[4] Guayakí was founded in 1996 as a CalPoly San Luis Obispo senior project by Alex Pryor and David Karr.

[6][7] The name Guayakí comes from the Indigenous Aché people of Paraguay, who are ancestral consumers of the mate plant.

In the interest of social and environmental responsibility, the company works with the Aché people to conserve the rainforest habitat they dwell in and harvest mate.

[8] Guayakí is California's first B Corporation,[9][10] certified organic by USDA Organic; Additionally, the company is also certified fair trade by IMO and is a member of Fair Trade Federation, and the first yerba mate company to achieve biodynamic certification.

[13] On March 21st, 2024, Ben Mand was announced as the new CEO of the company after Robyn Rutledge accepted the role of Board Executive Chair.