“Entrepreneurs and immigrants think alike: leave certainty behind, take calculated risks, build from nothing, face skepticism, and continue anyway.” That message from JC Gonzalez-Mendez at the Angeles Investors Q3 Summit & Awards in Chicago really stuck with me. He also shared his own journey — rising through leadership roles as an executive at McDonald’s in Mexico, then in the U.S., and later transitioning into entrepreneurship and purpose-driven investing. And the numbers behind Hispanic entrepreneurship make it even more compelling. According to the Stanford University Graduate School of Business 2025 State of Latino Entrepreneurship research, 1 in 4 Latino-owned employer businesses surveyed operates in technology-centric sectors, and AI adoption among Latino-owned businesses more than doubled from 2024 to 2025. Yet Latino-owned businesses received less than 2% of U.S. venture funding in 2025. There’s a major untapped investment opportunity here: a growing community of entrepreneurs and innovators that remains comparatively undercapitalized. AI only makes that opportunity more interesting. It is lowering the cost of building and scaling companies and giving small, ambitious teams capabilities that were unimaginable just a few years ago. The talent is there. The ambition is there. The technology is there. The opportunity now is to find the best founders early and help them build something extraordinary. That’s what makes being part of Angeles Investors so exciting.

Last Friday I had the chance to pitch Dragonfly Ai at the Angeles Investors Q3 Summit in Chicago. The room was full of incredibly talented Latino and Hispanic founders, investors, and leaders, genuinely trying to help each other move forward. I had fun sharing what we’re building with Dragonfly, meeting new people, and hearing what others are working on. It was powerful to see so much Hispanic and Latino investing talent in one room, and the community Angeles Investors has built around it. Thanks for the opportunity to pitch and for bringing such a strong community together in Chicago. #AngelesInvestors #Q3Summit

A refreshing Angeles Investors Q3 Summit last week. The panel I keep thinking about: "AI Beyond The Hype," moderated by Jeshua Cardenas. The frame that landed: companies that will win aren't optimizing what they already do with AI — they're building workflows that didn't exist before the technology did. Different problem, different starting point. When agents are talking to agents across B2B and B2C, the question isn't whether humans stay in the loop. It's identifying where human judgment is actually load-bearing — and whether that's been mapped before automation runs around it. Great to see David Olivencia, Marisol Reyes, and Rodrigo Veiga da Cunha. And Orlando's own Kimberly Casiano speak on her journey to corporate board service.

Last week, I joined Angeles Investors at Morningstar HQ in Chicago for a timely conversation about the capital outlook for the second half of 2026. One of my central takeaways: record capital does not mean broad access. U.S. venture investment reached an historic $412.7 billion in the first half of 2026–but 87.5% flowed through rounds of $100 million or more, and 86% went to AI companies. (PitchBook–NVCA Venture Monitor) AI is today’s gold rush. For regional ecosystems, some of the most durable opportunity may lie in selling the “picks and shovels”: the power, land, digital infrastructure, skilled talent, and advanced manufacturing capacity that every contender will need, regardless of which platforms ultimately win. That requires a credible, investable regional growth thesis that aligns those assets, gives founders the ability to start, scale, and stay, and gives investors a reason to see a platform rather than a disconnected collection of projects. Grateful to Francisco Mariscal for moderating, and my fellow panelists Desiree Vargas Wrigley and Octavio Sandoval, CFA, CAIA for a thoughtful and candid discussion.

Grateful to attend the Angeles Investors Q3 Summit with this group. It's very refreshing to connect with business leaders from the Latino and Hispanic network to learn about their ventures, startups, personal stories, and career journeys. So much value can come from intentionally connecting with others and hearing the stories of real people creating real impact in their industries. A big thank you to Arthur Betancourt for promoting our involvement with Angeles and investing in growing partnerships with this community. Excited to stay plugged in! AEBetancourt | Susan Golder | Brian Eggleston

I had a great time speaking w/ Martin Cabrera Jr., founder and CEO of Cabrera Capital Markets at the Angeles Investors quarterly summit in Chicago. Always love being with the Angeles community and grateful to David Olivencia, Adela Cepeda and Marcelo De Santis for the opportunity to speak with Martin at their event. Also, I have to shout out 2 very cool venues. The Wintrust Financial Corporation grand banking hall is always top notch 🤌🤌🤌 and the Morningstar auditorium was awesome!

