Today we’d like to introduce you to Wil Garrido.
Hi Wil, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Waga Events started from a pretty simple thought: I wanted to create experiences that I, as a customer, would actually want to be part of. I felt like there weren’t enough events bringing together all the things people genuinely enjoy – comedy, music, food, sports, entertainment, friends, fans, and just having a great time – in a way that felt authentic and community-driven.
My professional background is in healthcare leadership, strategy, and large-scale negotiations, so I’ve spent years building partnerships, creating growth strategies, and executing complex initiatives. But outside of that world, I’ve always been drawn to culture, people, and creating memorable experiences.
What started as an idea turned into Waga Events, with the goal of building experiences that connect communities while also creating opportunities for local businesses, creators, and brands. Along the way, we launched concepts ranging from large-themed events to community markets, and the response has shown us there’s a real desire for experiences that feel different.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not at all. Like most entrepreneurs, the road has been full of uncertainty, learning experiences, and moments where you question whether you’re moving fast enough or in the right direction.
One of the biggest challenges has been building something from the ground up while balancing a full professional career, family life, and everything in between. People see the crowds and content, but not the hours behind sponsorships, logistics, vendor coordination, marketing, budgeting, and solving problems in real time, which can be fun, crazy, and frustrating all at once. .
I’ve also learned that early on, you spend time, money, and energy on things you think “matter”. Experience teaches you to become leaner and focus on what truly drives outcomes. More importantly, the community will tell you what they need through engagement, feedback, attendance, analytics, support, or even silence. You just have to listen.
Another challenge has been asking people to believe in a vision before there’s a track record. That means hearing “no,” staying persistent, and continuing to show up until consistency builds trust.
At the same time, those struggles became strengths. Every event taught us something, pushed us to adapt, and helped shape what Waga Events is becoming.
I wouldn’t call the journey “smooth” per se but being surrounded by great people since our inception make the challenges easier to mitigate, and they help us build something that’s meaningful and battle-tested.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My background has been shaped by years of working in high-pressure environments centered around growth, partnerships, strategy, and solving complex problems at scale, leading initiatives involving millions of dollars and impacting broad populations. Those experiences taught me how to build relationships, think long-term, and turn ideas into results.
With Waga Events, I’ve applied those same principles to creating experiences that connect culture, food, entertainment, wellness, and community. We focus on building events that feel authentic while creating opportunities for businesses, creators, and communities to grow together.
What I’m most proud of is building something alongside friends and family, seeing communities engage, local businesses benefit, and watching people show up, smile, connect, and truly enjoy what our team put together. That feeling is priceless, and honestly, it’s what keeps the drive going.
What sets me apart is less about me as an individual and more about who we are as people. The team behind Waga Events genuinely cares about the experience, the community, the businesses we support, and the people showing up. Strategy and execution matter, but the quality, authenticity, and intention behind our team is what makes Waga Events special. Concepts can be recreated; genuine care and energy are much harder to replicate.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
People can work with or support Waga Events in a few ways. We’re always open to collaborating with brands, sponsors, local businesses, creators, venues, entertainers, vendors, and community partners who believe in building meaningful experiences.
Whether it’s through sponsorships, event partnerships, vendor participation, content collaborations, or bringing new ideas to life together, we’re interested in creating relationships that are mutually beneficial and community-focused.
Support can also be as simple as attending events, sharing our content, engaging with our platforms, or introducing us to people and organizations aligned with our mission.
At the end of the day, Waga Events is built around community, so if you’re reading this and like what you see, holla at your boy. Let’s connect, build something meaningful, and create experiences people actually remember.
Pricing:
- Pricing varies depending on the type of collaboration, event scope, partnership goals, deliverables, and the level of involvement required.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wagaevents
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wilsongarrido/
