inc. Magazine's 100 Female Founders of 2020, Mujeres Imparables by Telemundo, and SFA's 12 under 35 Breakout Talent to Watch.
In this week’s episode, we’re tapping into the power and responsibility of Latino startup hubs.
Late last year, our friends at Inicio Ventures launched a landmark startup hub report spotlighting 18 Latino startup hubs across the U.S.—regions that are home to over 35 million Latinos and brimming with entrepreneurial potential.
These hubs are more than just business clusters—they’re centers of innovation, job creation, and economic momentum, led by Latino founders, funders, and ecosystem builders working to uplift their communities. And while the persistent capital gap is real—with Latino founders and funders each receiving less than 2% of startup funding—this report is less about what’s missing and more about what’s possible when we come together.
Our guests this week are living proof. They’ve been on the ground building companies, ecosystem building, and creating impact far beyond their bottom lines. As they grow, they’re also opening doors for others, building networks of support, and reimagining what inclusive growth looks like—region by region.
This episode is an invitation to think bigger, connect deeper, and imagine how we can unlock even more opportunity for Latino innovators across the country. Tap in and be part of the momentum.
Follow Eneida on Instagram @amplifylatinx and her website.
Follow Jessica on Instagram @jsalinas011 and her website.
Follow Maria on Instagram @mjpalacio1 and her website.
Follow Moneda Moves on Instagram: @MonedaMoves
Follow your host Lyanne Alfaro on Instagram: @LyanneAlfaro
Main podcast theme song from Premium Beat. Our music is from Epidemic Sound.
