Latino Chamber of Commerce

What Latino Chamber of Commerce does

The Wisconsin Latino Chamber of Commerce (WLCC, formerly the Latino Chamber of Commerce of Dane County) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit trade association founded in 2003 and headquartered in Fitchburg, Wisconsin. It represents Latino and non-Latino small businesses across Wisconsin, delivering its services through membership tiers (Basic at $250/year and Preferred at $500/year), programs such as Tu Empresa (a 9-week Spanish-language virtual business development course with nearly 600 graduates to date) and the Futuro Program (childcare provider training), technical assistance, workshops, networking events, and access-to-capital brokering via a Kiva microloan partnership (loans of $1,000-$15,000 at 0% interest) complemented by a $100,000 Madison city match.

Revenue is generated through recurring membership dues, fee-based workshops and programs (e.g., the Tu Empresa program at $100 for non-members, the 'De Empleada a CEO' workshop at $41.32), event income, and donations routed through its affiliated 501(c)(3), the Wisconsin Latino Economic Development Foundation. The organization also receives institutional funding, most notably a $5 million federal earmark in 2024 from Senator Tammy Baldwin, which is the anchor contribution to a $15 million capital campaign for the planned Latino Economic Gateway, a one-stop entrepreneurship center.

WLCC's go-to-market is community-led, leveraging strategic partnerships with SCORE-Madison (onsite bilingual mentoring), Kiva, and corporate sponsors including Associated Bank, BMO Harris, Summit Credit Union, WHEDA, CUNA Mutual Foundation, and American Family Insurance, alongside advocacy channels for public policy. Operationally it is a small team (Executive Director Jorge Antezana, Associate Director Gaby Villaycaña, Financial Operations Manager Monica Villalobos, part-time bilingual front desk staff) governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Alex Ysquierdo. Technology stack is minimal: a WordPress website, Microsoft Forms for membership enrollment, Eventbrite for event registration, Zoom for virtual programming, and PayPal for donations; there is no proprietary platform or AI component.

Name

Latino Chamber of Commerce

Legal name

Wisconsin Latino Chamber of Commerce

Website

https://lccwi.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Wisconsin Latino Chamber of Commerce is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit founded in 2003 that delivers bilingual business development programs, advocacy, and networking services to Latino and non-Latino small businesses across Wisconsin, supported by Kiva microloan access and SCORE-Madison mentorship.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Chamber of Commerce / Business Association Services

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education (EDAAAFAK)

Keywords

• Chamber of commerce services
• Business development programs
• Entrepreneurship training
• Small business advocacy
• Microfinance access

Headquarters

HQ city

Verona

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from business members. Two tiers: Basic Membership at $250/year for individuals/startups, and Preferred Membership at $500/year for established businesses with more than 5 employees. Revenue supports advocacy, economic development programs, and networking services.
2. Event Fees and Workshops: Revenue from fee-based workshops and programs. Some workshops are free while others have registration fees (e.g., 'De Empleada a CEO' workshop at $41.32). Events like Poderosa 2026 also generate revenue.
3. Donations: Tax-deductible donations to the Wisconsin Latino Economic Development Foundation (501(c)(3) affiliated foundation). Foundation receives donations to support chamber programs and initiatives.
4. Fee-Based Chamber Programs: Non-members pay $100 for Tu Empresa program while members participate free. Discounts to fee-based Chamber programs and events for members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Wisconsin Latino Chamber of Commerce is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit trade association that sells annual business memberships ($250 Basic / $500 Preferred), runs a 9-week virtual entrepreneurship program (Tu Empresa) and a childcare-business training program (Futuro), delivers technical assistance and workshops, hosts networking events, and facilitates access to Kiva microloans for Wisconsin small businesses. The organization also conducts policy advocacy and is raising $15 million to build a one-stop Latino Economic Gateway entrepreneurial center.

