# From turning down Shark Tank offers to raising $2.7 million for Nopalera with Sandra Velasquez (2023)

- Show: [The Startup CPG Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast)
- Published: 2023-10-17
- Length: 1h 00m
- Episode: 57
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2023-10-17-from-turning-down-shark-tank-offers-to-raising-2-7-million-for-nopalera-with-san
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/eb4f1d7c

## Summary

Sandra Velasquez, CEO & Founder of Nopalera, discusses her journey from a musician to launching a high-end Latina bath and body brand, her appearance on Shark Tank where she turned down two offers, and her subsequent $2.7 million seed round. She details the rigorous preparation for the TV pitch, including valuation assessments and inventory scaling, and explains how the show drove significant sales across Shopify and Amazon. Velasquez also shares insights on building a fundraising network from scratch, the importance of brand positioning in the beauty category, and Nopalera's expansion into aluminum-bottled liquid products.

## Chapters

- [0:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2023-10-17-from-turning-down-shark-tank-offers-to-raising-2-7-million-for-nopalera-with-san#t=24) Introduction: Sandra Velasquez and Nopalera's Origin Story
- [9:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2023-10-17-from-turning-down-shark-tank-offers-to-raising-2-7-million-for-nopalera-with-san#t=570) Applying to Shark Tank and the Preparation Process
- [12:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2023-10-17-from-turning-down-shark-tank-offers-to-raising-2-7-million-for-nopalera-with-san#t=724) Mental Prep, Affirmations, and the Shark Tank Experience
- [16:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2023-10-17-from-turning-down-shark-tank-offers-to-raising-2-7-million-for-nopalera-with-san#t=995) Valuation, Offers, and Turning Down Deals
- [25:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2023-10-17-from-turning-down-shark-tank-offers-to-raising-2-7-million-for-nopalera-with-san#t=1542) Post-Shark Tank Sales, Inventory Prep, and Amazon Strategy
- [37:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2023-10-17-from-turning-down-shark-tank-offers-to-raising-2-7-million-for-nopalera-with-san#t=2255) Raising $2.7 Million: Valuation, Legal Fees, and Network Building
- [48:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2023-10-17-from-turning-down-shark-tank-offers-to-raising-2-7-million-for-nopalera-with-san#t=2903) Using Funds for Growth, Marketing, and New Product Development

## Topics

- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Nopalera (company)
- Shark Tank (other)
- Luna Magic (company)
- Nordstrom (company)
- Credo (company)
- Amazon (company)
- Shopify (company)
- Liquid Death (company)
- Estee Lauder (company)
- Target Accelerator (other)
- New Voices Foundation (other)
- Backstage Capital (company)
- Daymond John (other)
- Mark Cuban (other)
- Kevin O'Leary (other)
- Daniel Lubetzky (other)
- Arlan Hamilton (other)
- Pistolera (other)
- Breaking Bad (other)
- RangeMe (company)

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- [Mielle Organics: Monique Rodriguez](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-05-15-mielle-organics-monique-rodriguez) (How I Built This)
- [The Lip Bar: Melissa Butler](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-11-23-the-lip-bar-melissa-butler) (How I Built This)
- [Happy Family Organics: Shazi Visram (2020)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-07-04-happy-family-organics-shazi-visram-2020) (How I Built This)
- [nutpods: Madeline Haydon](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-05-13-nutpods-madeline-haydon) (How I Built This)

## Citing this page

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