Lessons from Danny Trejo, Mark Cuban, and local founders on using fear, failure, and hustle to succeed.
In Los Angeles, where the entrepreneurial spirit pulses through vibrant immigrant neighborhoods and bustling start-up hubs alike, fear often stands as the first barrier between Latinos and their business dreams. But fear, as many local entrepreneurs are learning, doesn’t have to be a stop sign. In fact, it might be the fuel needed to get started.
Whether you’re a street vendor in Boyle Heights thinking of opening a storefront, or a college graduate in South L.A. pitching your first tech idea, fear is familiar. It can stem from financial insecurity, fear of failure, or the paralyzing thought of rejection. Los Angeles-based entrepreneurs, especially in the Latino community, often have to get scrappy and resourceful. Andrea Salvador Pérez, a local business writer, emphasizes that knocking on doors — literal or metaphorical — is a practice that strengthens your entrepreneurial spirit. In Latino culture, where pride and personal reputation carry significant weight, fear of rejection can hit hard. But reframing rejection as feedback, rather than failure, can unlock incredible opportunities.
Danny Trejo, the iconic Mexican-American actor and founder of Trejo’s Tacos in Los Angeles, understands the pressure of starting something new while carrying a complex personal and professional life. “It wasn’t just about selling tacos — it was about creating opportunity and community,” Trejo has said. Juggling acting commitments, recovery work, and launching a food brand rooted in his culture wasn’t easy, but staying grounded in his mission and giving his full focus to each role helped him push through the challenges.
For many Latino entrepreneurs in L.A., this balancing act is deeply personal. Take, for example, the small family-run pupusería in Pico-Union. The owners started with only a portable grill and one permit. Now, they have a loyal local customer base and plans to expand — all because they refused to let “no” define their journey.
Innovation doesn’t always mean tech. For Latino entrepreneurs in Los Angeles, it often means solving the everyday problems of your community. Many entrepreneurs recommend starting with what you know: your gym group, coworkers, or even your church community. What do they struggle with? What annoys them? That’s your business opportunity.
From tamale delivery apps to bilingual childcare cooperatives, local innovators are using their cultural insight as a business edge. “Our customers are our neighbors, our tías, our friends,” says Rosa Mejía, who recently launched a mobile notary service targeting Spanish-speaking clients in East L.A. “We don’t need fancy — we need useful.”
“Customers come before the idea,” entrepreneur Noah Kagan explains. And that’s crucial in a city as diverse as L.A., where your audience might span languages, immigration statuses, and generational gaps. Test your idea early. Offer free trials. Walk through the neighborhood and ask for feedback. The worst thing someone can say is “no” — and if you’re prepared for that, you’re already winning. Many entrepreneurs emphasize the importance of mental health and balance. “Fear is real — but it doesn’t have to rule you,” he says. For Latino entrepreneurs who often juggle multiple jobs or face added cultural pressure to succeed, the emotional toll can be heavy. That’s why strategies like:
- Self-reflection — Knowing your strengths and weaknesses
- Self-care — Taking mental and physical breaks
- Self-scheduling — Building time for creative thought
are more than luxuries — they’re survival tools.
Organizations like SCORE Los Angeles, SBA Latino Initiatives, and local chambers of commerce can help provide mentorship and workshops, many in Spanish. Don’t be afraid to ask for help — that’s how empires are built.
Finally, waiting for the “perfect” time or idea is a trap. The perfect moment rarely comes — and if you’re waiting for certainty, you might wait forever. Launch small. Test often. Adjust quickly. That’s the entrepreneurial way, especially in a fast-moving city like Los Angeles.
Billionaire entrepreneur and Shark Tank star Mark Cuban agrees. His advice to aspiring business owners? “You don’t have to have all the answers. You just have to learn fast and go for it.” Cuban, who started from humble beginnings selling garbage bags door to door, stresses that most people fail to launch not because their idea is bad, but because they’re too afraid to try. “Perfection is the enemy of progress,” he often says. In his view, waiting for the right time or the perfect plan is just fear in disguise.
Latino entrepreneurs in are proving every day that fear and rejection aren’t end points — they’re milestones. They are stepping-stones toward the first sale, the first customer, the first “yes.” In a city where dreams are often built from scratch and community support is everything, turning fear into fuel isn’t just smart — it’s essential.
So go ahead — knock on that next door. As Mark Cuban would say, just go for it.