Product overview

The Wisconsin Latino Chamber of Commerce operates as a service-based organization offering a unified portfolio of business development programs and membership services. The core offerings include Tu Empresa (a 9-week virtual entrepreneurship training program in Spanish), the Futuro Program (child care business training), technical assistance and business consulting, training and workshops, networking events, and access to capital through KIVA microloans. The organization is developing the Latino Economic Gateway, a one-stop center for entrepreneurship with incubator kitchen, event space, computer lab, and co-working spaces. Membership tiers (Basic at $250 and Preferred at $500 annually) provide access to these programs with varying levels of priority and benefits.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tu Empresa Program A 9-week virtual business development program in Spanish providing foundational training on business models, legal structures, financial management, and economic management to help aspiring entrepreneurs launch and operate businesses. Free for active chamber members; $100 for non-members. Has nearly 600 graduates to date.
• Futuro Program A comprehensive childcare business training initiative that equips participants with the training, resources, and ongoing support needed to start and grow a childcare business. Targets Latina-led childcare providers in Wisconsin.
• Basic Membership Annual $250 membership for individuals or start-up entrepreneurs including basic business consulting, vendor discounts, social media member spotlight, newsletter submission requests, access to special programming, networking events, free LLC registration, and discounts to fee-based chamber programs and events.
• Preferred Membership Annual $500 membership for established entrepreneurs and small businesses with more than 5 employees, including all Basic benefits plus priority newsletter placement, enhanced customer referrals, priority social media spotlight, collaborative workshop with WLCC, up to 3 representatives on profile, and access to grant/loan programs.
• Technical Assistance Personalized guidance and consulting to start, develop, and grow businesses, including basic business consulting, support for opening a new business, business registration (EIN, articles of organization), permits, and requirements. A one-time 30-minute free consultation is available to non-members.
• Training and Workshops Business management, technology tools, leadership development, regulatory, certification, and practical strategy workshops designed for entrepreneurs and business owners, delivered both in-person and via Zoom with bilingual Spanish/English instruction.
• Networking Opportunities Chamber events designed to connect entrepreneurs, business owners, and community partners, enabling relationship building, resource sharing, and collaboration opportunities for Wisconsin business growth.
• Access to Capital (KIVA) Financing opportunities through the Kiva partnership, providing guidance on accessing 0% interest microloans ($1,000-$15,000) and Madison city matching funds, helping Wisconsin entrepreneurs overcome traditional capital barriers.
• Latino Economic Gateway Project A one-stop center for training and entrepreneurship currently under development, featuring an incubator kitchen, event space, a state-of-the-art computer lab, and co-working spaces. Funded through a $15 million capital campaign that includes a $5 million federal grant from Senator Tammy Baldwin.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 600 entrepreneurs graduated from Tu Empresa business development program
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• SCORE-MadisoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCORE-Madison provides onsite business mentoring in Spanish or English at WLCC offices on the first and third Tuesday of each month, 11AM-3PM. This partnership provides free mentorship services to chamber members and the broader Latino business community.
• KivacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKiva is an international nonprofit crowdfunding platform for small businesses offering 0% interest loans ($1,000-$15,000). WLCC partners with Kiva to help Wisconsin entrepreneurs access microloans without traditional capital barriers.
• Summit Credit UnionmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSummit Credit Union is a sponsor for WLCC events including International Women's Day celebrations and various business programs. They provide financial education workshops for members.
• Associated BankmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerAssociated Bank is a sponsor of the Madison Business Showcase 2025, supporting WLCC's entrepreneurial programming and visibility.
• BMO Harris BankmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerBMO Harris Bank is a sponsor of the Madison Business Showcase 2025, supporting WLCC's mission to strengthen Wisconsin's business community.
• Small Business Administration (SBA)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerSBA is a partner organization providing resources at WLCC events including the International Women's Day Celebration, offering information and support for small business development.
• Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerWEDC is listed as a partner organization supporting WLCC's economic development initiatives.
• Focus on EnergyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFocus on Energy partners with WLCC for Café Con Energia events, providing energy efficiency information and resources to the Latino community.
• Madison Gas and ElectricminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMadison Gas and Electric co-hosts Café Con Energia events with Focus on Energy and WLCC, supporting energy education for Latino entrepreneurs.
• Center for Cooperatives - UW ExtensionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCenter for Cooperatives at UW Extension provides expertise for WLCC's virtual workshop on creating cooperatives, offering guidance on cooperative formation and economics.
• UW HealthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUW Health is a sponsor of the International Women's Day 2025 celebration, supporting women entrepreneurs in Wisconsin.
• University of Wisconsin-MadisonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUW-Madison is a sponsor of the International Women's Day 2025 celebration, supporting the chamber's women entrepreneurship initiatives.
• Madison College Center for EntrepreneurshipminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMadison College Center for Entrepreneurship sponsors the International Women's Day 2025 event, supporting women entrepreneurs.
• Clear Strand ASDminorGTM or Marketing PartnerClear Strand ASD was the main sponsor of the Childcare Summit 2025, providing resources on early childhood development and autism screening tools.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• SCORE: National SBA-affiliated nonprofit providing free business mentoring and education to entrepreneurs. WLCC explicitly partners with SCORE-Madison for onsite mentoring, making it both a partner and a competing free-alternative provider of business advisory services.
• Wisconsin Small Business Development Center (SBDC): Federally funded statewide network providing no-cost consulting and training to Wisconsin small businesses. Overlaps with WLCC's technical assistance and Tu Empresa training, and represents a free public-sector alternative for the same target audience.
• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA): Federal agency providing small business resources, lending programs, and contracting support. Listed as a WLCC partner organization for events, and represents the underlying funder of much of the small business support ecosystem (SCORE, SBDCs, WBCs) WLCC competes against.
• Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses: National small business education and capital access program for under-served entrepreneurs. Highly comparable to Tu Empresa's cohort-based curriculum and target audience, with substantially larger funding and a national footprint.

Direct peers

• Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin: Separate Hispanic-focused business association serving Wisconsin. Most directly comparable peer in the same state, sharing the Latino business advocacy and member services mandate; the two organizations appear to operate in adjacent rather than overlapping sub-markets.
• U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce: National umbrella for Hispanic/Latino chambers and business associations across the U.S. Operates the same trade-association model as WLCC but at national scale, advocating for Hispanic-owned businesses and providing networking/capital access programming.
• Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC): Wisconsin-based nonprofit providing small business lending, training, and consulting to under-served entrepreneurs. Highly comparable mission and Wisconsin footprint to WLCC, with overlapping capital-access and business-development programming.
• Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce: The mainstream regional chamber serving the Madison metro. Competes for the same SMB membership base and advocacy mandate as WLCC, but without a Latino-focused mission; useful benchmark for non-Latino SMB engagement and events like the Madison Business Showcase.
• California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce: Statewide Hispanic/Latino chamber in California offering advocacy, networking, and member services to Hispanic-owned businesses. Directly comparable structure and programming model to WLCC at much larger scale, useful for understanding state-level Latino chamber potential.

Emerging players

• National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO): National membership organization supporting women business owners through advocacy, networking, and education. Directly comparable to WLCC's women-entrepreneurship programming (Poderosa Awards, International Women's Day) but operating nationally and outside the Latino vertical.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/WisconsinLCC
• Instagraminstagram.com/wisconsinlatinobiz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wisconsin-latino-chamber-of-commerce

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Latino Chamber of Commerce