Last week, I joined Executive House Co-founder William Salvi for a conversation during the Angeles Investors Q3 Summit. Our discussion covered a wide range of topics, including the future of the markets, entrepreneurship, and the growing role of AI in finance. AI is no longer a distant concept for our industry. It is already reshaping how financial professionals analyze information, manage risk, serve clients, and make decisions. But as powerful as these tools are, finance will always require judgment, discipline, trust, and accountability. The firms that succeed will be the ones that embrace innovation without losing sight of the people, relationships, and values behind every transaction. As a Latino entrepreneur and business leader, I feel a responsibility to share what I have learned so the next generation can see what is possible. America remains the land of opportunity, but the path looks different today than it did when I started. The obstacles may change, but the obligation remains the same: we must help one another succeed. Thank you to Will Salvi and Angeles Investors for creating space for a thoughtful and timely conversation.

Last week Angeles Investors hosted their annual meeting and invited me, Matthew Wells, and Octavio Sandoval, CFA, CAIA to discuss how civic leaders, LPs, and early stage managers are thinking about the opportunities in venture both in AI and the industries that will be transformed by it. The key takeaway was that all three of us believe there are fortunes to be made at the earliest stages of venture if you can bet on companies insulated from the chaos of AI pricing…fortunately for the Midwest that’s nearly every industry we specialize in. Thank you Francisco Mariscal for moderating and thank you to Adela Cepeda and David Olivencia for a content rich summit!

One thing I kept thinking about after the Angeles Investors Q3 Summit was how little distance there was between people in the room. People at very different stages of their careers were approachable. You could introduce yourself, ask a thoughtful question, hear someone’s story, and have an authentic conversation without title or experience level getting in the way. That accessibility is something I have come to appreciate more as I have spent more time around the Angeles community. A strong network is not defined solely by who is part of it, but by how willing people are to share their time, perspectives, and relationships with one another. It has also changed how I think about networking. Not every conversation needs to lead to an introduction, opportunity, or immediate next step. Sometimes the value is learning something, staying in touch, and giving a relationship time to develop. Early in my career, being around people willing to share what they have learned gives me access to viewpoints I would otherwise take years to encounter. I’m learning that the goal is not to meet as many people as possible, but to make the conversations I do have worth continuing. Thank you, Angeles Investors, for continuing to build a community where those connections can happen. #AngelesInvestors #Networking #ProfessionalGrowth #Leadership

Last week in Chicago, I received an Estrellas Award from Angeles Investors on behalf of Ascendo Venture Capital, in the same building where I had my first job in the US, at a private equity fund with Bank of America. Standing there two decades later representing my own fund was not something I pictured back then. The recognition is even more meaningful coming from my peers. Angeles curated a room where investors and founders in our community can actually do business together. Congrats to Adela Cepeda, David Olivencia, Francisco Mariscal and the rest of the team for hosting a summit where honest and inspiring conversations took place, with trailblazers like JC Gonzalez-Mendez and Kimberly Casiano. I met exceptional founders and came away with relationships I expect to keep nurturing. Let’s continue building together. Gracias!

I had the honor of serving as Emcee for the Angeles Investors Chicago Summit. Angeles Investors Thank you to Angeles Investors for being such a vital part of the Latino investor community and for bringing together so many incredible investors, entrepreneurs, and leaders. The relationships and opportunities created through this community are truly special. Proud to be part of it and excited for what’s ahead.

The Miami Summit was a turning point for me. I loved all the presentations, and the founder pitches were thoughtful, inspiring, and well prepared. I was excited by two of the companies that pitched and wanted to support at least one of them. Neither my son nor I knew anyone going in, yet it was easy to connect and engage with other members. It became clear that upgrading to Accredited Membership was the right step if I wanted to participate more fully and invest thoughtfully.

