For the subsequent entry in The Startup Journal’s founder interview collection, we’re that includes Alejandro Russo, founding father of Candela Mamajuana. Candela Mamajuana is an alcohol/spirits startup model that’s bringing the Dominican Republic’s native rum to the world.
Candela Mamajuana was born after Alejandro turned fascinated by mamajuana (a spiced rum native to the Dominican Republic) after it was served to him at a resort bar within the Dominican Republic. He seized the chance to carry a singular providing to the beverage market.
Candela is just not Alejandro’s first startup. After first working in banking and finance, Alejandro began and exited two different companies earlier than bringing his advertising and marketing and branding experience to Candela. Co-founded in 2016 by the mom and son duo, Lillian Arinoviche and Alejandro Russo, Candela is now scaling its distribution and is out there on-line and all through Florida, California, New York, and the Dominican Republic.
We interviewed Alejandro to get extra insights into his startup’s launch and his entrepreneurial journey…
TSM: Describe the Candela mission in 10 phrases or much less:
Alejandro: Share the best expression of the DR’s native spiced rum.
TSM: With a bit extra element, inform us extra in regards to the Candela story?
Alejandro: In 2016, I based Candela after I used to be fascinated by this drink served to me at a resort bar within the Dominican Republic. Intrigued by its easy style and unique spice flavors, I used to be shocked to seek out out that I couldn’t purchase this magical drink referred to as mamajuana and take it house with me. Thousands and thousands of individuals have been consuming mamajuana yearly, but there wasn’t a model making it. It was solely made artisanally. That’s how the thought to carry the best expression of this iconic Dominican drink to the remainder of the world was born.
TSM: What makes Candela Mamajuana so distinctive that make it promising for the enterprise?
Alejandro: Because the fastest-growing premium spiced rum in Florida, Candela is the main mamajuana model. Our product ensures high quality in each bottle. For starters, we’re one of many few manufacturers to make use of 100% pure elements solely– this implies no synthetic colours, taste or components. Our rum can be made out of recent sugarcane juice and never molasses, like most rums. That is what really units us aside. It’s like evaluating an orange juice from focus to a fresh-squeezed orange juice. Candela is as pure and recent as could be. And as if that weren’t sufficient, our manufacturing course of is powered by renewable power, reusing the byproduct generated from the cane juice extraction course of.
TSM: What advertising and marketing techniques are you utilizing to construct the model and place Candela Mamajuana within the aggressive premium liquor house?
Alejandro: We’re a reasonably small model, so we don’t have the budgets that our rivals do! Meaning we’ve to excel in methods they’ll’t. Our technique consists of getting liquid to lips – making tastings as accessible as they are often is what it’s all about. For now, it’s largely been the product talking for itself after which spreading by means of phrase of mouth. Our product is exclusive within the sense that it offers a a lot smoother rum that stands other than some other bottle on the shelf. We’re massive on getting the product in entrance of recent audiences by means of tastings and likewise by means of our lodges within the Dominican Republic, the place 1000’s of individuals strive Candela daily!
TSM: Additionally on the enterprise aspect, along with the advertising and marketing challenges of launching and scaling Candela, what have been the opposite major challenges in your scaleup journey? Hiring? High quality management? Capital?
Alejandro: There have been so many challenges! After I was first elevating capital to get this began, no one was . I acquired so many no’s that it was laborious to recollect why I used to be doing this. Then I’d have a sip of my drink and it could all hit me once more. Then we’d get a buyer evaluation raving about our product, saying the way it was one of the best liquid they’ve tasted and it could add gas to our fireplace. Entrepreneurs that know they’ve acquired gold can not hearken to the naysayers. Tune them out. Focus in your last imaginative and prescient and work your butt off. Each single a part of making this dream come true has been a problem – however you energy by means of it and hold going till issues develop into actual.
TSM: Describe your expertise with elevating capital for Candela. Did you bootstrap the entire enterprise or herald outdoors traders?
Alejandro: Initially, Candela Mamajuana was all bootstrapped between my mom and I. We barely had cash to do something, however we made it work. As soon as the enterprise was in a greater place and able to scale, we raised cash from a few VCs and traders.
TSM: Did going by means of the method of elevating capital influence your imaginative and prescient and technique for the enterprise? In that case, how?
Alejandro: It’s important to watch out who you hearken to. Some traders have genuinely been very profitable doing what you’re doing and there’s lots to be taught from them. Others suppose they know, however haven’t really had real-world success doing what you’re making an attempt to do.
TSM: Do you may have a thought in regards to the Candela long run or “exit” choices? The place does it go from right here?
Alejandro: I’m simply centered on constructing one of the best model and enterprise I can. What occurs sooner or later can be a results of the work we do at present, so I’m simply executing relentlessly in “the now,” however guided by our long run imaginative and prescient.
TSM: Going again to your early profession choices, inform us what elements influenced your resolution to be an entrepreneur?
Alejandro: I come from a really entrepreneurial household and confirmed curiosity in changing into one from a younger age. My mother, particularly, all the time inspired me to use myself and make my very own method. Additionally, I studied finance and economics that are positively associated to operating a enterprise, however in apply, have much less of an influence than the precise work I’ve needed to do over time. You’ll be able to research all you need and fill your wall with diplomas, however nothing beats real-world expertise.
TSM: How do you deal with the problem of balancing the calls for of entrepreneurship with private life obligations and parenthood?
Alejandro: It’s not simple! That’s for positive. Having youngsters makes entrepreneurship harder, however extra profitable on the identical time. You might have much less time, however you additionally develop into extra centered on the issues that matter. Each minute turns into extra impactful.
TSM: What’s an important factor you may inform different startup founders?
Alejandro: Simply leap in. Discover a possibility you want and dive in head first. Don’t do issues midway. Don’t overthink issues both. You in all probability received’t know most of the solutions and you’ll actually make a bunch of errors. The sooner you begin, the quicker you’re going to get to success.
TSM: Lastly, Candela Mamajuana sounds scrumptious. The place can I, I imply, our readers, get some?
Alejandro: Candela is distributed all through Florida, California, New York, New Jersey, and the Dominican Republic. For extra particulars on Candela Mamajuana or to buy our product, please go to the web site www.drinkcandela.com and comply with alongside on Instagram @drinkcandela.
TSM: Thanks a lot to your time and good luck in your continued success!
Alejandro Russo, Founder & CEO, Candela Mamajuana
