10/02/2025
Last week Michelle attended the very first Experience Velocity Conference in Los Angeles which aimed to spotlight the untapped economic power of Latinos as consumer, entrepreneurs, and workforce in the U.S. mainstream economy.
Here are some highlights from the 3 day conference:
Day 1: Understanding the economic impact Latinos have in the USA.
We are 19.5% of the population, yet account for 68% of auto sales, 50% of food and beverage sales and 36% of travel/leisure sales.
Day 2: L ’attitude Ventures presented 12 Latino Entrepreneurs they have funded.
Incredibly diverse industries, ranging from sustainable beauty products (Nopalera), preservation gardening products (Back to the Roots), women’s mental health care (Mavida Health), to energy conserving tech (Omnitron Sensors).
Day 3: Latinos in Media.
A panel on Hollywood in the 21st Century with producer Rick Telles, actor and director Jay Hernandez, and actor and filmmaker Cristo Fernandez. Some lessons that stood out include:
- It is important for young Latinos to see themselves in a variety of roles in movies and tv not just the negative stereotypical ones
- Hollywood as an industry has learned to expect Latino audiences to show up to the box office regardless of whether we are represented well or at all
- You as an audience have the power to use your wallet to show the industry what we do and do not want to see
- Often the more specific a story is the more universal it ends up feeling.
Have you attended any interesting business events lately? Would you attend the next Velocity conference?
