Eduardo “Eddie” Favela: Leading with Flavor, Vision, and Cultural Pride

Title: Founder

Organization: Vidagua

Age: 21

Eddie Favela is a 21-year-old Chicago entrepreneur and founder of Vidagua, a hydrating agua fresca brand built to bring authentic Mexican flavor and better-for-you hydration to a wider market. Inspired by visits to his family’s hometown in Durango, Mexico, he launched Vidagua in September 2024 and has led the company from the ground up, overseeing product development, branding, sales, distribution strategy, and daily operations.

Today, Vidagua is distributed in retailers nationwide through national-level partners, including KeHE and UNFI. Eddie has grown the brand by staying close to execution: building retailer relationships, coordinating launches, supporting store promotions, and leading in-person sampling to drive customer trial and repeat purchase. He also manages key business functions including inventory planning, production coordination, logistics, and distributor communication, with a focus on disciplined growth and reliable execution. At 21, he has developed a reputation for his long-term low-cost thinking, and unconventional ways of progressing his team.

Eddie studied finance at DePaul University and applies that background to pricing, forecasting, cash management, and long-term planning. In addition to building Vidagua, he works closely to help grow Burrito Parrilla Mexicana, a Midwest fast-casual Mexican chain, where he supports forecasting, customer feedback systems, and workflow automation across locations to promote low-cost efficiencies. Additionally, he is a part of the LBAN Startup Accelerator Program at Standford GSB.

His leadership reflects a strong commitment to community and representation. Vidagua supports Hispanic community events in Chicagoland, including ALPFA and Angeles Investors. Eddie is intentional about creating opportunities for Latino talent as the company grows. He is particularly focused on building a brand that is operationally strong, culturally grounded, and built for longevity. Outside of work, he volunteers at his church, plays chess, and enjoys building additional passion projects for, which reflect the same problem-solving mindset he brings to business. His long-term goal is to build Vidagua into a household name while creating jobs, expanding cultural representation, and leaving a lasting impact.