Hispanic women business owners are one of the fastest growing segments of entrepreneurs in the US, making a real impact on the economy despite facing challenges such as systemic bias, fewer networking opportunities and a lack of access to funding.

As we celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, we’ve compiled some resources to help Latina business owners receive valuable business training and advice, connect and network, and discover options for funding so their businesses can grow and prosper.

Here are some helpful resources to put you on the path to success

• Facebook for Business is providing free training, tools and online events throughout September and October as part of their Latinx Hispanic Business Boost. Google also offers valuable resources for Latina-owned businesses – including virtual workshops, digital coaching, video tutorials and more. And Hootsuite, a social media management platform, provides free online training in Spanish to help your business make the most of your social media presence.
• Business accelerators can help early-stage businesses with training, mentorship, support, resources and even potential funding opportunities. The Latino NonProfit Accelerator and the Manos Accelerator are two that are focused on helping Hispanic entrepreneurs, and there are a number of accelerators dedicated solely to helping women entrepreneurs.
• The US Chamber of Commerce recently posted an article that lists 9 Funding Options for Hispanic-Owned Businesses.
• The U.S. Small Business Administration offers the SBA 8(a) Business Development Program to help provide a level playing field for minority-owned small businesses so they can compete for federal contracting dollars. Essentially, if you’ve faced “diminished capital and credit opportunities” or have been subject to “racial or ethnic prejudice or cultural bias”, you may qualify for this program. Beyond providing access to federal contracting jobs, the SBA 8(a) program provides management and technical assistance, a specialist to help you navigate the federal contracting process, and opportunities to form joint ventures with established businesses. To find out if this program might be right for your business, visit certify.SBA.gov.
• The Minority Business Development Agency is solely dedicated to supporting the establishment and growth of minority-owned businesses in the U.S., providing financial assistance, business consulting services, and more. They help minority-owned businesses improve access to capital, contracts, and markets. This is a valuable resource for Hispanic female-owned businesses, who can find information on grants, loans, and more here.
• The Amber Grant Foundation – This foundation awards a $10,000 grant to a female-owned small business every month to help new entrepreneurs who are just starting out. They also issue a yearly $25,000 grant to one of their monthly winners. Application is easy via a short form on their website, and costs just $15 to apply.
• IFundWomen – IFundWomen’s mission is to close the funding gap for women-owned businesses, helping female and female-identified founders of any race or ethnicity seeking capital (specifically through crowdfunding), coaching, networking, and grant opportunities. Their IFundWomen of Color community is specifically designed to assist diverse, early-stage female entrepreneurs in finding the funding and support needed to get their businesses off the ground.
• Valley’s Women in Business program – This group connects and empowers professional women by providing networking and educational opportunities that enrich the professional lives of women at every stage of their career. Women in Business collaborates with thought leaders in the community and fosters connections between members by hosting social and educational events that provide opportunities for growth, learning, and networking. If you’re interested in launching or growing your own business, sign up for our Women in Business program today!

Valley is here to help Hispanic women business owners succeed – whether by providing business financing options like SBA loans, financial services or networking opportunities. Contact us to learn more.