Rooted in Courage: Meet Grant Winner NEDA’s Coquito Founder
Behind every small business lies a story of courage, community, and conviction. For Luz Nazario, a Latina-owned mother-and-daughter partnership redefining a beloved cultural tradition, that story reached a powerful new milestone after receiving the $1,000 Flourish Media Small Business Grant from Behind the Leaf.
We spoke with Luz Nazario about how this experience shaped her business journey, fueled her growth, and deepened her sense of purpose.
How did winning change the way you saw your business?
Winning the $1,000 grant from Behind the Leaf provided a powerful and necessary shift in perspective for NEDA's Coquito.
Before, my focus was largely internal — concentrating on product quality, integrity, and the daily grind of running a cottage food operation. Winning didn’t change our mission to craft the definitive healthy, dairy-free coquito, but it served as crucial external validation of the brand’s potential.
It confirmed that an established network of women business owners, led by my pod leader GiGi Diaz, saw my company, NEDA's Coquito, as a viable and investable endeavor — not just a passion project. That realization changed everything. I stopped viewing the business in isolation and began seeing it as a recognized brand with genuine momentum. Feeling this community support and recognition has fully charged me for the coquito season, reinforcing that my work ethic is valued and that future success will come through direction and encouragement.
Why did you decide to apply or attend one of our events connecting women to capital?
My participation in events connecting women to capital was driven by a need for structured support — not just funds.
At a crucial time for NEDA’s Coquito, I was brimming with ideas but frustrated by the lack of a strong, like-minded community to share them with. The impressive structure and support I found within the Flourish Media network made it the ideal place to seek direction.
That validation came quickly when my pod leader, GiGi Diaz, nominated me for the quarterly grant because of my work ethic. It was an immense honor that proved the value of the community I had sought. It confirmed that the strategic guidance and encouragement I was already receiving were worthy of investment — leaving me feeling “more alive and charged to be successfully productive” this coquito season.
How has winning the Flourish Media Small Business Grant improved your mindset around applying for other opportunities?
Winning the grant provided crucial external validation for NEDA’s Coquito. While our mission remains the same, the award shifted my mindset from seeing this as just a passion project to recognizing it as a viable, growing brand with genuine momentum.
The nomination by GiGi Diaz and the outpouring of community support reinforced that my work ethic and vision are valued. That recognition has re-energized me for this season and given me the confidence to pursue new opportunities without hesitation.
What is your next big milestone within your business you hope to accomplish?
My next big milestone is to secure more significant funding to ensure NEDA’s Coquito becomes a sustainable, year-round brand.
I’m continuing to work closely with my sisters in business and pod leaders to guide that growth. For next season, I plan to focus on Research & Development for a low-sugar or sugar-free coquito option and begin pursuing placement in specialty retail stores to expand our reach.
What’s something you’ve been working on in your business that you want the world to know?
This is the season NEDA’s Coquito is scaling up.
Since 2016, our fully women-Latina-owned business — a true mother-and-daughter partnership — has proven that a healthy, dairy-free coquito can honor our heritage. With the strategic guidance I’ve received from the Flourish Media community, my immediate focus is on hiring our first part-time staff to increase production efficiency.
This move marks our evolution from a dedicated passion project into a professionally recognized brand ready to grow into new markets.
Why should other women business owners apply for the Flourish Media Small Business Grant?
Every woman business owner should apply for the Flourish Media Small Business Grant because it provides more than funding — it offers direction, validation, and a sense of belonging.
The true prize is the network. When I felt isolated and overwhelmed by ideas, the structure and encouragement within this community validated NEDA’s Coquito as an investable brand. Being nominated by GiGi Diaz proved that my work ethic was seen and valued.
That recognition gave me the momentum and confidence to take major next steps — like hiring staff and expanding our market reach. For any woman entrepreneur wondering if she’s ready, this experience proves that you already are — you just need the right community to remind you.
✨ Learn more about NEDA’s Coquito and follow their journey as they bring heritage, health, and heart to every bottle of their signature dairy-free coquito.
