Episode 48: Seasons of Struggle, VC Funding & Imperfect Fruit with Kayla Castañeda of Agua Bonita

Dale Sabor A Tu Salud by Tadin Herb & Tea Co.

Today, host Chef Carla Contreras is joined by Kayla Castañeda, the founder of Agua Bonita, about her business journey, the challenges of securing funding as a woman, and her success in pitch competitions.

Kayla discusses her journey from working at a large beverage corporation to launching her business during the pandemic. Her company, Agua Bonita, is rooted in her family’s traditions. She shares how they translated household recipes into mass production. As the first Latina to receive over one million dollars in VC funding, Kayla discusses how crazy it is that she was the first, the seemingly inevitable questions female founders are asked but not men, and the impact of having a young family as a business owner. She shares how she approaches being widely visible in her industry and copycats. In addition to Agua Bonita, one of her amazing offers is pitch coaching. She shares the importance of pitching in securing funding at every stage of business and provides insight into her money mindset as an entrepreneur.

Topics Covered:

• Reducing sugar in agua fresca
• The business of beverage
• Receiving $1 million in VC funding
• Moms can do anything
• Pitch coaching
• Importance of funding
• Entrepreneurial money mindset
• Upcoming projects

Connect with Kayla Castañeda:

• On the Agua Bonita website: drinkaguabonita.com
• On the Agua Bonita Instagram: @drinkaguabonita
• On Kayla Castañeda’s Instagram: @so.fresca.so.clean

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