5 Minutes with Madre Masa & Tortillas 

In our “5 Minutes with an Entrepreneur” series, we pass the mic to Michigan entrepreneurs we’ve supported to hear their stories, including the spark behind their businesses, their challenges, and what motivates them to keep going. 

Madre Masa & Tortillas is Michigan’s first organic heirloom nixtamal tortillería, founded in 2022 by Ostosh and Renata Fernández Domínguez. Every Friday, their home kitchen transforms into a traditional tortillería, crafting fresh tortillas and masa using organic, locally sourced corn and the centuries-old process of nixtamalization. The result? Richly flavored, nutrient-dense tortillas that honor tradition while meeting the demands of today’s conscious eaters. 

With recent funding, Madre Masa is expanding its equipment to bring more of its beloved tortillas to homes across Michigan. Keep reading to hear from the founders about their journey, the power of nixtamalization, and what keeps customers coming back for more. 

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Can you tell me about your business? 

We produce hand-pressed corn tortillas utilizing Michigan heirloom and organic corn and the traditional process of nixtamalization. We’re a small but mighty operation in Grand Rapids Michigan operating under cottage license. 
 
What is the spark behind your business? What inspired you to become a food entrepreneur? 

Our spark began with our simple desire (so we thought) to have access to local and delicious corn masa and tortillas. This led us on a whole journey to understand why grocery store tortillas taste so terrible and why it is so difficult to find a quality and nutritious masa product. Ultimately, it led us to learning the practices of nixtamalization and stone-milling, both critical for producing a delicious tortilla. Our love for México and our desire to create cultural connection with others fuels our business. There is nothing that gives us greater pleasure than connecting others to the glorious taste of nixtamal, which is many times a reconnection to their heritage, memories of home and to loved ones. 
 
What happened that led you to find help from Fair Food Network and/or Michigan Good Food Fund? Were you looking to grow, did you need help with a certain aspect of your business to prepare for financing? 

We initially connected to the Michigan Good Food Fund as recipients of the Seed Award in its first year! We were looking to grow by building more infrastructure around our business and investing in some equipment to help us produce more masa and tortillas. The Michigan Good Food Fund has also supported us in our website development and we’re excited to be launching that very soon. 

Can you describe your experience working with Fair Food Network and Michigan Good Food Fund? 

Very seamless. Michigan Good Food Fund is very connected to others in the food incubator space. The trust base funding has allowed us to make the best decisions for us and our business at the stage that we are at. It has allowed us to grow at our desired pace. 

What’s coming next for your business? Any plans we can share in our story? 

We will officially be launching our business website in the next few weeks which will allow us to start taking orders via ecommerce vs. via direct message as we have been doing since the beginning. It will also give us a platform to share more about our process and educate others on the ancestral practice of nixtamalization. 
 
What’s the biggest ah-ha moment you’ve had? 

I don’t know that we’ve had one pivotal ah-ha moment but so many along the way. From how we want to be in the community, to how to make our product more accessible to those that consume it the most, to how to source more corn in the community, and how to connect to others in other markets with similar goals and products, we have been grateful for all the exchange of knowledge and ideas that have sharpened our business approach.  
 
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve gotten? 

Just get started and try things on. When starting a business the to-do list feels endless and it can be intimidating to get yourself out there before having all your ducks in a row. In reality, it’s a key time when you have more flexibility to tweak your vision, adjust your product, and just analyze what’s working, and how the market will respond. It also allows you to see what works best for you and define how you want to co-exist with your business. Starting a business can feel overwhelming and emotionally taxing at times, so the flexibility to try on different business formats is a gift that allows you to be sure of the path before going all in.  
 
What advice would you give to someone considering working with us? 

Educate yourself on all the resources available in the community and start conversations sooner rather than later! Depending on your business goals, there are so many options and resources out there to make it a reality, so start exploring now. Michigan Good Food Fund offers funding, financing, training, and business assistance to make sure your business is prepared for the long haul. 

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We are honored to support businesses like Madre Masa & Tortillas by connecting them with opportunities and expertise to help them innovate, grow, and make a positive impact on our local food system.   

Interested in working with the Michigan Good Food Fund? See if your business is a good fit here.