# Founder Feature: Maria of The Purple Drop

- Show: [The Startup CPG Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast)
- Published: 2026-04-24
- Length: 24m
- Episode: 289
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-04-24-founder-feature-maria-of-the-purple-drop
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/0d4d60f8

## Summary

Maria Velasquez, founder of Purple Drop, explains how she commercialized a traditional Peruvian chicha morada recipe from her mother-in-law into a ready-to-drink beverage using organic agave and purple corn high in the Andes. She details the significant co-packing challenges of adapting a novel formulation for American brewery equipment, including overcoming initial failures with powder-based formulations and perfecting pasteurization for shelf stability. Velasquez outlines a community-first launch strategy targeting Peruvian Americans and NYC-area restaurants, supported by a vibrant rebrand featuring llamas and a sensory PR box experience. The company is preparing for a spring Shopify launch with plans to expand into lucuma flavors and concentrated antioxidant shots.

## Outline

1. Introduction: Maria Velasquez and Purple Drop's Origin Story
2. The Functional Story: Purple Corn, Anthocyanins, and Global Flavors
3. The Co-packer Journey: From Powder Failures to Brewery Solutions
4. Rebranding and Community Strategy: Llamas, PR Boxes, and Peruvian Americans
5. Future Roadmap: Lucuma Flavors, Energy Shots, and Spring Launch

## Topics

- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Purple Drop (product)
- Jane's House (company)
- Chicha Morada (product)
- Purple Corn (material)
- Anthocyanins (other)
- Lucuma (product)
- Alfajores (product)
- Palo Santo (material)
- Hibiscus (material)
- Agave (material)
- Blackberries (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Guayakí Yerba Mate: David Karr and Chris Mann](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-11-28-guayaki-yerba-mate-david-karr-and-chris-mann) (How I Built This)
- [346 - Sistine Spritz packaging aesthetic is unreal! w/ founder Kate McLamb and Lauren Alexander](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2026-04-28-346-sistine-spritz-packaging-aesthetic-is-unreal-w-founder-kate-mclamb-and-laure) (People of Packaging)
- [21 Seeds: Kat Hantas](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-10-21-21-seeds-kat-hantas) (How I Built This)
- [298 - The rise of the espresso martini and the importance of packaging for RTD w/ Night Owl](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2024-12-13-298-the-rise-of-the-espresso-martini-and-the-importance-of-packaging-for-rtd-w-n) (People of Packaging)
- [Health-Ade Kombucha: Daina Trout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-09-28-health-ade-kombucha-daina-trout) (How I Built This)

## Citing this page

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