Sympathya — The Soul Elixir Company
challenge
Build a product company rooted in indigenous wisdom from the Amazon — hair, skin, and soul elixirs that honour tradition, support the communities they come from, and stand as a serious brand in their own right.
approach
Co-founded in 2024 with creative partner Aquilles Jarrín. Secured GIZ (German development agency) incubator funding. Built a knowledge exchange model in collaboration with Yakum Org — empowering indigenous communities to work independently while creating a meaningful, sustainable exchange. Every product is sourced from environments that honour nature, tradition, and well-being.
impact
Backed by GIZ Germany & Ecuador. Launching Q2 2026. A direct continuation of years of relationship-building in the Amazon — from WAYSA to four months living with indigenous communities to building something that gives back to the source.
Sympathya was born from a personal need — products that actually nurture hair, skin, and soul, made with the same care and intelligence as the traditions they come from. My creative partner Aquilles Jarrín and I started building it in 2024, supported by GIZ through their incubator programme.
The research led deep into indigenous cultures and the wisdom of the rainforest — which became the heart of the brand. This wasn't a creative brief. It came from years of genuine relationship with the Amazon, the communities there, and an understanding of what it actually means to build something rooted in that world rather than extracting from it.
In collaboration with Yakum Org, we built a knowledge exchange model that allows communities to share their wisdom sustainably — empowering them to work independently while strengthening the connection between Sympathya and the people at its source.
“The Amazon is my greatest source of inspiration — a place where I feel home. Sympathya is the most honest thing I've built.”