Know a student interested in learning how to launch their own startup?
Latinitas, an Austin-area nonprofit, is inviting girls ages 9 to 14 to its annual Startup Chica conference this Saturday. The event connects STEM-interested students with local professionals to learn about entrepreneurship and business ownership.
“We bring in a lot of women entrepreneurs that come in and share with our students about their experiences and provide advice and leadership for them throughout the day,” Beatriz Castillo, Latinitas’ senior program manager, told the American-Statesman. “The main point of that is that they see themselves represented in the different fields, and to open up opportunities to what they can do.”
Latinitas started the Startup Chica conference in 2016 as a way to connect young girls with Austin-area businesswomen representing tech, government, startup, nonprofit and other industries.
At Saturday’s conference, students will have workshops and panels about ownership, finances, idea-generation and more before the students break-up into teams for a pitch contest similar to ABC’s “Shark Tank.”
Throughout the day, the conference will have workshops and panels about ownership, finances, idea-generation and more before the students break-up into teams for the pitch contest. Three winners are chosen, and they usually win a certificate as well as a prize from a sponsor, said Alondra Adame, Latinitas communications and social media manager.
Founded in 2002, Latinitas aims to empower young girls and communities through “culturally relevant” education.
Castillo said the conference helps to provide young girls, especially those coming from historically underrepresented or marginalized communities, with the resources and representation in startups and tech spaces.
“I’ve seen a couple of our students do the conference a couple of times, and a lot of them might be a little bit more on the timid side,” Castillo said. “You get to see them just flourish throughout the conference. … It’s really awesome to see that, as well as we get to show them different careers and different things that they can do, it shows a lot of leadership. They get to pitch, be up there and communicate. Starting young and letting them know that they can go out there and be the leaders that we know they can be.”
Students at this year’s conference will get to hear from six local businesswomen and representatives, who will serve as mentors throughout the day:
- Vanessa Fuentes, district 2 Austin City Council member
- Bessy Martinez, CEO and founder of The Latina Foundation
- Gretel Perera, director of public relations at Expedia, president of L500 and co-founder of Latinas in Tech
- Daisy Marquez, influencer and entrepreneur
- LaRessa Quintana, district 2 representative on the Austin school board
- Ana Ruelas, founder and managing partner of THE AGENCY AUSTIN and co-owner of Austin Woman Magazine
“Starting those conversations really young, showing that they’re able to do those things and get into the tech industry is what’s really important for the conference,” Castillo said. “You’re able to create your own business in tech. … (The industry) might not be as diverse, but we’re here to change that, and we have the support to change that. We have the mentors and the adults that are here to help you.”
Startup Chica’s Austin conference is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday at the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders, located at 2309 Panther Trail.
It costs $30 to participate, and students are provided breakfast and lunch during the conference. Interested students can register online at this link.
Latinitas also hosts a Startup Chica conference in San Antonio in the fall.