The Birth of LTX VC

After 6 years as a founder, I made the leap to the investor side. Packing up my bags, I moved from living with my fiance in New York City to crashing on my friends couch in San Fransisco. I came to start an investor training program and an aspiring fund called Venture University and VU Venture Partners.

When I landed I reached out to my friend, and seasoned VC, Earnest Sweat for advice — who I met in MLT and had admired for sharing his story and guidance over the years on his blog. He shared his work being a founding board member of BLCK.VC — an organization bringing together black VCs. We talked about the void of a similar organization for Latinx investors.

Reflecting back on my experience, I fired off over 250+ applications and felt first hand how hard it was to get into venture capital — even having graduated from Harvard Business School. I felt there needed to be a community for Latinx investors and emerging investors to bridge the gap. I began reaching out to influencers in the space including Noramay Cadena of MiLA Capital, Al Guerrero of SVB, and Ariel Jaduszliwer of Brainstorm Ventures, Marcos Gonzalez of Vamos Ventures, Jorge Torres of HBCUvc, and Sylvia Flores of Manos Accelerator. I did not find a community aimed at accelerating the success of Latinx investors so I began to lay the ground work with a few others.

It was not until I attended the Latinx in Tech conference by the Kapor Centerin the fall of 2018, that I moved to action. Lili Gangas, Joshua Torres, and Carolina Huaranca Mendoza orchestrated an unbelievable event in Oakland bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, and influencers in the ecosystem. They brought us together and called us to action. After many inspiring conversations with existing and aspiring investors, I moved to knit us together.

Over the next several months, with the guidance of a few key advisors, we kicked things off. Like a good entrepreneur, I started quietly testing and molding what LTX VC was to become. I am proud to say after about six months we have brought together 35+ existing and aspiring investors, hosted an event in NYC (thank you Marcia), held 14 virtual meetings bringing us together nationally (with representation even in the United Kingdom), evaluated over 30+ companies, and shared over 100+ startups across the group. Three members of the group also made their first angel investments (independent of LTX VC).

I am humbled and moved each time we assemble. The talent, passion, and drive is incredible. The air holds a slight na?veté that anything is possible with both ambition and humility. The group is small and mighty and it is time to bring us together more broadly.

A special thank you to the BLCK.VC leadership team for setting a precedent and being a guiding light, to Lisa Cuesta who provided guidance from day one, to Ana Diaz-Hernandez for being the super connector, to Tom Cervantes for pushing us to reach higher, to the Kapor Capital and Kapor Center team for calling us to action, to Marion Araque who keeps us moving and to our members — for believing. We are just getting started.

Best,

Sergio Marrero

https://www.ltx.vc/