Business Bites #4

Ashley Ugarte of Austin,Texas is a woman on a mission to highlight tradition, sustainably and to make a name for Mexican chocolate.

Her business Hijita was founded two years ago. After funding the chocolate company herself these past two years, she recently won a 12,500 dollar grant, guaranteeing cacao for at least this year and help to begin scaling their production. She works closely with Mexican farmers to bring a sustainable farming legacy for her brand. She dreams of Hijita extending to Mexico to be even closer to the farmers and families that inspire her.

Marvel's newest achievement Deadpool and Wolverine brought in an astonishing 96 million at the box office this past Friday. 

The action-packed film is set to bring in a estimated 195 to around 200 million dollars it's first opening weekend. This Marvel success comes not long after several less than stellar box office releases for the company. The movie's popularity may just be the catalyst to bring in another successful superhero entertainment wave after a definite downward trend of comic hero media in recent years.

Up and coming sportswear company Bandit is making waves in Paris.

Olympic athletes are often sponsored by big name companies and given very necessary funding. Tim West the founder of Bandit running apparel, and Tim Rossi, Head of brand, set out to solve a rarely acknowledged issue for Olympic athletes. Unsponsored athletes often still have to wear branded apparel for their events, giving large name companies essentially free advertising. Bandit's clean, chic, black athletic wear has made a statement. Athletes wearing the unbranded companies clothing stand out in the crowd and help to get recognition from larger brands. Three Olympians who signed with Bandit prior to the trials signed with larger brands before the trials were over. Which was the ultimate goal Bandit set out to accomplish, helping unsponsored athletes get the funding necessary to reach their potential