Welcome to Latino Owned, a newsletter for Latino and first-generation entrepreneurs and creators. The goal of this newsletter is to build a community, share inspiring founder stories and expert tips in ecommerce, and connect with Latino and Latina entrepreneurs building the next big brand.

We are currently in the middle of a content series, highlighting the growing wave of Puerto Rican entrepreneurs! These business leaders are building the next wave of economic growth on an island that is often forgotten from the conversation of global and U.S. economics.

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KAN BOTANICALS

Building Ritual, Culture, and Community

For Angie, soap-making didn’t begin as a business plan. It began as a ritual.

What started as a personal practice, hands deep in natural ingredients, scent, and intention, slowly evolved into something more. Over time, that ritual became a “good obsession,” and eventually, the foundation of Kan Botanicals, a sensorial, community-driven brand rooted in culture, creativity, and care in Puerto Rico.

Kan Botanicals was founded in 2019 as a family project with her mom, with the vision of creating high-quality products that meet the needs of each individual.

“I was nonstop making soaps,” Angie says. “It became a ritual for us.”

Today, Kan Botanicals is growing steadily, building a loyal following drawn not just to the product, but to the experience Angie creates around it.

From Passion to Possibility

Like many founders, Angie didn’t leap into entrepreneurship overnight. She’s still balancing being a full-time teacher, while intentionally working her way toward making Kan Botanicals her full-time focus.

“That’s coming,” she says with confidence. “I know for sure.”

Week by week, month by month, she’s navigating the realities of building a brand, learning when to create, when to step back, and when to shift from maker to strategist. One of the biggest challenges? Balance.

“Soap making is creative, but it’s also a business,” Angie explains. “I’m always asking myself: When am I creating time to strategize? And when am I letting inspiration lead?”

Innovation Through Intuition

Kan Botanicals’ product line is deeply influenced by Angie’s creative environment and lived experience. While she pays close attention to bestsellers, innovation is never formulaic, it’s intuitive.

For example, when Father’s Day approached, Angie asked a simple question: What would feel unexpected?

“Men love a good drink,” she says. “So I thought, what about a whiskey soap?” Rather than overthinking it, she created it and let the market respond. “It’s not always about overplanning,” Angie explains. “Sometimes it’s just creating and seeing where it goes.”

That willingness to test, experiment, and trust her instincts keeps the brand fresh while staying authentic to its roots.

A Sensorial Brand Experience

What truly sets Kan Botanicals apart is the way customers experience it, especially in person.

Angie designs her market setups to be immersive. Visitors are invited to touch the soap, smell it, and even wash their hands on the spot. “It’s sensorial,” she says. “What you can see, touch, smell, that’s how people connect.”

That moment, when someone feels the product on their skin, often becomes the turning point. “When they wash their hands and moisturize, it clicks,” Angie says. “That experience makes me happy. It’s about sharing.”

Culture as a Competitive Advantage

As a Puerto Rican and Latina founder, Angie sees her cultural identity not as a challenge to overcome, but as a source of strength.

“Being born and raised in the culture is what makes business pleasurable,” she says. “It’s about sharing with your people, bringing that spice, that inspiration, that culture into your business.”

Operating in the U.S. market hasn’t always been easy, but Angie is intentional about weaving storytelling and cultural nuance into her branding as she grows, testing the waters while staying true to herself.

That authenticity is already opening doors, with milestones like expansion conversations and retail growth, including visibility alongside major retailers like Walmart, coming soon.

What’s Next, and Advice for Founders

With expansion in the works and growing momentum behind the brand, Angie is focused on sustainable growth, on her own terms.

When asked what advice she’d give other entrepreneurs, her answer is simple and honest: “Just start. Let imperfection be the teacher.”

It’s advice she lives by, one bar of soap, one customer experience, one creative risk at a time.

You can shop Kan Botanicals online or at a market around San Juan, and connect with them on Instagram.

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Brand and Marketing INSPO

Came across the coolest brand inspo for social content that made me stop scrolling. Taking a Wikipedia page design approach is something I haven’t seen. But it’s fun, creative, and honestly made me read what this was about. 🤳 

Quick Hits to Make Your Business Better: 💪

• Apply for the $25,000 Female Founder Fund by SkinnyDipped! Applications close today!

• iOS 26 and Text Message Marketing: What You Need to Know

• The First 30 Days: Where Your Retention Is Won or Lost

• Style and Scale Event: 30+ Sessions Built Specifically for Apparel Brands

Missed other editions? Check out past features: ⤵️ 

• Where Community Meets Motion: The Story of Golden Soul Club

• ¡WEPA! Coffee is Building a Future for 100% Puerto Rican Coffee

• Meet the Founder Building a Modern Men's Haircare Brand

• The Latina-Owned Beauty Brand Disrupting Haircare

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