Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. According to the Westchester Index, 7.5% of business owners in the County are Hispanic. In addition, several hundred registered Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises are owned by Hispanic individuals. This population is a pillar in the Westchester business ecosystem.
Among these successful enterprises are Hispanic-owned businesses that have graduated from Westchester County Office of Economic Development Programs, including Launch1000 and the Westchester County Biosciences Accelerator. In early 2022, the Office of Economic Development announced the launch of a Dual Language cohort (Spanish/English) as part of the program to support this community.
Westchester County Executive George Latimer said, “Westchester is very diverse, and that extends into our entrepreneurs and business owner population. This year, 20% of Launch1000 participants are Hispanic, and we started a Dual Language cohort in order to better serve Spanish-speaking individuals. Empowering women and minority-owned businesses helps shape our economy and makes Westchester strong. We look forward to finding more ways to engage with this community and help them continue to succeed.”
Lena Lugo Interiors
When Tirlena Lugo began looking to start her own interior design firm, she found her way to Launch1000. Early on, she got her big “a-ha moment” and realized she wanted to also have her business give back to the community.
Her two biggest takeaways from the program were that you must always keep testing your product/service with the purpose of bettering it, and that you must stay around like-minded people to keep motivated. With that in mind, upon graduation she quickly joined the Business Council of Westchester and two private interior design mastermind groups.
Lugo said: “Through the BCW I gained new channels to access my target market and I met another interior designer who specializes in commercial work; something that I would not have been able to do on my own since I have not obtained my commercial license yet. I am currently doing my first commercial job with him!”
Since graduating, Lugo has donated her interior design services to Yo Digo No Mas, a digital platform that creates a safe space for Latino men and women to raise their voices against sexual abuse. This year alone she has helped them decorate three public events and completely redesigned their stage for their YouTube show. The owner of the nonprofit is a fellow Hispanic female entrepreneur in Westchester.
Insu Health Design Inc.
Insu Health Design Inc. started as an intercollegiate collaboration to create an effective means to store and transport temperature-sensitive medications during natural disasters. The company has evolved into a corporation with patent pending temperature control technology that has multiple applications, such as individual medication storage, as well as cold-chain transportation of components like blood, vaccines, hormones, and breastmilk.
Doris Candelaria, chief risk officer & co-founder, said: “Participating in the Westchester County Biosciences Accelerator (WCBA) was of great benefit to our company”™s development. We received valuable lessons from our mentors who offered great guidance on the development of our brand and commercialization strategies; helped us prepare for fundraising (pitch preparation, knowing the milestones we needed to achieve in order to become investor ready, and developing our fundraising strategy for next year); and helped us connect with top-tier professionals and organizations who are now key partners.”
Since graduating from the WCBA, Insu Health Designs has developed a commercialization and fundraising strategy, established a manufacturing operation for the first batch of units for sale, successfully submitted a non-provisional patent application and received more than 300 submissions for a paid beta. They were also the recipients of an SBIR Phase 1 award from the National Science Foundation.
JeClet Consulting Firm
Jenny Marquez is the founder of JeClet Consulting Firm, which offers bilingual (English and Spanish) consulting services for startups and existing small businesses. The firm is a bridge between the County and the Latino community, serving them in their native language.
“My participation in the Launch100 program was key to the development of my enterprise idea,” Marquez said. “It helped me to reconnect with the business world, create powerful new network connections and obtain the necessary tools to launch my venture successfully.”
Marquez is currently participating in the Launch1000 Alumni program and she is also an instructor for the Spanish Entrepreneur Growth Lab with the Women’s Enterprise Development Center in White Plains.
Boom Hair Studio
Jose Hidalgo, founder of Boom Hair Studio in Sleepy Hollow, is a graduate of the first Launch1000 program. His business”™ mission is for his team of experts to work together to help clients look elegant, presentable and increase their self-esteem. The combination of the specialties of hair stylists, colorists and barbers, and the investment Jose and his wife Angela has put into the business, ultimately leads to satisfied clients.
Prior to joining Launch1000, Jose had invented a Clipper Cleaner Machine but had not been able to move forward with making it widely available. Thanks to the program, the product is now patented and is in the process of becoming ready for presentations to future interested third parties. In addition, he is leveraging the success they have seen through the salon to help other business owners to grow their businesses. The concepts and skills he learned in Launch1000 have also helped him and his wife with their second venture, a financial services business in Yonkers. Their goal is to help families earn more income become properly protected, debt free and financially independent.
Hidalgo became a champion of Launch1000”™s Dual Language Cohort and participated in the announcement press briefing with Westchester County Executive George Latimer and members of the Westchester County Office of Economic Development.
“Westchester County provides a great support system for business owners,” he said. “They are making a big investment in the Hispanic community, especially with a program like Launch1000 and its Dual Language cohort.”
Mafer”™s Made with Love
Maria Riofrio, founder of Mafer”™s Made with Love, was able to join Launch1000 in early 2022 thanks to the Dual Language Cohort. She applied for the program because of her desire to own her own homemade pastry business and make her dreams come true. From the beginning she did her best to learn and put the concepts she was learning into practice.
She stated that one of the most important things she has learned from the program is how to promote her business in a simple and effective way in order to reduce risks. Because of the tools given to her by the program, she has been able to establish her entrepreneurial venture with a stronger foundation. She is currently looking to connect with cafes and restaurants throughout the County to discuss carrying her products.
“The Dual Language Cohort gives Latinos more opportunities for power, to express ourselves and to understand the Launch1000 concepts more clearly,” Riofrio said. “This program is so important because it provides Latinos the knowledge to be able to translate our ideas and crystalize them into a reality with our business dreams.”
Deborah Novick serves as Westchester County Executive George Latimer”™s Director of Entrepreneurship and Innovation. For more information, visit www.westchestercatalyst.com.
