Mexican Indie Beauty Brand Nopalera Raises $4 Million in Funding with Morgan Stanley

Nopalera, a San Antonio, TX-based beauty and lifestyle brand founded by former “Shark Tank” contestant Sandra Velasquez is proving its business has teeth.

The brand has closed a $4 million funding round led by Morgan Stanley’s Next Level Fund, co-led by San Diego-based L’Attitude Ventures, one of the largest Latino-focused early-stage venture capital funds.

The funding aims to position the growing company to expand its retail presence and product offerings, officials said.

“Her achievement stands as a powerful reminder that success is possible—even in an ecosystem where the odds are often stacked against diverse founders,” said L’Attitude Ventures General Partner Laura Moreno Lucas. “Women-led startups receive only about 2 % of US venture capital funding, and Latina founders receive even less. Sandra’s success shows the growing impact and potential of outperforming founders.”

Nopalera, featured on Happi’s Indie Inc. column, was launched during the Covid pandemic as a modern Mexican lifestyle brand offering a slate of personal care essentials from fragrances to hair care, bath and body products and candles – available at Ulta.com, Ulta Mexico, Ulta Middle East, Credo Beauty, Mecca, Amazon and independent stores nationwide, and nopalera.com.

“We are thrilled to welcome Morgan Stanley to the cap table and board of directors and are grateful to L’Attitude both our existing and new investors for their belief in what we are building at Nopalera,” said Velasquez.

Supporting investors included Sixty8 Capital, Siddhi Capital, Portfolia, Wealthing Club, Alamo Angels, Juniper Growth, Black and Latino Angel Fund and 14 private investors.