Best Buy to Sponsor Grupo Entrada’s Hispanic Venture Forum in Silicon Valley November 12th

Silicon Valley Panel to Review How U.S. Companies Can Participate in $700 Billion U.S. Hispanic Market

San Francisco, CA — November 6, 2007 - Entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, analysts, and corporate executives developing Web 2.0, mobile, and entertainment products and services for the Hispanic marketplace will gather at the Entrada Venture Forum Monday, November 12th, 2007 to discuss the rising interest of entrepreneurs and investors in opportunities offered by the U.S. Hispanic Market potential. See below for a full conference agenda, or visit: www.grupoentrada.com.

According to HispanTelligence®, the U.S. Hispanic purchasing power has surged to nearly $700 billion and is projected to reach $1 trillion by 2010. The rate of growth is nearly three times the overall national rate of the past decade and will propel the aggregate disposable income of the nation's largest minority group to $699.78 billion in 2004.

Participants at the Entrada Venture Forum will have the opportunity to network, exchange ideas, strategies, best practices, and explore funding for companies seeking to capitalize on the potential for this powerful and growing market. To receive an invitation to the forum, send a request to: info@grupoentrada.com.

According to Sergio Monsalve of Norwest Venture Partners, “We’re seeing a tremendous increase in the amount of venture activity in the Hispanic market. We believe that smart and successful entrepreneurs are realizing the value of serving this large and growing segment.” 

“The Hispanic market and the digital age fit together like hand and glove. The Entrada Venture Forum is an important new marketplace to nurture this exciting new business opportunity,” said CEO of Border Media Partners Tom Castro, a successful media entrepreneur who will give the keynote address at this invitation only forum. 

“I’m personally motivated to promote Hispanic wealth creation by encouraging more Hispanic Entrepreneurship,” said Mitch Posada, event organizer and Founding Partner of Grupo Entrada.  “Hispanic entrepreneurs face significant barriers to success, by increasing access to capital and providing consulting services and Hispanic market expertise, Grupo Entrada is accelerating the growth of companies looking to target dynamic Hispanic markets in the U.S.”

Jeff Weness, Director Hispanic Initiatives expressed Best Buy’s motivation for participating with the forum. "Best Buy is committed to finding new ways to delight Hispanic customers across our channels.  Forums like this help us find innovative solutions to the real problems that our Hispanic customers face and give us a chance to partner with some of smartest minds in the industry."

“The current demographic trends indicate that no company can afford to not have a Hispanic market strategy,” said Eduardo Rallo, Managing Director, PCV Fund. “Entrada Venture Forum will give entrepreneurs and capital sources an opportunity to share best practices and effective strategies and empower key players to get the information they need to get in the driver’s seat.”

Richard Wood, VP Product Management, Consumer Insights Nielsen Mobile said, "As the leader in Hispanic mobile research, Nielsen Mobile is proud to be a part of such an important event.  I look forward to gathering with a wide cross-section of market leaders to discuss the important trends we now face in the Hispanic media and technology markets."

WHEN: Monday, November 12, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm

AGENDA:  11:00am     Registration and Networking

12:00noon     Opening Remarks – Joel Ayala, President & CEO of the California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

12:10pm     Keynote Address: Access to Capital and Opportunities for Hispanic Focused Businesses – Tom Castro, President, CEO, and Co-Founder Border Media Partners followed by kick-off presentation from Mitch Posada, Founding Partner of Grupo Entrada

1:15pm    Executive Roundtable – Web 2.0, Mobile, & Entertainment
Facilitated by Code Cubitt of Motorola Ventures and Mitch Posada, featuring representatives from CCube, Cyloop, Misrolas, OpenEnglish, TierraNatal, and Tiger Wireless Communications

3:00pm    Closing Remarks – Jeff Weness, Best Buy & one on one entrepreneur interviews with FundingSherpa.

WHERE: Plug & Play Tech Center, Sunnyvale, CA
        440 N. Wolfe Rd. - Sunnyvale, CA 94085
        (408) 524-1400
Additional details: www.plugandplaytechcenter.com

REGISTER: Info@grupoentrada.com
Complimentary for qualified press, contact Marjorie Kase marjorie@sociableagency.com
(415) 238-8240

About Entrada Venture Forum
Entrada Venture Forum brings entrepreneurs, early & growth stage investors, analysts, and market research firms to network, exchange ideas, strategies, best practices, and funding for companies seeking to primarily target the U.S. Hispanic Market. For more information, please visit: www.grupoentrada.com/venture-forum/

About Grupo Entrada
Grupo Entrada is a business consulting and marketing communications firm specializing in helping companies enter and profit from the growing U.S. Hispanic Market. Grupo Entrada offers a broad array of services directly or through our network of qualified professionals and agencies. These services range from Market Education, Organizational Readiness Assessment, Strategic Planning, Business Development, Market Research, Outreach and Acquisition, and Big IDEA Concepts.