MEET OUR 2024 ACCELERATOR CLASS!
Gaby Viteri
FIRST FEMALE
Founder Bio
Gaby is a WPB creative and arts activist. Her experience includes consulting with luxury brands, events production, and creative direction. With 25 years working in WPB, Gaby’s superpower is that she’s local and well connected. Her passion for community and art led her to found First Female as a way to support female artists and their friends, while elevating the local art scene.
What’s your venture?
First Female is a community dedicated to empowering women through art and creativity, offering unique opportunities for female artists to connect, showcase, and sell their work.
What problem are you solving?
There are too few spaces where women can nurture creative connections and network with intention.
What’s your current stage?
Launched and post-revenue, I’m now focused on growing Palm Beach Women’s Art Week (PBWAW) and securing sponsorships.
What’s next?
Increase membership and brand awareness. Over the next year, solidify PBWAW as an established event, further building it out and monetizing it.
Kye Akavia
Extra Hands Hospitality
Founder Bio
With over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Kye’s journey from dishwasher to owner reflects his unwavering commitment and expertise in every aspect of restaurant and hotel operations. Having successfully created, operated, and sold his own concept, he offers invaluable insights and a proven track record to potential clients seeking to redefine industry standards and achieve unparalleled success.
What’s your venture?
Extra Hands Hospitality is a restaurant consulting business helping owners expand and maintain strong teams through effective systems and organization.
What problem are you solving?
Restaurant owners struggle to expand and maintain strong teams due to weak organizational systems. I come in and drive innovation and operational excellence leading to increased profits and/or successful exits.
What’s your current stage?
Early revenue stage.
What’s next?
Increase visibility and, over the next year, grow the business enough to hire first employee to drive sales.
Sebastian Zabala & Naasson “Nay” Cortney Allen
mobl
Founder Bio’s
Sebastian is a Web Developer and Graphic Designer with over 10 years experience. A creative at heart, he has experience working on small business projects to large corporate campaigns and everything in between. Being the father of two and a startup founder he has learned the value of time management and hopes to share his journey with the world.
Nay is a local barber turned tech entrepreneur based out of West Palm Beach, FL. Originally from Texas, Nay has over 10 years experience in the barber industry. He is also a volunteer with Inner City Innovators, a local non-profit, where he mentors at risk youth between the ages of 15-24. His goal is to be a positive example for his community.
What’s your venture?
We're creating a seamless platform where you can effortlessly connect with top-notch barbers who come to you, offering convenience and quality in one package.
What problem are you solving?
Right now, there's no easy way for people to find and book mobile barbers. Whether you're looking for a trim before a big event or just prefer the comfort of a haircut at home, the options are limited and often hard to navigate. Mobl is here to solve that problem, making mobile barber services more accessible and straightforward for everyone.
What’s your current stage?
We’re currently in the pre-revenue stage, operating in the personal services industry.
What’s next?
In the next 90 days, we’re diving into a hard marketing push to drive at least 100 weekly visits to our website and onboard six mobile barbers to serve the South Florida area. Over the next year, we plan to expand beyond South Florida, with the ambitious goal of generating $100k in gross profit.
Denley Murat
Flavar
Founder Bio
Denley leads a cutting-edge video production and marketing company while operating FLAVAR. With over 15 years of experience, he has evolved from working on small-scale projects to large-scale productions and feature films.
Denley has successfully orchestrated experiential events in West Palm Beach, attracting over 800 attendees and driving significant patronage to local businesses. Passionate about creating impactful experiences, he excels at connecting people and ideas, whether through the lens of a camera or the vibrant atmosphere of an art and music festival.
What’s your venture?
Flavar, short for Florida Variety, is an event services company committed to bringing culturally inclusive special events to the Palm Beach region. We're on a mission to celebrate diversity through dynamic experiences that highlight the richness of various cultures.
What problem are you solving?
Palm Beach has a vibrant community, but it lacks events that truly reflect its cultural diversity. Flavar fills this gap by creating inclusive events that celebrate arts, music, fashion, and history from all corners of the globe. Our goal is to unite communities and offer unique experiences that resonate with everyone.
What’s your current stage?
We’ve officially launched and are actively operating in the event services industry. With over seven years of experience in event production and marketing, and a track record of hosting 100+ events, we're well-established but always looking to grow. Right now, our focus is on increasing brand exposure, securing sponsorships, and improving our grant writing efforts to support our mission.
What’s next?
In the next 90 days, we’re revamping our website to better serve both new and existing clients, while also launching a new quarterly experience designed to scale our business. We're also rolling out the Flavar Network, a platform that will spotlight local talent, small businesses, and more.
