From Zero Sales to Celebrity Backing: How Candela Mamajuana Took Off

In this episode of Beyond The Wealth, host Andres Sanchez sits down with Alejandro Russo, the founder of Candela Mamajuana. Alejandro shares the incredible story of how he turned an obscure Dominican spirit into a premium brand embraced by Pitbull and major resorts worldwide.

🔥 Learn how Alejandro:

Discovered Mamajuana and saw its untapped market potential

Launched Candela from scratch, starting with college parties

Navigated major setbacks (including almost going bankrupt)

Landed Pitbull as an investor and brand supporter

Expanded Candela into hotels, liquor stores, and international markets

Launched an eco-friendly liquor distribution business

If you're an entrepreneur, spirits enthusiast, or just love an inspiring founder story, you won't want to miss this conversation.

🚀 Candela Mamajuana: https://drinkcandela.com

🐦 Follow Alejandro Russo: https://twitter.com/AlejandroRusso

🎙 Hosted by Andres Sanchez | Follow for founder interviews and startup lessons: https://twitter.com/_Andres_Sanch_

📩 Subscribe to Beyond The Wealth newsletter: https://beyondthewealth.beehiiv.com/subscribe

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Contents of the video

00:00 Meeting Pitbull at the Marina

06:25 "Mezcal's Rise and Market Potential"

14:01 Rum Quest in Chile

19:20 "Business Startups: Low Cost, Big Value"

23:10 Startup Setback in Punta Cana

30:38 "Organic Brand Advocate: Capo Curtis"

36:49 "Lifesaving Investor Support"

39:26 Manifesting Investments: Pitbull's Predicted Role

45:19 Exceptional Rum in Generic Bottle

49:44 Liquor Packaging Waste Issue

53:13 EcoSpirits' Innovative Bottle Solution

01:00:49 "Invest Early in Branding"

01:04:12 CPG Success: Quality and Emotion

01:08:46 Grateful for Your Hospitality

Why He Is Building The Startup That Is Reinventing Travel in America

🚆 Could overnight sleeper trains revolutionize travel in America? In this episode of Beyond The Wealth, host Andres Sanchez sits down with Joshua Dominic, co-founder of Dreamstar Lines, to explore the bold startup that’s reimagining how Americans travel—luxuriously and efficiently.

Joshua shares the story behind launching a luxury travel startup that aims to compete with planes and long drives by introducing overnight sleeper trains with car ferry service. From his early inspiration while backpacking through Europe and Asia to negotiating track access with Union Pacific, this episode dives deep into the startup journey, logistics, and vision behind Dreamstar.

We cover:

- Why train travel disappeared in the U.S.

- What makes this business model finally viable

- The future of sustainable and comfortable transportation

- The surprising demand from families, pet owners, and business travelers alike

If you're passionate about innovation in travel, building from zero to one, or simply love stories of bold entrepreneurship, this one's for you.

🎟️ Learn more at dreamstarlines.com

🔔 Subscribe for more founder interviews & startup insights

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Connect with Joshua:

Twitter:https://x.com/JoshuaKDominic

Connect with Andres:

Twitter: https://x.com/_Andres_Sanch_

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyondthewealthpod/

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Contents of the video

00:00 "Medium-Distance Travel Insights"

05:16 European Train Travel Fascination

06:35 Myanmar Adventure: Stupas and Empty Trains

12:42 "Unexpectedly Prepared for Success"

13:36 Rebuilding History Using First Principles

18:03 "Future-Proofing Ideas Through Critique"

22:58 Reviving Sleeper Trains for Day Use

25:59 Technological Shifts in Transportation History

27:36 Bridging Amtrak Service Gap

32:28 Revolutionizing Car Rental Access

36:14 Advice to 18-Year-Old Joshua?

39:30 Optimism, Kindness, and Social Trust

40:43 "Thanks, Joshua, for Insights"

Secrets Behind 8-Figure Ecommerce Success w/ Carl Weische

In this episode of Beyond the Wealth, Andres Sanchez sits down with Carl Weische, founder of Accelerated Agency, to reveal the strategies behind scaling 8-figure ecommerce brands. Carl shares his journey from flipping limited sneakers as a teen to leading a top CRO agency, helping giants like Huel, Andrew Huberman, and Alex Hormozi skyrocket their online sales.

Discover the surprising niches—like shapewear, dog beds, and resistance bands—that consistently drive multi-million-dollar revenues each month. Carl explains common pitfalls in ecommerce marketing, emphasizing the importance of deeply understanding your customers' psychology to create ads and landing pages that resonate.

From hiring the right talent and managing growth stress to navigating rising ad costs and consumer fatigue, Carl offers actionable advice for ecommerce entrepreneurs aiming to scale effectively in today's competitive market. Whether you're running a Shopify store, leveraging dropshipping, or selling directly online, this conversation is packed with insights that will help elevate your ecommerce business.

If you're serious about scaling your ecommerce brand, don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more growth-focused episodes!

#ecommerce #ecommercebusiness #ecommercepodcast

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Connect with Carl:

Twitter: https://x.com/CarlWeische

Website: https://acceleratedagency.com/?el=x

Connect with Andres:

Twitter: https://x.com/_Andres_Sanch_

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyondthewealthpod/

Newsletter: https://beyondthewealth.beehiiv.com/subscribe

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Contents of the video

00:00 Sneaker Reselling Journey Begins

04:18 Sneaker Reselling Lessons Learned

06:54 Psychology's Role in Online Marketing

10:09 Understanding Customers: Key to Product Sales

13:21 Ecom Growth After Key Partnership

19:54 Entrepreneurial Career Advice for Graduates

21:29 Navigating Entrepreneurial Stress Challenges

27:02 Prioritizing Health for Business Success

29:36 Successful Companies: Humble and Communicative

34:38 Rising Ad Costs Challenge Brands

37:02 Adapt or Fall Behind

41:30 AI Overreliance Risks Skill Atrophy

42:41 "AI: Balance Skill Development"

46:46 "Interview with Carl: Open Book"