Gab Ruiz – Bringing Taco Jaguar’s Authentic Mexican Flavours to Life
Gab Ruiz and her partner Gaby De La Rosa are entrepreneurs originally from Mexico. Craving an authentic taste of home, in June 2024, they launched Taco Jaguar, a Mexican street food business serving up real traditional flavours from Mexico.
Gab is an industrial chemist originally from Acapulco – the tourism jewel of Mexico. Her family is also entrepreneurial, and she describes herself as a foodie and family person.
Together, the two Gabriella’s believe in the power of food to bring people together, particularly connecting with family. It’s this ethos that they bring to their Taco Jaguar food truck that’s currently located at Searchlight Brewery on Industrial Place, Queenstown.
Picture: Gab Ruiz (3rd from right) with the Startup Booster Cohort of 2024.
SQL: Tell us about what you do and how you got started
Food is one of the things which connects us with our families and as a couple – we are foodies! We felt that a good Mexican spot was missing from Queenstown, so that’s how we went down the path of deciding to create a Mexican restaurant. We started in July and it has been gratifying to see the response of customers ad people so far – how they respond not just to the food, but also the background of the Mexican culture.
SQL: How did you get involved with Startup Queenstown Lakes?
I’ve been going to see them since I was on a work visa, doing short courses and workshops. When I had the opportunity, I took the ten-week Startup Booster course. It’s the networking that is fundamental. When I saw that a community like that was here in Queenstown, I knew I had to get involved.
SQL: How has attending SQL events impacted your business?
It was very good. Running the business and going to the course was challenging – going to the sessions, but also having to work and remembering to do the orders! But it felt so good to complete the course. When I gave my pitch, I felt that I had achieved so much and they gave me so much good feedback. It gave us the tools and ideas to know what we want to do with our company and the connections to help us.
Picture: Gab during her final pitch at Startup Booster Pitch Evening.
SQL: What is next for you and your business?
This experience has given us the view that there is so much more that can be done for the entrepreneurial community. Particularly in the Latin community, there’s a lack of knowledge. Many want to be entrepreneurs but there’s a language barrier and many challenges – but that doesn’t mean they can’t achieve it. They just need to have the right tools as well, so we’ve been thinking about what we can do for entrepreneurs just starting out and looking at how we can help others.
SQL: How would you describe SQL in one word?
Networking.
I’ll add that I believe anything is possible if you make the right decisions and you meet the right people. I think Startup Queenstown Lakes is a place that allows you to make those right decisions and meet the right people. If entrepreneurship is your path in life, this is a good place to start.
Story written by Startup Queenstown Lakes.
Follow: @tacojaguar.nz
