Hola Familia!

Every two weeks, we connect you—alongside 4,000+ subscribers and 17,000+ social media followers—to the latest inside scoop on the Latine venture scene. We’re launching a newsletter referral program with rewards, so scroll all the way through to share. More soon!

Follow us on LinkedIn (VCFamilia + FounderFamilia + AngelFamilia) and Instagram. Join our Whatsapp community, which we won’t put the link because bots, but reply to this email with the subject line [WHATSAPP].

Major Updates

New Referral Rewards Program!

We’ve been growing so much organically (hi 4,000 subscribers!) that we’re excited to announce our inaugural Newsletter Referral Rewards Program, designed to celebrate you!

Here’s how it works:

• 1 referral: Early access to our next LaFamilia newsletter (that’s why you’re getting this a day early, a preview of what your life could be like 👀)

• 3 referrals: A personal shoutout in our newsletter and on social media

• 5 referrals: Entry into our monthly mystery prize raffle

• 10 referrals: Priority access to private LaFamilia events, AMAs, and founder and investor conversations

Our growth has been organic this whole time. So if you believe in what we are building, this is your chance to bring others into the familia and be recognized for it!

✨ Find your referral link at the end of this newsletter.

Partner Spotlight!

FOUNDERS: If you’re looking to bring in Comcast as a customer, read on.

LIFT Labs is a game-changer for startups looking to scale inside a Fortune 30 organization. The program offers high-impact, hands-on support to help founders fast-track partnerships, launch pilots, and drive long-term growth across Comcast NBCUniversal.

Startups in the program receive:

• Direct access to decision-makers across Comcast NBCUniversal

• Streamlined paths to pilot projects and procurement

• Strategic support + expert enterprise sales guidance

• Marketing & media training to sharpen their narrative

• A global network of investors, operators, and partners

• Travel stipends for in-person engagement at HQ

Reality Defender closed a pilot and raised $33M. Monterey AI got acquired. Coactive made Forbes’ Next Billion-Dollar Startups list. You could be next.

Apply when you're ready: https://lift.comcast.com/connect.

Comcast Lift Labs has been one of our longest partners (since the very beginning), and we are so grateful for their continued support.

Celebrating Familia Wins🎉

• Shoutout to LA Chapter Leads Gabriella Camilli and Carolina Galdiz for an amazing LA kickoff! Great food, great people, and even better vibes. The asada was a hit and the conversations lasted all night.

• Thank you to Bank of America for partnering on our second LP/GP Dinner in LA. Big thanks to Raul Anaya, President of Business Banking, for joining and to all the LPs who showed up strong.

• Shoutout to Nicole Cuellar-Lopez and Renata for an insightful Wharton (WAF) Cafecito. Nicole shared key lessons on angel investing, from being founder-friendly to showing up for the community.

• Congrats to Nancy Torres (VCFamilia) on joining Open Opportunity Fund as SVP of Value Creation!

• Congrats to Miriam Rivera (VCFamilia) and Ulu Ventures on backing Irrigreen in their $19M raise to scale AI-powered water conservation!

• Congrats to Francisco Cornejo (FounderFamilia) and the Storybook team on launching Theo and hitting $5M+ ARR across both apps!

• Congrats to Juan Manuel Barrero (FounderFamilia) on representing Lazo at the Latinx 2025 Leaders Summit at Columbia Business School!

  _{If you want wins highlighted, please make sure to tag us in socials or post in the Slack/Whatsapp!}

We are a grassroots organization focused on supporting those building the future. If you would like to get involved, please fill out this form to learn more about you and how to plug in. In the meantime, make sure to subscribe to LaFamilia Monthly Calendar to stay up to date with not just our latest events and programming!

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Meet the Co-Founder - David Tafur 🇵🇪

Like this Founder Friday on Linkedin!

David Tafur is a Peruvian founder, product builder, and AI entrepreneur focused on making digital sales easier for small businesses. He’s the CEO of YaVendió, a company that creates AI-powered sales reps that help businesses sell 24/7 through WhatsApp, Instagram, and Messenger. Before starting YaVendió, David spent several years at Belcorp, where he led digital tools for sales consultants across Latin America. That’s where he saw the real challenge: most businesses couldn’t scale online because they lost the human connection in the process.

