In this Founder Fundraising Journey episode, host Hannah Dittman sits down with Victor Guardiola, Founder and CEO of Bawi, a sparkling agua fresca brand bringing authentic Hispanic flavors into the modern beverage aisle with a healthier twist. Beyond the product, Victor is equally driven by a mission to increase representation for Latino and minority founders in CPG.

Victor's path started with a food and beverage entrepreneurship practicum at UT Austin's McCombs School of Business, where he uncovered the data behind sugar-sweetened beverages' outsized impact on the Hispanic community and realized there was no mass-market, better-for-you Hispanic beverage to fill that gap. From there, he spent months selling on tap at farmer's markets, cold-emailing hundreds of potential investors, and eventually landing his first checks from Austin business figures like Patrick Terry of P. Terry's.

Hannah and Victor dig into the brutal reality of raising a first round without a "rich uncle," the tipping-point moment when a notable investor's name unlocked the rest of the round, and how Bawi is now scaling food service and retail density across its two core markets, Texas and California.

Listen in as they discuss:

Why 80% of initial startup funding comes from friends and family, and what that means for founders without that access
How a UT Austin entrepreneurship practicum turned into the idea for a mass-market Hispanic beverage
Selling agua fresca on tap at farmer's markets, carbonating overnight in a commercial kitchen until 3am
Landing the first equity round from Patrick Terry of P. Terry's and Torchy's Tacos founder Mike Rypka
The "golden follow-up": how one notable investor joining the cap table triggered a tipping point
Why cold-emailing without leading with a pitch dramatically increases response rates
Building initial retail density through independents and the natural channel before chasing national programs
The risk of emerging-brand retail programs that can hang small brands out to dry
Restructuring go-to-market strategy around food service in Texas and California, and the Cosmic Coffee case study
Victor's mission to provide a healthier alternative to sugar-laden big beverage offerings
Slack Q&A: how to structure an elevator pitch and initial outreach email

Episode Links:

Victor Guardiola - Founder & CEO, Bawi LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victorhguardiola/
Email: victor@drinkbawi.com
Instagram: @vichg
Website: drinkbawi.com

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Show Links:

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Episode music by Super Fantastics