As part of a strategic effort to fuel the growth of mid-market Latina-owned businesses, the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) Educational Fund and the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), with support from The Kroger Co. Foundation, launched the groundbreaking Latina Growth Accelerator—a first-of-its-kind, six-week virtual executive education program designed to help Latina entrepreneurs generating over $10M in annual revenue scale their businesses, expand their impact, and build long-term success.
The growth accelerator’s inaugural cohort benefited from a mix of expert-led educational sessions and small-group coaching, focusing on key growth pillars: strategic planning, accessing capital, financial readiness, leveraging innovation and human capital, and creating scalable business practices. Participants also had access to valuable networking opportunities with peers, corporate partners, capital providers, M&A experts, and resources from WBENC and USHCC.
The inaugural cohort consisted of 23 Latina entrepreneurs from across North America, each at the helm of mid-market businesses spanning a wide array of industries, including Business Services, Construction, Consumer Products, and Specialty Manufacturing. United by a shared commitment to growth, they came together as a community of founders and owners focused not only on scaling their companies, but also on strengthening their own capabilities as business leaders, expanding their networks, and amplifying their impact.
Scalable Takeaways
Among the most valuable takeaways were the importance of engaging trusted advisors, scaling operations efficiently, and leveraging expert connections and resources. Many also highlighted how the strategic planning and self-assessment exercises helped them take a fresh look at their business and long-term goals.
Beyond the content, what resonated most with participants was the experience itself: expert-led guidance, small group coaching, and the powerful bond built among Latina founders leading companies of similar scale. The weekly sessions created space for real conversations, shared challenges, and collective support of growing Latina businesses.
These takeaways only scratch the surface of the impact this program had on its participants. For many, the Latina Growth Accelerator marked a turning point—not just in how they lead, but in how they envision what’s possible for their businesses.
Here’s what a few members of the inaugural cohort shared about their experience:
“I am blessed to have been part of the inaugural Latina Growth Accelerator! I never thought of growing my business to a $50MM company, but through all the learning, creating new connections, and ability to work on my business and create a realistic plan to become a $50MM company, it is now a reality that it can and will be done!”
— Christina Davenport, President/Owner, JMI Staffing Solutions
“I am so grateful for the opportunity to be part of the Latina Growth Accelerator! The professional coaching provided such relevant insight into the issues we are facing in our stage of business, and it was so great to connect with other Latina business owners who were navigating similar hurdles. Thank you so much to WBENC and the Kroger Foundation for providing such a great opportunity to help Latina owners scale!”
— Cherie Hoeger, Co-founder & CEO, Saalt
Cohort Economic Impact
- Participants:
- 23 Latina entrepreneurs from across North America
- Industries:
- Business Services, Construction, Consumer Products, and Specialty Manufacturing
- 2024 Revenue:
- Roughly $400M
- Full-time Employees (FTE):
- Roughly 2,000 Employees
- Operations across 12 states (FL, GA, ID, IL, LA, MA, MN, NJ, NY, TX, VA, WI) and Mexico
Learn More About the Latina Growth Accelerator
The Latina Growth Accelerator is a groundbreaking virtual program designed to drive the economic growth of Latina-owned businesses generating over $10 million in revenue.
Launched by the USHCC Educational Fund in collaboration with WBENC LIFT and WBENC Women of Color UNIDAS, and supported by The Kroger Co. Foundation, this virtual program provides the tools, resources, and connections participants need to accelerate their business growth.
