Bawi

Sponsored by Hummingbirds

In this episode, I’m joined by Victor Guardiola, founder of Bawi—a better-for-you sparkling agua fresca brand inspired by his Mexican roots. Victor grew up drinking aguas frescas made with fresh fruit and a lot of sugar. When he couldn’t find a version that honored the tradition but felt better for the body, he created one himself.

Bawi is a love letter to culture and community—crafted with real ingredients, bold flavor, and a fresh take on a nostalgic classic. Through the brand, Victor is not only sharing a drink he grew up loving—he’s helping reshape the narrative around what Latino-inspired beverages can be in today’s market.

Inside the episode

• How Victor’s upbringing and heritage inspired him to launch a better-for-you version of a beloved drink

• The strategy behind balancing authenticity and health while bringing aguas frescas to a broader audience

• Advice for founders navigating identity, storytelling, and product innovation

Listen here

Meet the founder

Victor Guardiola founded the brand because he wanted a drink that reminded him of Mexico, where his family immigrated from when he was a kid. But he wanted to keep health in mind — after all, aguas frescas you'd get on the street are loaded with sugar. Through Bawi, Victor hopes he can shine more light on the drink he loves, while keeping people healthy both in the U.S. and in Mexico. 

shop the brand

An authentic Mexican drink with a modern twist. Shop here!

This podcast episode was made possible by Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds is a platform that connects everyday, smaller creators with brands to share in-store user-generated content, drive brand awareness in specific retailers, and capture competitive market share. They’re an awesome platform that I recommend to all my clients that you should absolutely check out. Go to hummingbirds.com for all the details.