Daniel Velazco and Gustavo Carmona are entrepreneurs and founders of La Cocada, a rapidly growing Venezuelan dessert brand redefining how authentic Latin flavors are experienced in the United States. Built on a commitment to quality, innovation, and tradition, La Cocada specializes in handcrafted coconut beverages, desserts, and specialty treats that celebrate Venezuela’s culinary heritage while appealing to a modern audience and transporting customers to the beaches of Venezuela.
Drawing on their backgrounds in politics, healthcare and their entrepreneurial mindset, Daniel and Gustavo have focused on creating more than a food business—they are building a recognizable brand centered on culture, consistency, and customer experience. Their vision is to expand La Cocada into a nationally recognized name while introducing more people to the flavors and traditions that inspired their creation.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
- That a traditional Venezuelan coconut milkshake unknown in the U.S. can quickly win over American taste buds.
- How a family recipe rooted in political exile became the heart of a rapidly expanding Miami dessert brand.
- Why freshness and refusal to cut corners on quality separate La Cocada from every imitator.
- That honoring one’s heritage through food creates an unmatched emotional bond with customers.
- How two entrepreneurs with backgrounds in politics and healthcare pivoted to craft a scalable culinary business.
- Why a clear commitment to culture and customer experience turns a single drink into a movement.
- That a small family venture can transport entire communities back to the beaches of Venezuela with every sip.
- How hard work, dedication, and an uncompromising product standard earn rapid success and word-of-mouth growth.
- Why the vision to become nationally recognized starts with making Miami feel like home for immigrants.
- That a simple coconut beverage can carry the weight of family sacrifice and the joy of a lost homeland.
about the show
Made It In America is an entrepreneur TV series featuring foreign-born founders, immigrant entrepreneurs, business leaders, and visionaries who came to America and built something meaningful through resilience, ambition, and hard work.
Each episode takes viewers inside the founder story behind the business, showing the challenges, sacrifices, decisions, and breakthroughs that shaped each guest’s journey. From arriving with limited resources to building companies, creating jobs, entering competitive markets, and earning credibility, these stories reveal what it takes to succeed in America.
The series highlights entrepreneurs across industries who turned their background, culture, work ethic, and lived experience into a competitive advantage.
Made It In America celebrates the builders who brought their dreams, skills, and determination to the American market and used them to create business success, personal freedom, and lasting impact.
For featured guests, the series provides a platform to share their journey, build authority, and inspire others through the story of what they built in America.