Looking ahead to the next year, our big goal is to expand it nationally with a 5-state tour, aiming to generate $350k in gross profit. We’re excited to take our cultural celebration on the road and continue growing our impact across the country.
Lindsey Diamond
Recimee, Inc.
Founder Bio
For the majority of her post collegiate career Lindsey has worked as an investment analyst for a family office, stepping back from full employment in 2023 to focus on Recimee. She graduated from Florida State University in 2006.
What’s your venture?
Recimee, Inc. is an online community for cooks to save, organize, and share recipes, designed to make cooking and entertaining easier and more enjoyable.
What problem are you solving?
Home cooks are frustrated with navigating cluttered cooking websites filled with long narratives, pop-ups, and low-quality recipes.
What’s your current stage?
Launched and pre-revenue in the Information and Communication Technology industry, Lindsey is working to expand the user base and attract ad sponsors.
What’s next?
Launch a marketing campaign to expand the user base by 10x and establish contact with potential advertisers. Within a year, grow the user base by 10,000x and secure strategic partnerships for further expansion.
Yulia Konovnitsyna
YOU SHOULD READ
Founder Bio
An immigrant, nomadic soul, and student of life, Yulia is a conscious entrepreneur and passionate storyteller. By day, she’s a marketing consultant; in her other productive hours, she’s a devoted enthusiast of meaningful gifting. Nine years ago, she founded a digital marketing agency that allows her to live and work on her own terms. Yulia is also a founding member and the first host of Creative Mornings Palm Beach.
What’s your venture?
YOU SHOULD READ is a unique service that makes growth-oriented gifting effortless, offering meaningful and personalized gift options.
What problem are you solving?
Finding unique, thoughtful gifts is often difficult, time-consuming, and expensive.
What’s your current stage?
Launched with some revenue in the corporate gifting and e-commerce industry, Yulia is working on launching corporate gifting services and building the structure to support bulk ordering and fulfillment.
What’s next?
Finalize website, increase brand awareness through events and community activations, and better market the business despite a limited budget. Longer-term vision includes expanding service offerings and establishing a tranquil mountain homestead.
Meghan McKenna
Flamango Vending
Founder Bio
Megan has lived and worked in West Palm Beach since 2003. After starting her career at Clear Channel Radio, she ventured into entrepreneurship, focusing on technical search engine optimization and website design. Megan’s passion for creating engaging, activated experiences led her to her next venture.
What’s your venture?
Flamango Vending is an affordable art vending machine featuring works from local Palm Beach County artists, offering unique and accessible art pieces.
What problem are you solving?
Venues lack cost-effective and engaging ways to activate unrentable space.
What’s your current stage?
In the seed stage within the art and vending industry, Meghan is exploring funding opportunities and seeking connections with local venue spaces interested in hosting art vending machines.
What’s next?
Launch a mini affordable art vending machine and secure second machine and future venues. Over the next year, expand Flamango Vending to include six additional machines around Palm Beach County.
Danielle Zelaya & Jacqueline Christensen
Gather & Seek
Founder Bios
Danielle is a seasoned creative professional and graphic design professor at Palm Beach State College. Danielle changed the West Palm Beach narrative by demonstrating that quality design drives innovation. From 2017 to 2020, she managed Elizabeth Ave Station, leaving a lasting mark on the city's creative landscape. Now, balancing early motherhood and professional leadership, Danielle continues to drive the growth of Gather & Seek as the studio's Founder and Visionary, while her talented team of designers transforms brands and brings new concepts to life.
Jacqueline Christensen is a multidisciplinary creative, born and raised in Palm Beach County. Jackie has been with Gather & Seek, a creative design studio, for 8 years, stepping into the role of Co-Owner in 2023. She’s honored to be a part of the company’s progress and its significant influence on the WPB community. As the team’s art director and project manager, she expertly balances organization with creative freedom, all while maintaining strong client relationships.
What’s your venture?
Gather & Seek is a design studio that partners with businesses ready to transform their brand presence and bring new concepts to life.
What problem are you solving?
Helping businesses effectively transform their brand presence through innovative design.
What’s your current stage?
Revenue-generating
What’s next?
In the next 90 days, we plan to update our website with new service verticals and improve client relations. Over the next year, we aim to move into a new office space, pursue high-end projects, and further engage with our growing community.
Béju & Sherryl Muriente
La Postéritée
Founder Bios
Béju and Sherryl Muriente are dedicated to creating art that connects with humanity and community. Béju, an internationally renowned sculptor with over 30 years of experience, uses his work to communicate emotions and tell stories about community and place. Sherryl, a celebrated placemaker and public artist with 18 years of experience, focuses on revealing the identity and soul of places through performance art and community engagement. La Postéritée is their way of giving back, building a community, and helping others discover themselves. Together, they have completed 85 global projects, guiding 27 participants to flourish. Their work reflects the shared experiences that unite us all.
