The Startup CPG Podcast From turning down Shark Tank offers to raising $2.7 million for Nopalera with Sandra Velasquez (2023)
This episode was sponsored by RangeMe. Go to rangeme.com/startupcpg
We’re bringing you an episode from the archives today while I’m on vacation - so many listeners loved this episode from February because Sandra gives such practical and actionable advice and such honest insights into topics like Shark Tank and fundraising that are so hard to find. Since this episode released, Nopalera has released their Dulce de Cuerpo products, a cactus shower gel and cactus cream in beautiful aluminum bottles, their body scrub was voted #1 by People magazine, and they’ve launched a pop up store in Silver Lake in Los Angeles that’s open until December 5, 2023 (be sure to visit if you are in LA!), and those are just a few highlights! This was one of my favorite episodes, so I wanted to bring it back and give those of you who hadn't had a chance to listen to this one to give it a listen now and I hope you enjoy. Let me know what you think and I'll see you next week.
I love that I get to bring you more Shark Tank content so soon, and with one of my favorite people. Today’s guest is Sandra Velasquez, the CEO & Founder of Nopalera, and a very early member of the Startup CPG community. Nopalera creates Mexican botanicals for bath & body, and as you’ll hear, have become a staple in my life. Sandra appeared on Shark Tank last month during Season 14, Episode 12, and I’m so glad she agreed to come on the show and share the details with us. You don’t need to pre-watch the episode to enjoy the conversation, but I definitely recommend tuning in to watch Sandra’s incredible pitch and how she gracefully received and ultimately turned down two offers from the Sharks. Nopalera also recently closed a fundraising round of $2.7 million unrelated to Shark Tank!
Listen in as Sandra shares about:
- The process of applying to Shark Tank and preparing to air from the opening pitch to outfit vetting
- How eerily quiet the time in the Tank is
- Sandra’s affirmations and prep going into the Tank
- How her team prepped for consumer demand and the real numbers from Amazon and their website after airing (Sandra really gives us the nitty gritty details and I love it!)
- The process of raising $2.7 million including valuation work and legal fees to expect
- How Sandra developed a fundraising network from scratch
- What’s next at Nopalera
- And more!
You also may notice our intro music is a little different, I wanted to feature a song from Sandra’s band, Pistolera - this is "Nuevos Ojos", which was featured in Season 4, Episode 12 of the show Breaking Bad.
Episode Links:
- Nopalera website & IG/TicTok handle @nopalera.co
- Sandra’s LinkedIn
- The Nopalera Podcast (recent episode about the new popup store & products here)
- Link to Season 14, Episode 12 of Shark Tank
- Mitú article: "Why Nopalera CEO Sandra Velasquez Chose To Decline Two ‘Shark Tank’ Deals"
- Other Startup CPG Shark Tank episodes: #77 Making a deal on Shark Tank with wildwonder's Rosa Li, #57 Shark Tank, Sea Moss, and an Ocean of Potential with Alexiou Gibson
- Brand mentions: Luna Magic, Liquid Death
Show Links:
- Transcripts of each episode are available on the Transistor platform that hosts our podcast here (click on the episode and toggle to “Transcript” at the top)
- Join the Startup CPG Slack community (15K+ members and growing!)
- Follow @startupcpg
- Visit host Jessi Freitag's Linkedin or website
- Questions or comments about the episode? Email Jessi at podcast@startupcpg.com
- Episode music by Super Fantastics
RangeMe Links