Third annual Día del Fundador Latino to celebrate Latino entrepreneurship in Wenatchee

WENATCHEE — NCW Tech Alliance will host the third annual Día del Fundador Latino (Latino Founder Day) on Thursday, April 17, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Wenatchee Convention Center, offering a full day of programming designed specifically for Latino entrepreneurs across Washington State.

The free, in-person event will be conducted entirely in Spanish and aims to educate, inspire, empower, and connect Latino business owners and professionals throughout the region.

The day will begin with networking opportunities and regional business spotlights from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., followed by expert-led sessions and a keynote luncheon featuring prominent Latino leaders in business and policy.

Afternoon programming will include educational sessions covering financial fundamentals, fundraising strategies, AI-driven marketing approaches, media training, and pitch practice. Throughout the day, attendees can explore a business expo showcasing dozens of Latino-owned businesses, with most vendors offering bilingual services.

According to organizers, the 2025 event is expanding following strong attendance in 2024. Educational content will address both traditional small and regional businesses, as well as scalable startup development, including validation, funding, and growth strategies.

Keynote speakers include Nelson Reyneri, Immediate Past Chair of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Director of Strategic Alliances and Policy at NRG Energy. Reyneri brings over two decades of leadership experience in the energy sector, including helping scale Liberty Power from a startup to a billion-dollar enterprise.

Also featured is Marcos Wanless, Founder and President of the Seattle and Tacoma Latino Chambers of Commerce. Under Wanless's leadership, the Seattle Chamber was recognized as the Best Hispanic Chamber in the U.S. in 2022, selected among 260 chambers nationwide.

Wilma Cartagena, Trustee at Wenatchee Valley College and Past President of the NCW Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, will serve as the event's moderator.

The event is supported by the Washington State Microenterprise Association, funded by the Washington State Department of Commerce, and Peoples Bank.

Latino entrepreneurs interested in exhibiting their businesses can secure a free booth by contacting Rosie Martin at (509) 881-7543 or rosie@ncwtech.org.

Registration for Día del Fundador Latino is free and available at ncwtech.org.

NCW Tech Alliance, established in 1999, operates as a 501(c)3 organization with a mission to bring together people and resources in technology, entrepreneurship, and STEM education in North Central Washington.