NEW YORK, NY and STANFORD, CA – January 22, 2015 – (HISPANICIZE WIRE) – Univision Communications Inc (UCI), the leading media company serving Hispanic America, today announced it is collaborating with Stanford University’s Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative (SLEI) to conduct the first-ever, comprehensive survey of Hispanic-owned businesses in the United States which will improve our understanding of this vibrant economic force and help identify areas for development and growth.
“We want to transcend common beliefs and build fact based insights on Latino owned businesses and their growth, and there is no better partner than Univision, a mission driven Company with a 50-plus year relationship with Hispanics in the U.S.”
According to SLEI research, there are over four million Latino-owned businesses in the U.S. of which most are small sole-proprietor and/or family-owned businesses with substantial opportunity to grow. Latino businesses are growing at more than twice the rate of all U.S. firms, marking a 43 percent growth since 2007, according to a 2014 Geoscape Study on Hispanic Business & Entrepreneurs. Additionally, Hispanics are two times more likely to start a small business than non-Hispanics, and their businesses contribute nearly $500 billion in revenue to the national economy, and growing. The survey initiative seeks to leverage the existing Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Database, which includes the fuel business growth and foster new and ultimately more productive Latino-owned businesses. Business owners can participate in the survey, in English or Spanish, via this link.
“As a mission-driven Company, dedicated to informing, entertaining, empowering and advocating for Hispanic America, we will be expanding our support of Hispanic business owners in 2015,” said UCI Executive Vice President for Human Resources & Community Empowerment, Roberto Llamas. “We cannot think of a better way to kick off our expansion than by teaming up with Stanford, one of the premier academic institutions in the world, to support and promote their research and then to respond to its findings.”
“We want to transcend common beliefs and build fact based insights on Latino owned businesses and their growth, and there is no better partner than Univision, a mission driven Company with a 50-plus year relationship with Hispanics in the U.S. We believe that Latino wealth generation is a potent factor in positive social change. Latino owned businesses and their growth will have a huge impact on the future economic vitality of the United States,” states Dr. Jerry I. Porras, Lane Professor of Organization Behavior and Change Emeritus, Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Going forward, and as part of Univision Contigo, the Company’s empowerment platform, Univision will expand on existing support to small business owners through various programs, which will incorporate insights gleaned from the Stanford survey. Planned activities include “Prosperidad” Fairs in Los Angeles, Miami, and other key markets, which will include small business ‘boot camps’ to increase the readiness and chances of success for aspiring entrepreneurs. Additionally, Univision Local Media stations across the country will profile local small business owners and their stories of success and overcoming obstacles in business. And finally, national public service announcements will air across Univision Networks in March 2015 promoting resources for Latino entrepreneurs to help them start, grow and strengthen their small businesses. Univision News will develop a digital platform to tell the stories of Hispanic entrepreneurs and its nightly news program (Noticiero: Edicion Nocturna) will air regular segments highlighting entrepreneurial success stories through its “Sueño Americano” (American Dream) series. Univision’s Enterprise Development group will enhance its suite of financial empowerment tools and introduce more products to enhance credit and loan facilitation.
Univision Contigo builds on UCI’s more than 50 years of service and engagement with the Hispanic community. The comprehensive initiative, created in conjunction with some of the country’s leading experts, organizations and foundations, strategically focuses on the areas of most importance for the Hispanic community and then provides access to a range of valuable resources and tools that will enable Latino families to set real-life goals, and immediately take the necessary steps to put those plans into action. Univision Contigo focuses on four pillars: Education, Health, Prosperity and Civic Participation. For more information, please visit univision.com/prosperidad or UnivisionContigo.com.
Click on the link to watch the Video Interview with Board Member Victor Arias Jr. describing our Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative: http://noticias.univision.com/video/549202/2014-11-30/al-punto/videos/entrevistas/como-hacer-que-nuestro-negocio-sea-exitoso
About Univision Communications Inc.
Univision Communications Inc. (UCI) is the leading media company serving Hispanic America. The Company, a leading content creator in the U.S., includes Univision Network, one of the top five networks in the U.S. regardless of language and the most-watched Spanish-language broadcast television network in the country reaching approximately 94% of U.S. Hispanic television households; UniMás, a leading Spanish-language broadcast television network reaching approximately 88% of U.S. Hispanic television households; Univision Cable Networks, including Galavisión, the country’s leading Spanish-language cable network, as well as Univision tlnovelas, a 24-hour cable network dedicated to novelas, Univision Deportes Network, a 24-hour cable network dedicated to sports, ForoTV, a 24-hour Spanish-language cable network dedicated to news, and an additional suite of cable offerings – De Película, De Película Clásico, Bandamax, Ritmoson and Telehit; Univision Television Group, which owns and/or operates 61 television stations in major U.S. Hispanic markets and Puerto Rico; Univision Radio, the leading Hispanic radio group which owns and/or operates 67 radio stations in 16 of the top 25 U.S. Hispanic markets and Puerto Rico; an Interactive network of online and mobile apps and products including UVideos, the first bilingual digital network serving Hispanic America, Uforia, the leading Hispanic digital music service, Univision.com, the No. 1 most-visited Spanish-language website among U.S. online Hispanics, and Univision Partner Group, a specialized advertising and publisher network. UCI’s assets also include a minority stake in El Rey Network, a 24-hour English-language network founded by maverick filmmaker Robert Rodriguez, and a joint venture with Disney/ABC Television Network for Fusion, a news, pop culture and satire TV and digital network. Headquartered in New York City, UCI has television network operations in Miami and television and radio stations and sales offices in major cities throughout the United States. For more information, please visit www.Univision.net.
About Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative
Stanford Graduate School of Business has launched the Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative (SLEI) to build a dynamic community of Latino entrepreneurs and thought leaders who can help drive the nation’s economic growth. The Initiative’s immediate goal is to serve as a catalyst for those Latino entrepreneurs wanting to grow their current businesses and more specifically for those Latino entrepreneurs interested in creating high growth potential companies. Stanford University faculty and staff have joined several prominent Latino business leaders to develop a framework for addressing this critically meaningful opportunity and to positively impact the future economic wellbeing of the Latino community as well as the entire country. The Latino Business Action Network (LBAN), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, was formed to support this work, and has joined with Stanford to support the Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative.
About Stanford Graduate School of Business
Stanford Graduate School of Business has built a global reputation based on its innovative management programs, including the two-year MBA, one-year Master of Science for Experienced Leaders (MSx), PhD Program, Stanford Ignite part-time program in innovation and entrepreneurship, and Executive Education short courses. Each creates a transformational experience that empowers individuals to find new pathways to change lives, change organizations, and change the world.
