Today we’d like to introduce you to German Caldera Avila.
Hi German, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I have built Da Cakes Houston side by side with my wife, Maria Isabel Romero. Most of our customers know us simply as Mike and Gaby. It is a funny story, but those names stuck years ago because they are easy to remember and they make every conversation feel friendly.
I was born in Maracaibo, Venezuela and moved to Houston in 2015. I am not a classically trained pastry chef. My background is operations, finance, and marketing, so when I took the lead in 2019, my goal was to modernize a very traditional business. We documented recipes and procedures, then introduced automation and AI where they actually help. That started with fast, accurate quoting and capacity planning, and it now includes inventory and purchasing automations so ingredients and packaging are always where they need to be. With that foundation we launched our same-day and next-day custom cakes. Customers choose size, flavor, color palette, message, and edible images, and our team executes with precision in hours, not days.
We also run a thoughtful wedding cakes program with tasting boxes, collaborative design, and calm, on-time delivery, plus a growing line of Signature Desserts made to order for freshness. Houston embraced us, our team has grown with the demand, and today we are focused on expansion. We are in active conversations with investors to accelerate growth in Houston and begin what will become a national expansion in the near future. Our north star is simple: use modern tools and a great team to make life’s moments easier and more delicious.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road has not been smooth. I arrived as an immigrant learning a new language and a new market. Early on we wrestled with cash flow, seasonal swings, and earning trust in a category where every order is for a milestone. The creative challenge was delivering speed with consistency. Custom work usually takes days, but families often need a cake tonight or tomorrow.
We solved this by writing clear procedures, investing in training, and letting technology carry the repetitive work. Automation and AI assemble quotes, apply pricing logic, map our daily capacity, and now even manage inventory and purchasing so we are not chasing last-minute supplies. We also had to navigate the pandemic, supply shortages, and the constant learning curve of digital advertising. What kept us moving was listening to customers every week, iterating fast, and treating technology as a tool for people, not a replacement for them. The result is a resilient company that keeps improving under pressure.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Da Cakes Houston is a tech-enabled boutique bakery known for same-day and next-day custom cakes, wedding cakes, and Signature Desserts made to order. We specialize in clean design, great flavor, and reliable speed. For customs, guests personalize size, flavor, color palette, message, and edible images. For weddings, couples start with tasting boxes and a guided design process that keeps everything organized. Our Signature Desserts cover those “I want something amazing today” moments.
What sets us apart is how we have modernized the back end to make the front end feel effortless. We use practical automation and AI to streamline quoting, organize design details, plan production capacity, and now to control inventory and purchasing. Clear procedures keep the craft consistent while the systems keep the day flowing. I am most proud of our people and of the trust we have earned with families, planners, and corporate clients who count on both taste and timing.
Next for us is expansion. We are speaking with investors to scale in Houston and begin a national expansion soon, staying focused on the same idea: fast, reliable, beautifully made desserts delivered by a team that cares.
What makes you happy?
Happiness for me is working with my wife, Maria Isabel (or as many customers call us, Gaby and Mike) and seeing our team grow in skill and confidence. I love when a last-minute request turns into a calm pickup and a big smile. I also enjoy building systems that make our people’s jobs easier, like the inventory and purchasing automations that remove stress from the day. Creating jobs, serving our city, and being part of celebrations is what fuels me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dacakeshouston.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dacakeshouston
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dacakeshouston
