Latina entrepreneurs play a significant role in the growth and success of the U.S. economy.

According to a 2017 report, there were 1.9 million Hispanic women-owned firms in the United States. In addition, the number of Hispanic women entrepreneurs grew at a faster rate that any other group between 2007 and 2016, at 137%. It is expected that these numbers will continue to grow. 

However, despite this dynamic, Latina women are underrepresented as entrepreneurs. 

The 2019 Latinas in Business Expo is aimed to help change that dynamic. The fifth annual event will provide an opportunity for Latina creators and innovators to present a three-minute pitch of their business products or services in front of a panel of media, investors and corporate sponsors. 

“Access to funding is one big obstacle for Latinas,” Latinas in Business CEO and President Susana Baumann said. “Minority business entrepreneurs and minority women entrepreneurs are less than 1% of the $1 trillion industry… industry Latinas get 0.2% of that funding.”

This year, participants will be chosen from three different tracks: lifestyle, wellness and technology. 

“Latinas… most of them are in lifestyle,” said Baumann. “We want to bring out of the woodworks those that are in tech and also... in wellness, and encourage them to participate because they are the ones who need more support.”

• Wellness Keynote Speaker: Isaiah Stanback, Super Bowl Champion, fitness entrepreneur and expert
• Tech Keynote Speaker: Rosario Ballesteros-Casas, CEO and co-founder of VRAmericas and BC Partners
• Lifestyle Keynote Speaker: Elle Morris, President and CEO of Snapdragon, visionary, expert design leader and agent of change

The first round of registration (which requires a 60-second video submission) will be accepted until Oct. 25. The 12 finalists will be announced on Nov. 1.

The final round and expo will take place on Nov. 8 from 12:00pm to 5:00pm at the Culinary Conference Center in Jersey City, NJ.