One year after winning the Social Impact and Sustainable Development Goals category at the Entrepreneurship World Cup Global Finals in 2023, GEN Starters Club member Demetrio Santander and his team successfully led the acquisition of Waykana, a natural energy drink startup by Industrial Danec SA. Industrial Danec is an Ecuadorian manufacturing, commercialization and distribution company.
Waykana's key ingredient is Guayusa, a natural leaf grown in the Amazon jungle. With a unique combination of natural caffeine, antioxidants, chlorogenic acids, and theobromine, a natural stimulant, it is know as "Mother Nature’s ultimate energy drink." For centuries, the Kichwa Indigenous peoples of the Amazon have used the guayusa leaf as a natural source of energy, connecting with Pachamama (Mother Nature) and their community. The Waykana team work directly with native Amazonian farmers who cultivate the Guayusa plant, resulting in farmer salaries that are 15% higher than Fair Trade standards.
“We are excited to welcome Waykana to the Danec family,” said Javier Pérez-Anda, Danec Premium Business Unit Manager. “This acquisition reflects our continued commitment to innovation and excellence in the food and beverage industry. We are sure that this integration will strengthen our position in the market and will allow us to offer even more quality options to our consumers."