We recently connected with Victor Macias and have shared our conversation below.

Victor, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

Santana Snacks was born out of the need for healthier alternatives when it comes to Latino Snacks. Growing up in Santa Ana, one of my fondest memories was eating snacks (antojitos) from local street vendors like El Paletero and The Corn Man. The snacks evoked a feeling of community and nostalgia. They’re present at family gatherings and when hanging out with friends. Snacks and food are a central way that we show love for one another.

As I got older, I realized how unhealthy many of these snacks were. Many of these foods are packed with artificial ingredients, dyes, refined sugars and GMO’s.

Diabetes and Heart Disease are among the biggest medical conditions in the US. A leading cause for this is Obesity. 42.5% of Hispanic adults are obese and Latino kids have the highest rates of obesity in the entire country compare to other demographic groups.

These snacks that we love are hurting out community. I wondered, what if I could create the same junk food that I loved as a kid, but do it in a way that’s clean, organic and better for you? Thus, Santana Snacks was born.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a serial entrepreneur with a passion for creating businesses that make a meaningful impact. My entrepreneurial journey began at the tender age of five, selling candy door-to-door, washing cars, and mowing lawns. Over the last 15 years, I’ve built a diverse portfolio of successful businesses across various industries, from lifestyle platforms to consumer packaged goods (CPG).

My Portfolio:

– Male Standard: I founded this men’s lifestyle platform, which attracted over 60,000 unique visitors per month. As CEO, I secured collaborations with global brands like Gillette, Unilever, and GMC. I successfully sold the company in 2017.

– Nui Foods: As a co-founder, I helped develop the world’s first keto cookie. We scaled the brand to seven figures in under two years with just $6K out of pocket, raised over $100K in crowdfunding, and landed a deal on ABC’s Shark Tank.

– Aligned Ventures: Here, I coach and consult startups, helping them align their businesses with their strengths, talents, and skills.

My Results:

– Raised over $100K through crowdfunding
– Build 6 and 7 figure brands
– Landed a deal on ABC’s Shark Tank
– Featured on Forbes, Inc, Business Insider, CNBC, Yahoo Finance, and the Joe Rogan Experience
– Coached and consulted over 100 companies in marketing, product development, and strategy

Santana Snacks: My Latest Venture

Today, I am the proud founder of Santana Snacks, a premium LatinX snack brand that delivers all-natural foods inspired by the Mexican flavors I grew up with. From the comforting aroma of abuelita’s arroz con leche to the vibrant, complex flavors of our favorite antojitos, Santana Snacks offers healthy alternatives to traditional LatinX snacks. We use organic ingredients and authentic flavors to create snacks that are not just delicious but also nourishing. Our mission is to empower the community to make healthier food choices without sacrificing the SABOR that unites us. We are deeply committed to our brand values of health, culture, community, empowerment, and celebration of LatinX history.

What Sets Us Apart:

What sets me apart is my unwavering commitment to creating businesses that align with a greater purpose. Whether it’s promoting men’s well-being, pioneering in the keto food market, or empowering artisans in Mexico, each venture is a step towards making a meaningful difference. With Santana Snacks, we’re not just selling snacks; we’re sharing a piece of our culture, uplifting our community, and empowering people to embrace their unique identity.

What I’m Most Proud Of:

I am most proud of how Santana Snacks has aims to empower our community to make better food choices while celebrating our rich cultural heritage. We are here to tell the stories of the people who have shaped us, the strength that drives us, and the love that binds us together.

Choose SALUD with Santana Snacks!

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

For last startup, Nui Foods, we raised over $100K through crowdfunding (via two Kickstarters).

Here’s how we did it:

When the business was starting, we had very limited funds. We used those funds to bake keto cookies and send them to influencers online. We’re message the influencers and ask for their feedback on our product. Many of them loved the cookies and started posting about them. Here’s the thing. The cookies were not available for sale yet. Instead of selling cookies, we built a large waiting list of people interested in our cookies. Once we reached a large threshold, we announced a kickstarter campaign.

We focused on sharing the brand story and building buzz. Once the campaign launched, our initial rewards sold out in minutes. This catapulted us to the top of Kickstarter and we were able to grow fast.

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

Being an entrepreneur can be lonely. Often, it’s difficult to relate to other people. My former business partner and I started of just hanging out at friends. We would meet up for coffee and work on our respective businesses. A few months later, we learned about the keto diet and wondered, “what if we created a desert that was keto friendly.” That sparked the first batch of cookies that we made. We tested the concept and sales took off. That was the moment we decided to focus on this venture and become business partners.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://launch.santanasnacks.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eatsantanasnacks/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eatsantanasnacks
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victormacias/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/eatsantanasnacks