What initially drew me to Angeles was its mission. As a consumer products marketing executive, I’ve long been curious about angel investing and the world of start‑ups, and Angeles felt like a meaningful way to learn while contributing to something bigger. Supporting Latino founders is deeply important to me, and I wanted to be part of a community of like‑minded people who share that goal. I believe in the mission so much that I encouraged my 24 year old son, Phillip, to join as well, and we both attended the Q1 Summit in Miami, which reinforced how special and intentional the community is.

Since joining Angeles Investors, I’ve had the privilege of meeting an exceptional community of founders, investors, and innovators. Engaging with early‑stage startups and sharing insights from my years of operational and business leadership has been incredibly rewarding. I look forward to continuing to support emerging founders and contribute to the growth of this dynamic ecosystem.

What inspired you to get involved with Angeles Investors? I was inspired to get involved with Angeles Investors because of their mission to close the funding gap for Hispanic and Latinx founders. As an entrepreneur myself, I know how critical early-stage support is, and I wanted to be part of a network that champions underrepresented voices with both capital and community. How has Angeles Investors supported you in your entrepreneurial journey? Angeles Investors has been an incredible partner, from making strategic introductions to providing thoughtful feedback during critical stages. Their network is not only powerful but deeply engaged, offering real, actionable support beyond just investment. Can you share a specific success story or achievement that you attribute to Angeles Investors? Through the Angeles Investors network, I’ve been able to connect with more investors, founders, and startups than ever before. These relationships have given me the perfect opportunity to elevate my own business, opening doors to strategic partnerships, fresh ideas, and potential funding conversations that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise. It’s been a game-changer for my growth both personally and professionally. What would you say to someone considering getting involved with Angeles Investors? If you’re thinking about joining Angeles Investors, whether as a founder, investor, or partner, do it. The organization is driven by purpose and performance, and they show up for the community in meaningful ways. It’s one of the most valuable networks I’ve been a part of. In what ways have you seen Angeles Investors make a positive impact on the Hispanic and Latinx entrepreneurial community? Angeles Investors is creating pathways where there were previously barriers. They’re funding bold ideas, elevating Latinx founders into rooms where decisions are made, and proving that investing in diverse talent drives returns. Their impact is not just financial, it’s cultural and systemic.

Latino entrepreneurs are behind 36% of all new businesses launched in the U.S., yet Latino founders receive less than 2% of venture capital funding ‼️ That gap is exactly why communities like Angeles Investors matter so much. The Angeles Investors mission to “leverage the power of Latino growth to find, fund, and fuel the best ventures in America” really resonated. Last week, I attended to Q4 Angeles Investors event in NYC. Huge thank you to Daniel V. for the invitation 🙌 Being part of a roundtable on supply chain and AI was a highlight, with conversations around: 📌How digital twins and simulation can help pressure test major decisions before committing in the real world. 📌Why truly understanding master data and people matters, because supply chain is a long term game and businesses only work if the humans behind them stay and grow. There was a real sense of inspiration after meeting Ramses Alcaide, the CEO of Neurable and learning about this leading edge, Latino founded neurotech company that is building brain sensing headphones with huge potential for how we understand and support brain health. The vision and ambition behind it were hard to ignore. The event also offered a clearer view into how investors think and what they look for when deciding whether to fund a company, insights that are invaluable for anyone interested in building or supporting startups. Most of all, it was energizing to be in a room focused on backing Latino founders at a time when our population and economic power are growing so quickly. Feeling grateful, inspired, and excited to keep learning💡🚀 #AngelesInvestors #LatinoEntrepreneurs #VentureCapital #SupplyChain #AI #NYC

I’m happy to share that I have officially joined Angeles Investors as an Associate Member. This is an incredible network of passionate individuals ready to support Latino-founded startups. I’m eager to learn from the brilliant minds I’ve had the pleasure of meeting so far (and have yet to meet!). Special thank you to Daniel V. for introducing me to Angeles Investors and to Carlos Méndez, CPA for allowing me to attend the Q4 Summit! I look forward to connecting with like-minded Latinos in such an exciting space!