A Talented Entrepreneur from Chiriquí Province Panama is Javier Alvarado.

Javier Eduardo Alvarado Martínez, originally from Chiriquí, is 22 years old and has been developing his entrepreneurial side for almost a decade. He is the founder of Freshco, a project he started when he was 13 years old, which has allowed him to learn from an early age about production, business, and the challenges of turning an idea into a reality.  His idea started at school when he wanted to pair a chicken empanada with a drink and remembered the chicha his grandmother used to make. Unable to find anything similar, he decided to create it himself. “I secretly took out my cell phone and texted my mom that I wanted to make juices,” Alvarado recounted.  With his mother’s support, he began his first tests in a small family factory in Chiriquí.

There he experimented with formulas and flavors, while discovering that entrepreneurship involved much more than just having an idea. “Making one chicha at home is one thing, but making a thousand is another,” he explained.  For Alvarado, starting so young meant learning on the job, making mistakes, and understanding that results don’t always come immediately. “You have to start with the smallest things and take small steps,” he said.  Alvarado also emphasized the importance of having support during the early stages of a business venture, especially when starting out young. In his case, his family’s support was key to being able to experiment, make mistakes, and continue developing his idea. 

“Throughout that time you need some kind of support, some kind of investment,” he emphasized, explaining that behind a project there are also resources, support, and people who believe in the initiative before the results begin to arrive.  At 22, he acknowledged that he is still learning and doesn’t consider himself an expert in all the areas involved in building a business. However, he emphasized that determination has been one of the main reasons for staying on track.  “There are people much smarter than you, much more capable, but not everyone has the necessary determination to be able to move forward with a project,” he said.  He currently continues working at Freshco and on new entrepreneurial ideas, with the intention of expanding its reach beyond Panama. For him, the important thing is to keep moving forward and not wait until everything is settled before starting.

A National Brand.

Freshco is a ready-to-drink refreshing beverage that comes in a 345 ml bottle and is available in two flavors: pitaya and pink lemonade. It is sugar-free, gluten-free, carbohydrate-free, and fortified with 12 vitamins. Its regular price is $1.50.

Biographical Data.

In 2019, he represented Panama at the International Tourism Fair in Madrid, Spain. He won the Gourmet Excellence Award in the Young Entrepreneur category.  He graduated with a Bachelor of Science and Letters degree from Brader College in Panama.  He is studying international business at Quality Leadership University Panama.  “Never doubt yourself, my story as an entrepreneur is just beginning and yours can move forward too,” Alvarado.

Javier Eduardo Alvarado Martínez, originally from Chiriquí, is 22 years old and has been developing his entrepreneurial side for almost a decade. He is the founder of Freshco, a project he started when he was 13 years old, which has allowed him to learn from an early age about production, business, and the challenges of turning an idea into a reality.