"Being an entrepreneur in tech has being one of the most challenging experiences, but I have grown and I have learned and experienced so much. I have met people and been to places that would have been very difficult to do within a corporate environment, especially in finances which is a male dominated industry. As challenging and as difficult as it has been, it is the most rewarding." -Ana Bermudez

Ana Burmudez grew up in Logan Heights, an immigrant community in central San Diego where gangs, shootings, teenage pregnancy, and violence were normal parts of life. Her single Mexican mother took on various jobs to make ends meet while raising Ana and her three younger siblings. Her tenacity and dedication to fulfilling her American dream helped her overcome numerous obstacles throughout her life. Today, the San Diego native is a successful technology entrepreneur and advocate for the advancement of women of color in business.

She left her corporate job to become an entrepreneur. With the odds stacked against her - just over 2 percent of venture capital funding went to women-led businesses in 2018 - two of her male mentors advised her to seek support from networks and organizations geared toward women and Latinx. She accompanied a friend to the Women's Venture Summit at the last minute in 2013, a one-day intensive event that equips and connects female founders with female funders, and it was there where she met the event's cohost, Latina scientist-turned-investor Dr. Silvia Mah (listen to Silvia's story on TrailBlazers Impact Podcast.)

Ana is passionate about serving her community and was recognized as one of 40 Under 40 NYC for her work in promoting STEM and higher education in under-served and underrepresented communities. She serves as Program Director for Stella Angels, an angel investor network with a mission to increase the number of female angel investors in order to fund more female-owned companies.