Valerie Urrutia
CEO, Surje Coffee Co. Valerie is the Co-CEO of Surje Coffee, a dairy-free, experience-driven coffee brand blending Mexican and Armenian influences. With expertise in community-building, market research, and entrepreneurship, she creates unique coffee experiences while expanding Surje Coffee’s presence and impact.
About this speaker
Valerie is the Co-CEO of Surje Coffee Co., a dairy-free, experience-based coffee brand inspired by her Mexican background and her fiancée's Armenian heritage. Valerie and Chris' passion for coffee, culture, and community drives Surje Coffee’s mission to create meaningful connections through unique coffee mocktails, events, and partnerships with local nonprofits.
With a Master’s degree in Demographic and Social Analysis, Valerie combines data-driven insights with creative entrepreneurship. She left the corporate world to grow Surje Coffee full-time, expanding its presence through a brick-and-mortar location, a mobile coffee cart for catering, and plans for multiple future locations across Southern California.
Valerie and her team have earned recognition, including San Diego Magazine’s 2024 Reader’s Choice Award for Best Coffee Shop. She is dedicated to fostering financial literacy, economic inclusion, and empowering small businesses—values she integrates into Surje Coffee’s community-driven initiatives.
Beyond coffee, Valerie is an advocate for business education, an aspiring podcaster, and a Latina entrepreneur determined to build generational wealth and create spaces where culture, connection, and innovation thrive.