David also founded Cryptoamigos, a Web3 learning community with over 600 members across Latin America. He’s worked with top AI organizations like MLCommons and has over 10 years of experience in product, tech, and digital marketing.

Read more about David and YaVendió on LinkedIn and show him some love (already 60 likes and counting!)

Meet the Founder - Bianca Quesada 🇲🇽🇳🇮

(Sneak peek into our Founder Friday this week!)

Bianca Quesada is a proud Angeleno on a mission to redefine representation in film and television.

Growing up in East LA, Bianca rarely saw herself or her community reflected on screen. With no ties to Hollywood, she realized early on how powerful it could be for young people to see their full potential represented in TV and film. After working her way through major entertainment companies like CAA, Starz, and Live Nation Entertainment, Bianca founded ARCUS Studios in 2021 to build a new cultural institution centered on American Latin, Asian, and Black narratives.

Today, ARCUS partners with major players like NBCUniversal, Sony Pictures, J.P. Morgan, and Banc of California, creating sustainable pathways for new voices to be seen, heard, and celebrated.

About Arcus Studios

• Arcus Studios is a Los Angeles-based TV/Film studio producing culturally rich, equity-driven stories by and for American Latin, Asian, and Black communities. 

• Launched a multi-year partnership with the state of New Mexico to build a skilled production workforce and expand diverse storytelling in film and television.

• Arcus Studios welcomes Guy Petty (ex-Paramount Global) and Lingie Park (ex-CAA) to the team.

• Lesson Learned: Dance with your impatience. The good things don’t just happen to you; they happen for you.

Community Ask 

• Arcus Studios is raising its current seed funding round and seeking aligned investors. (Reach out: [email protected])

Funding & Resources for Early-Stage Founders and VCs 🫰🏽

• LaFamilia Event Fund – Get up to $2K to bring your event to life! Planning a meetup, dinner, or workshop between May and August? We’re supporting community-led events across the U.S. that create space for connection and learning. Submit your idea at least 4 weeks in advance. Looking for events mid-May - August. Apply here

• Velocity by Village Global is now open! Get up to $1M, join a remote founder cohort, and access $350K+ in perks + top-tier investors. Apply by May 16th.

• Soma Scholars – Get a $30K summer grant to work on anything you want. Build from a NYC or SF office with daily meals, events, and community. Rolling spots through May 30. Apply here.

• LBAN is hosting a Capital Matchmaking Event on June 6 from 1–5PM PT at Stanford. Meet 100+ Latina/o-led startups across all stages. Sign up here.

• Cartier Women’s Initiative is now open! Get up to $100K, join a global community, and receive visibility, English lessons, and support. Open to women founders driving impact. Apply by June 24. Apply here

• Perplexity for Startups – 6 months free + $5K in API credits. For startups <5 yrs old, <$20M raised, and part of a partner program. Apply here.

• We (LaFam’s Kim Hernandez) found a full list of funding opportunities here.

Open Positions in VC & Startups 💼

• Generate Capital is hiring a Senior Analyst, Investment (NYC)

• Schrödinger is hiring a Director of Ventures (NYC)

• Connecticut Innovations is hiring a General Partner (New Haven)

• Western Digital is hiring a Managing Director, Corporate VC (San Jose)

• Capital Factory is hiring a Venture Associate (Dallas)

• Opus Advisors is hiring an Investing Associate, Venture Team (SF)

•  Nanonets is hiring an Entrepreneur in Residence (Palo Alto)

•  137 Ventures is hiring a Venture Capital Analyst (SF)

•  GSR is hiring a Venture Investments Analyst / Associate (NYC)

•  Age1 is hiring an Associate (SF)

• Tower Research Capital is hiring an Analyst – Ventures Team (NYC)

•  25madison is hiring a Venture Studio Associate (NYC)

•  Outlander VC is hiring a Junior Partner / Partner (SF or NYC)

•  Performant Capital is hiring an Analyst – B2B SaaS Investments (Chicago)

• Right Hand Talent is hiring a Chief of Staff @ AI Interpretability Startup (SF)

• Rightfoot is hiring a Founding Account Executive (SF)

• GreyMatter is hiring a Summer MBA Venture Associate (Remote)

• Precursor Ventures is hiring a Summer Investment Graduate Intern (Remote)

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🔗 Useful Links

• VCFamilia Public Directory

• FounderFamilia Public Directory