Hot Mama Salsa

Founder Story: Nikki Guerrero

When Nikki Guerrero moved from the Southwest to the Pacific Northwest, she brought with her a passion for authentic flavors and a dream of creating handmade products using fresh, local ingredients. What started as an 'art project' in 2008 with three fresh salsas has grown into a thriving business that now operates from a 9,000- square-foot facility, producing not just their signature salsas but also the best tortilla chips in town.

But Nikki's journey wasn't just about creating amazing products - it was about building meaningful connections. Her path intersected with Built Oregon at one of our annual Built Festival. As her company grew, Nikki found herself facing new challenges that required skills beyond her current expertise. Through Built's network, she discovered a supportive community of entrepreneur support organizations and fellow business owners who could provide guidance, resources, and authentic connections.

The relationships cultivated through Built proved invaluable, particularly when Hot Mama Salsa made the significant move to their current facility. This expansion allowed them to scale up production of their INCREDIBLE tortilla chips while maintaining the quality and authenticity that customers love.

HOT MAMA SALSA

For Nikki, success isn't just measured in sales figures - it's about providing living wages and benefits to her employees, maintaining strong relationships with local farmers, and bringing authentic, homemade flavors to her community.

What resonates most with Nikki about Built's approach is their focus on the whole entrepreneur - supporting not just business growth, but also mental health and authentic community connections. As she puts it, Built creates a network where entrepreneurs can reach out to each other to solve problems together. This emphasis on community and mutual support exemplifies the power of connection in building successful, sustainable businesses.

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