Entrepreneur . Public Speaker . Author
Sandra Velasquez is the visionary founder of Nopalera, a Premium Mexican Beauty Brand that is becoming a global sensation. She holds dear the values of resourcefulness that continue to inspire her ingredient formulation, just as firmly as the values of resiliency. She inspires audiences to explore an unknown land and to ultimately carve their own path.
Her ambition is to activate a new generation to explore beauty through a different lens: one that embodies boldness, scent transportation, and fresh takes on common beauty rituals. rooted in culture, clean beauty, and representation. She continues to mentor other founders, speak widely on entrepreneurship, and grow her company with community at its core.
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Sandra Velasquez is the Mexican‑American founder and CEO of Nopalera, a clean, culture-driven bath & body brand inspired by the nopal (prickly pear cactus), a symbol of Mexican heritage. Founded in November 2020 from her Brooklyn apartment amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sandra previously led the Latin alternative band Pistolera, touring internationally and having her music featured in Breaking Bad, Sons of Anarchy, and NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert. She transitioned from a music career and time as a CPG sales manager into entrepreneurship, learning formulation through school and handling branding on a tight budget to build Nopalera from scratch.
Since then, Nopalera has grown to be stocked in Nordstrom, Credo Beauty, Free People, and over 400 boutiques nationwide; it reached about $3.2 M in revenue and raised over $2.7 million in a seed round after two years of bootstrapping. In January 2023, she appeared on Shark Tank Season 14 and famously turned down two offers, citing her belief in equity and self-worth.
Sandra is also a keynote speaker, a mentor to emerging founders, and host of The Nopalera Podcast.
Most recently, in June 2025, Nopalera officially relocated its headquarters from New York City to San Antonio, Texas, choosing the city for its strong Latino cultural identity, supportive community, and logistical advantages. San Antonio ranks as one of Nopalera’s top U.S. markets alongside Los Angeles and Chicago