What’s your venture?
La Postéritée is a creative retreat center dedicated to building community and helping individuals discover themselves through art and cultural experiences.
What problem are you solving?
People often forget to invest in themselves due to misconceptions about lacking space, resources, and time.
What’s your current stage?
Launched and pre-revenue
What’s next?
In the next 90 days, we plan to launch our website and host our first Creative Retreat Info Pop-up. Over the next year, we aim to secure at least 18 clients for our creative retreats running from May to September 2025.
Sophie DeWaal
Arya Tea
Founder Bio
Sophie conceptualized Arya during a ten year career as an Investment Banker in New York City. Advising on $20bn+ of transactions during her time on Wall Street, she specialized in restaurant and franchised concepts including the sell-side of Dunkin’ Brands in 2020 and the IPO of European Wax Center in 2021. In 2022, she was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. Never a coffee drinker, Sophie noticed the consumer momentum in the tea space during her work travels. She was inspired to leave Investment Banking to create her company.
What’s your venture?
Arya Tea is a modern tea-based beverage concept focused on raising the bar for freshness and quality in drinks.
What problem are you solving?
Current tea-based drinks lack transparency and quality, often served by coffee shops with limited tea programs or independent boba shops relying heavily on syrups and powders.
What’s your current stage?
Pre-revenue with plans to open the first location in April 2025.
What’s next?
In the next 90 days, I’m planning to confirm farmers markets for the winter, develop and test new drinks, and finalize store design. Over the next year, I aim to build significant community awareness and open my first location.
Natasha Arenas
Meadhill Market
Founder Bio
Natasha, originally from New Jersey and having moved to Florida a few years ago, holds years of financial experience in the healthcare industry and a Masters Degree in Business Administration. Passionate about health and wellness, Natasha is dedicated to raising awareness in the world around us through her newest venture.
What’s your venture?
Meadhill Market is a homestead store dedicated to promoting health and environmental responsibility through nutrient-rich superfoods and sustainable home goods.
What problem are you solving?
People are unaware of the importance of quality food and home products, and the harmful effects of toxic ingredients.
What’s your current stage?
Launched in the agriculture and food & beverage industry, Natasha is focused on farmland development and brand awareness.
What’s next?
In the next 90 days, Natasha plans to build out the homestead store, prepare the farm for production, and increase branding through local markets. Over the next year, she aims to create an in-person experience on the homestead and expand into online marketplaces like Amazon.
Sandy Goldman
65Nation Newsletter
Founder Bio
Sandy has enjoyed two careers in his lifetime, first as a Senior Executive at several publicly held corporations and later as a marketing consultant and entrepreneur. Before he rides off into the sunset he created a new venture close to his heart. When he turned 65, he learned that 10,000 people turn 65 every day.
What’s your venture?
65Nation Newsletter offers a daily 5-minute, unbiased news brief specifically for Baby Boomers, with the tagline "Just news. No politics."
What problem are you solving?
Baby Boomers are overwhelmed by the flood of political news, both truthful and fake, and are looking for straightforward, reliable information.
What’s your current stage?
Launched and pre-revenue
What’s next?
In the next 90 days, I plan to raise a $100,000 investment, acquire 100,000 new subscribers, and start selling advertising on the newsletter. In one year, I plan to expand to 900,000 subscribers and raise an additional $500,000.
Meriah McCauley & Dan Fields
Fields Functionality
Founder Bios
Dan Fields has been a coach of National-level competitive gymnastics for 22+ years and is an Elite Rings strength specialist. He has a background in wrestling and grappling, and also competed in MMA.
Meriah has been working in the Fitness and Wellness industry for 15 years, first as a personal trainer and former competitive figure athlete turned holistic health coach. After earning her Masters in Psychology from Columbia University, specialized in MindBody and Spirituality, she’s been offering therapeutic Yoga and Breathwork.
What’s your venture?
Fields Functionality offers adult gymnastics and holistic fitness coaching, focusing on longevity and functional movement.
What problem are you solving?
Athletes and health-conscious individuals often stop exercising due to pain, injury, burnout, or boredom, leading to both mental and physical health issues.
What’s your current stage?
Launched and revenue-earning
What’s next?
In the next 90 days, we're focused on launching our app and new website, and setting up a monthly schedule of community events, including movement classes, workshops, and virtual coaching. Over the next year, our goals are to expand our Video On-Demand library for in-app purchases, grow our client base to the point where we can hire an additional coach, and start exploring real estate opportunities.