Mateo and Tadeo Acosta-Rubio, Churromania & Clave

"We’ve been lucky to grow up in a playground of entrepreneurship — churros just happen to be the medium." In this energizing episode of Stars of Franchising, we sit down with Mateo and Tadeo Acosta-Rubio, Venezuelan-American brothers and second-generation leaders of the beloved global franchise Churromania. From childhood shifts behind the register to launching tech startups while studying at Babson College, their story is about more than just churros — it’s about turning family legacy into innovation. As co-founders of Clave, a franchise analytics startup, and former founders of Stuvie, the “Airbnb for music studios,” Mateo and Tadeo are blending deep-rooted franchise experience with a Gen Z lens for scale, data, and social impact. In this episode, they discuss: Growing up “smelling like churros” — and turning that into a career Why franchising is a goldmine for problem-solvers and innovators The creation of Clave, an AI-powered co-pilot for franchise operators How social impact and family values fuel their leadership Advice from their parents that still guides them daily How they’re redefining what it means to be young franchise leaders in a multigenerational business Whether you're a next-gen franchisee, tech-enabled entrepreneur, or someone building legacy with purpose — this one’s for you.