How Tennessee Supports Hispanic Entrepreneurs

©Journal Communications/Bethany Anderson

As Tennessee’s Hispanic population continues to grow, so too does the potential for Hispanic entrepreneurs to shape the economic landscape. 

Individuals and organizations across the state are working to provide the resources and opportunities entrepreneurs need to succeed. 

The Place to Be 

As the owner and principal broker at Century 21 Capital Properties in Franklin, Eva Angelina Romero is a trailblazer in the real estate industry, having become the first Latina Century 21 broker in the Nashville area. She and her husband, who owns a dental practice, relocated to Middle Tennessee from California in 2011 to take advantage of the career and business growth the state offers. 

“This is a great market to be in. Nashville looked really great from an economic standpoint, and it was affordable to start a business,” Romero says. “Tennessee is definitely a business-friendly state, and California, as many people know, was not. We wanted to move to a state that provided great opportunities for businesses.” 

Romero’s journey to entrepreneurship wasn’t without its hurdles. She says the move to Tennessee did cause “a bit of a culture shock because there wasn’t as much diversity here,” and promoting their businesses posed a challenge until they were able to tap into the networking resources of organizations, such as the Tennessee Latin American Chamber of Commerce and the Entrepreneur Latina Leaders of America. Since then, she has been active with both groups to help other Hispanic entrepreneurs, particularly women, reach their business goals. 

“If there’s something that I would say about Hispanic households and Hispanics in general, it is that they are very entrepreneurial. You have a lot of families — and women — that start their own business from their home. They just don’t always have the tools and the resources to help their businesses grow,” she says. 

On the Money: Centro Hispano de East Tennessee

In Knoxville, the organization Centro Hispano de East Tennessee is helping mitigate some of the barriers Hispanic entrepreneurs face by offering financial education workshops, classes for aspiring homeowners, GED/HiSET prep in Spanish, help with job placement and classes in digital literacy. 

The Grandes Sueños en Pequeñas Empresas program (Big Dreams in Small Businesses) helps aspiring entrepreneurs learn from experts how to build a business plan, leadership development, marketing and branding, financial analysis and budgeting, licensing and lending. The group also teaches English as a second language and trains medical interpreters — all in an effort to drive economic prosperity for an increasingly diverse community. 

“Centro Hispano de East Tennessee is developing the next generation of skilled bilingual and multicultural college graduates, entrepreneurs, and employees,” says CEO Claudia Caballero. “We’re helping workers upskill, recruiting for the region’s health care system, placing qualified clients in the workforce, home-growing entrepreneurs and local businesses, and ultimately, cultivating an ecosystem of Latino business leaders in East Tennessee,” says Claudia Caballero, CEO of Centro Hispano de East Tennessee. 

Hispanos Emprendedores: Providing Mentorship and Resources

In Clarksville, David Bracamonte is making strides in that area as the founder and principal CEO of Hispanos Emprendedores, an organization dedicated to promoting and supporting Hispanic small-business owners. 

With a background in entrepreneurship, Bracamonte saw firsthand the obstacles that many in the Hispanic community face when starting their own ventures. 

“I have had the opportunity to start businesses in different countries, including Venezuela, Chile and the United States, and I fully understand the difficulties in finding the right business information, especially when you don’t speak the language fluently,” Bracamonte says. “What motivates me deeply is knowing that the Hispanic community is hardworking and dedicated, and I want everyone to have access to quality information and education so they can run businesses that reflect that quality.” 

Along with partner María Jiménez, Bracamonte founded Hispanos Emprendedores to provide entrepreneurs with mentorship, networking opportunities and access to vital resources. Since its inception, the organization has evolved into an established company that not only supports Hispanic entrepreneurs but has also published 29 editions of its magazine and garnered more than 25,000 followers on social media, reflecting the impact and relevance of its work within the community. 

“Hispanic entrepreneurs in Tennessee often face challenges, such as language barriers, limited access to capital and a lack of understanding of the regulatory environment. At Hispanos Emprendedores, we address these challenges by offering personalized consulting services and various advertising services that can be of great help to Hispanic businesses,” Bracamonte says.

Other Resources 

For emerging entrepreneurs, LaunchTN and InvestTN are Tennessee programs designed to foster innovation. LaunchTN provides resources, mentorship and networking opportunities for startups. InvestTN offers equity investments to early-stage companies, fueling their growth and success.