About

Sandra Lilia Velasquez

Sandra Velasquez is the Chicana founder of Nopalera, a clean collection of bath & body products powered by Mexico’s nopal (cactus). Velasquez launched Nopalera in the middle of the pandemic from her Brooklyn apartment with no outside funding or savings while working three jobs and raising her daughter. Today, the brand can be found in Nordstrom, Credo, and over 400 boutiques nationwide.

She is the winner of the Valde Latinx Entrepreneur Grant, the Clean Beauty Summer School Pitch Grant, Visa She’s Next in Fashion Grant, Latinx in Tech Grant, The Fearless Foundation Grant, and won Latino Start-Up of the Year at the L’attitude Match Up Conference in 2022.
In January 2023 she appeared on Shark Tank Season 14 where she infamously turned down two offers by standing in her worth.

Sandra is the host of The Nopalera Podcast , a frequent keynote speaker, and mentor to emerging founders. Prior to launching Nopalera, Velasquez was the leader of the Latin Alternative band Pistolera, which toured internationally, released three studio albums, and had its music featured on hit TV shows like Breaking Bad, Sons of Anarchy, and NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert.