When finance major Eddie Favela isn't in class or studying, he's busy building his consumer-packaged goods company, Vidagua. The bottled agua fresca brand combines “vida" and “agua" in its name and offers a lighter, less-sugary version of the traditional Mexican and Latin American drink. Vidagua has already expanded into about 10 states, with notable launches on the West Coast, including the grocery chains Gelson's and Lassen's in California.
In this interview, Favela shares how his journey with Vidagua began and what lies ahead as he approaches graduation this fall.
Q: Can you share how Vidagua first came about?
It started during my sophomore year. I had a private equity internship through a connection from Professor Martin Essenburg, which gave me some flexibility to pursue a side passion. I have always enjoyed food and cooking, and I grew up drinking agua frescas when
visiting my family in Durango, Mexico and around Chicago. I began bottling them on the side. My father, who owns a restaurant chain, encouraged me to pitch the drinks to his partners. They loved the idea, and we began selling them in restaurants. Week after week, our three flavors outsold the five flavors of Jarritos. That was our proof of concept. At that point we knew we needed to move into professional manufacturing to scale, and that was the real beginning of Vidagua.
Q: Where does your creative drive and hustle come from?
A few places. My faith gives me strength and direction. My family has always been a strong support system. And my father, who immigrated from Mexico, has been a huge inspiration. Seeing his hard work showed me that with support and determination you can get through anything. For me, building Vidagua feels natural because of the example and foundation I grew up with.
Q: Why did you choose DePaul?
I have always been very family oriented, and I wanted to stay close to my family. I also knew that going to school in a major city would give me opportunities to meet people and access internships. That turned out to be true. I interned at Old Mission my freshman year and met founders in the food and beverage industry who showed me their operations. Being in Chicago gave me both proximity to family and exposure to a wide range of people and opportunities.
Q: How has DePaul's mission influenced you over the past four years?
I think it reinforced values that my parents instilled in me. To me, DePaul's mission meant that if you have the opportunity to do something, you should take it and not take life for granted. That mindset shaped how I approached internships, networking, and eventually starting Vidagua. It reminded me to take advantage of the resources and relationships around me, one step at a time.
Q: Do you have a favorite memory from your time at DePaul?
One highlight was working with Professor Martin Essenburg through the Keeley Center Academy. The Keeley Center Academy is a demanding and rigorous program that gives high-performing finance students a competitive advantage. He was a mentor and role model for me in the program. The classes were demanding but rewarding, and they showed me how capable I was of putting in long hours and going the extra mile. I also appreciated support from the Coleman Entrepreneurship Center. Those experiences helped me discover my competitive edge and were among the most fulfilling parts of my time here.
Learn more about Eddie’s journey here.