Beverage Industry Veterans Debut Newly-Launched Private Equity Fund, Aguileros Venture Fund II

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 4, 2025 -- Today, Aguileros Beverage Group is pleased to announce the debut of their newly-launched private equity fund focused on Mexican and beverage alcohol-specific opportunities, providing more than just funding by also offering growth solutions through strong relationships and operational expertise.

The Aguileros Fund is looking to raise $5M with a $10M hard cap, with $2M in commitments secured thus far with a fund life of 10 years following first close. The group will invest following three main criteria pillars: Minority investments in high-growth potential companies, Seed capital for new and emerging businesses, and Strategic partnerships in established businesses that can also benefit from restructuring.

Started by Alex Staniloff, Eli Diamond and Abe Cortes, the fund is comprised of highly experienced investors, operators and entrepreneurs, with notable track records across relevant verticals of the wider beverage industry.

Their roster of General Partners span North American geographics, including Canada, Los Angeles, New York City and Guadalajara, many of whom have launched companies of their own as well as having been part of multiple exits totaling over $300M. The team also has established a distribution agency covering Canada nationwide in addition to having built award-winning branding and marketing agencies.

"We believe the time is now to invest in the wider Mexican beverage category and have developed a behemoth group of experts who can take these brands to uncharted new heights in 2025 and beyond through the launch of our fund - Aguileros Venture Fund II, states Alex Staniloff, General Partner and Managing Member.

The team's extensive group of advisors all come from strong and diverse backgrounds bringing another layer of credibility and connections across the world.

One of the biggest challenges in Mexico's beverage space is gaining real access to early-stage brands. Many of the most promising opportunities remain insulated within local networks, making it difficult for traditional investors to engage at the right time. Aguileros' deep-rooted presence in Guadalajara, Mexico City, and across North America provides an unparalleled advantage, granting the fund early access to emerging brands before they hit the mainstream.

Backing this strategy is a world-class advisory team with expertise spanning private equity, operations, brand building, distribution, and finance. The team includes:

• Arnie Fridhandler, a private equity partner at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP (New York, NY), offering deep M&A and structuring expertise.
• Taylor Foxman, founder of The Industry Collective (New York, NY), known for leading beverage brand strategy and successfully scaling brands to exit.
• Steven Roopenian, Principal at Grobstein Teeple LLP (Los Angeles, CA), bringing financial diligence and restructuring experience.
• Mack Zavitz, General Manager at The Beverage Collective (Toronto, ON), providing extensive distribution and route-to-market knowledge.
• Esteban Morales, founder of Casa Endémica (Guadalajara, MX), specializing in production and supply chain operations within Mexico's spirits industry.
• Hector Banda, founder of IGL Mexico (Guadalajara, MX), with deep insights into logistics and distribution in Mexico's beverage market.
• Alan Mulvihill, a key figure in El Gallo Altanero, Roe & Co, and Diageo, offering global brand-building expertise.

Among the fund's leadership, Eli Diamond, General Partner, Operations, brings a wealth of experience in the Mexican spirits sector. As a board member of the Additive Free Alliance (Tequila Matchmaker), he has been at the forefront of advocating for transparency and authenticity in the tequila industry, working alongside top brands to ensure quality and integrity in production. Eli was also part of the founding team of Ole Cocktail Co., where he played a key role in the brand's successful launch and distribution rollout, ultimately leading to its acquisition by Mark Anthony Group before its U.S. entry. His expertise in operations, partnerships, and brand growth makes him a critical asset in Aguileros' ability to identify, nurture, and scale promising brands.