Daily Inspiration: Meet Alejandro Flores-Munoz

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alejandro Flores-Munoz.

Hi Alejandro, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey into entrepreneurship really started out of necessity and curiosity. I came to this country undocumented, and today I’m a DACA recipient — which has allowed me to work and build businesses, but it’s not a permanent solution and continues to face uncertainty. Because of that reality, early on I realized that traditional career paths were going to be limited, so I began exploring entrepreneurship as a way to create opportunity — not just for myself, but for others around me.

I started small, learning everything through trial and error — selling products online, taking on small hustles, and slowly figuring out how to legitimize each step. Over time, that entrepreneurial mindset evolved into launching food businesses, including Combi Taco and Stokes Poke, which began as small concepts and grew into catering and large-scale meal-production operations serving corporations, universities, and community programs.

One of the biggest turning points was when we began producing meals at scale for shelters and community partners. That experience pushed us to build real systems — hiring teams, improving production efficiency, and learning how to operate at the scale of thousands of meals per week while still focusing on quality and dignity in the food we serve.

Along the way, we also started documenting our journey on TikTok, where we share behind-the-scenes looks at our kitchen operations, how we produce thousands of meals each week, and practical lessons for people who want to start their own businesses. That platform has allowed us to not only grow our brand, but also show others — especially immigrants and first-generation entrepreneurs — that building something from scratch is possible.

Today, I lead multiple food and catering ventures that serve both private clients and large community meal programs, and I spend time speaking with students and emerging entrepreneurs about how to start businesses even when resources or traditional opportunities are limited. My story has really been about starting where I was, building step by step, and using entrepreneurship as a tool to create access — for myself, my team, and the communities we serve.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. One of the biggest challenges has been building businesses while navigating uncertainty around my immigration status. Being a DACA recipient has allowed me to work, but because it’s temporary and constantly debated, there’s always a layer of uncertainty that most entrepreneurs don’t have to think about while trying to plan long-term.

Financially, the early years were also very tough. Like many small business owners, we dealt with cash-flow challenges, learning how to price correctly, managing payroll, and sometimes taking big risks before knowing if the opportunity would fully work out. Scaling from small catering events to producing thousands of meals per week required building systems, training teams, and learning operations at a completely different level — often while still being very hands-on in the kitchen myself.

There were also moments of burnout and doubt, especially during periods when contracts ended or when we had to quickly adjust production levels and staffing. But those moments forced us to become more organized, more efficient, and more focused on building a sustainable operation rather than just surviving event to event.

I think the struggles are actually what shaped how we run the business today — very intentional about planning, building strong teams, and making sure the work we do creates real impact in the community while still being financially sustainable

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m the founder of several food and catering ventures, including Combi Taco Catering and Stokes Poke, where we specialize in large-scale meal production, corporate catering, and community meal programs. Our team focuses on producing high-volume meals efficiently while maintaining quality, strong food safety standards, and dignity in the food we serve.

I’m also the author of No Papers No Fear: You Can Do Business Here, where I share my journey building businesses as an undocumented entrepreneur and encourage others — especially immigrants and first-generation founders — to see entrepreneurship as a path to opportunity.

We’re known for our ability to scale, producing tens of thousands of meals each month while building strong operational systems, and we share much of our behind-the-scenes journey on TikTok to help others learn how to start and grow businesses.

What I’m most proud of is the impact — creating jobs for our team, serving thousands of meals in our community, and using our platform, businesses, and book to open doors for others. What sets us apart is that we combine operational scale with community impact, while staying very hands-on and transparent about how we build along the way

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
One piece of advice I always share is: start before you feel ready. A lot of people wait until everything is perfect — the funding, the plan, the timing — but most entrepreneurs learn by doing, not by waiting. I started small, figuring things out step by step, and that’s what allowed the business to grow over time.

I also wish I had understood earlier how important systems are. Passion gets you started, but processes, pricing correctly, and understanding your numbers are what allow you to sustain and scale a business.

And finally, don’t build alone. Surround yourself with mentors, peers, and a strong team as early as possible. The right people will accelerate your growth and help you navigate the challenges that every entrepreneur faces.

Pricing:

• Taco Bar packages starting at $22 p

Contact Info:

• Website: https://combitaco.com
• Instagram: Alejandro.flores_munoz

Image Credits
Alejandro Flores Instagram