Our city is home to so many incredible businesses and so we asked the founders how they came up with the ideas for their businesses and have shared their responses below.

Kendra Conard | Founder of WTR

The idea for WTR was born from my love for the water and the cherished memories I’ve made on the water throughout my life. As a young girl, I dreamt of starting my own surf brand, inspired by watching surfers ride the waves of Lake Michigan—the “Malibu of the Midwest.” These moments spent on various bodies of water, whether it was a lake, river, or ocean, hold a special place in my heart and are treasured memories shared with loved ones. Read more>>

Susan Klein | Restaurateur

Entrepreneurial restaurateur and healthy eating mastermind Susan Klein has spent over 30 years in the food service industry, gaining firsthand knowledge and experience in aspects from purveyor relationships, menu development, ingredient preparation and the unhealthy habits that come along with the responsibilities. Her personal journey to reclaim her own health has served as the driving force behind her sensational South Florida nutrient-driven concepts, Fit Foodz Café and RIPE Read more>>

Alex Anders | DJ & Music Producer

The idea for my business came up when I first started getting into DJing. It was hard to get gigs and to get my name out there, especially with how saturated the DJ market was in Miami. So I decided to create my own opportunity and an opportunity for the artist community; thus creating my hospitality business “Rebel Hospitality Group” and my record label “Rebel Society”. The goal is to use my business as a tool for artists who are on the come up and to create events where the underground has a chance to shine. Read more>>