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Our FoundHER Akeila is a driven, ambitious, futuristic business owner whose limit is above the sky. Akeila found a hole in the market when she realized how unaccessible dietary restricted desserts are. She took that barrier straight to the kitchen and started experimenting with her own recipes which led her to start Akki’s Cupcakery & Tea which is now coming to a town near you… Austin, TX!
Akeila’s passion for baking dates all the way back to when she was only four years old. When she got diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, she struggled to find sweet treats that met her dietary needs. This inspired her to take matters into her own hands and make her own recipes out of her own home in San Antonio, TX. In December 2019, she started by making the cupcakes and giving them to her friends and family, which quickly became a hit. She then began bringing them to school and they sold out every day! Her dad then provided seed funding and she brought her sister, Nikita, on board to work with her. They developed an app for the business, making it an e-commerce business and one of the first home-bake businesses to start an app. Through the app, customers became able to pick up their cupcakes or have them delivered to their houses. The business started growing rapidly, and Akeila even had a news cover the week before COVID-19 hit. While she thought the pandemic would hinder her business, it actually made her realize that she didn’t need a storefront and could have her business based out of her home. This enabled her to only have to bake cupcakes when they were ordered, allowing for fresh orders.
Akeila has grown her brand by utilizing social media and Google Optimization, where she has received over 400 5 stars reviews! She makes sure to respond to feedback and provide top-level customer service to ensure that her customers are satisfied. Through pitch competitions and partnering with professionals, Akeila has been able to gain more funding and continue to expand Akki’s Cupcakery & Tea. As her business continues to grow, she hopes to expand more throughout the city of Austin as well as all around Texas! Her goals for the future are to have a storefront and expand beyond cakes and cupcakes, such as bread and other savory options. Coming to college, Akeila has learned how to improve her time management skills by balancing both schoolwork and her business. Here at the University of Texas, Akeila is a freshman business major and plans to major in MIS so that she can apply what she learns in class to her own e-commerce business. Another valuable skill that Akeila has is interpersonal skills, which she believes allow her to have effective customer service and make connections in order to grow her business! Being a part of the FoundHER program at KSWELI has allowed her to meet an inspiring group of girls and she is excited to continue to be a part of the community for the next years to come. A piece of advice that Akeila has for those trying to start their own business is to prioritize not only your customers but yourself as well. Focusing on your values and beliefs will enable you to create a business that you are proud of and that aligns with who you are!
When talking to Akeila, she exemplified the two entrepreneurial mindsets of communication and collaboration, along with adaptability and flexibility. By mixing both she has continued the success of her business and maximized her options for growth. She displays collaboration by partnering with local charities (Camp Camp, The Karate Kid, JDRF, Cherry Hills Seminary) to cater for the events that they host and in return they continue to spread her name. Additionally, she collaborates with her sister, Nikita, to delegate tasks to ensure order in business operations. The entrepreneurial mindset of adaptability and flexibility was displayed when Akeila had to adapt when she noticed that desserts weren't made for her. She shows flexibility by running her business based on that the customer is always right and by making desserts that cater to the needs of her customers. Running a value-based business is very important to Akeila and the foundation of her business is based upon her family’s values of HUGPC: health, happiness, uprightness, gratitude, pay-forward, and continuous learning. With Akeila continuously pushing herself and expanding her business, Akki’s Cupcakery & Tea is going to the next level and we are so excited to see what’s in store!
About The Authors:
Mallory Molonson '26
Textiles and Apparel Design
Sascha Villalon '25
Finance