Jesica Oliverio is the owner of Maté Party. Read our interview with Jesica about her experiences with Xcelerate Business Advising and peer mentor groups. 

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What inspired you to start your own business? 

I've always had an entrepreneurial spirit—I love a good challenge and figuring things out. During the pandemic, I needed a morning routine that didn’t leave me jittery like coffee does. Inspired by a cult-favorite sparkling yerba mate drink from Europe, I started experimenting in my kitchen and before I knew it, Maté Party was born!

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What were some of your key goals that you worked with Xcelerate on this year? 

A major goal this year was securing distribution with Point Blank Distributing, which happened in April 2024, and has significantly expanded my reach. My Xcelerate coach, Alison Sokol Blosser, guided me through the logistics and taught me how to build stronger distributor relationships. I'm still working on this and each session with her continues to level up my business.

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How has your identity as a woman and any and all other intersectional identities impacted your business?

The beverage industry has long been a boys’ club, but that’s starting to change, especially here in Portland. Seeing so many womxn owned brands making waves is incredibly inspiring. Being part of that movement fuels me to keep breaking barriers and pushing forward.

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What were some of the challenges you faced this year and how did working with Xcelerate help you to overcome these challenges?

Scaling my business and securing distribution were big challenges this year. With support from Xcelerate, I learned the ins and outs of logistics and strategy. We worked a lot on making these transitions manageable while setting Maté Party up for sustainable growth.

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Are there any wins or achievements you have celebrated this year while working with Xcelerate? For example - hiring new employees, paying yourself, quitting a day job, achieving profitability, opening a new location, increase in sales, launching a new product. Please be as specific as possible.

Absolutely! A major milestone this year was being chosen as 1 of 10 brands, out of 1,600 applicants, for Whole Foods’ Local and Emerging Accelerator Program (LEAP). With guidance from my Xcelerate coach, Alison Sokol Bloser, I refined my pitch and secured a spot in this game-changing opportunity. Her continued support helped me manage my business during the program and now we're gearing up to launch in Whole Foods this summer!

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How do you personally define success for you and your business?

For me, success is all about balance. Feeling happy and fulfilled while making a living doing what I love. It’s about growing my business without sacrificing the time to enjoy life along the way. That’s the ultimate goal!

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Is there anything else you'd like to share about your Xcelerate experience?

Working with Xcelerate has been a game-changer. The personalized guidance and support helped me manage challenges I didn’t even see coming. It’s not just my business that’s grown but my confidence as a founder in the wild world of CPG ☺

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Find them: @drinkmateparty