In the months of May and June (while working at REEF), I teamed up with Matt Boney, CEO of Daycation, to launch Casa Pina in the Yucatan peninsula.
The Casa Pina concept was to host fun, customized experiences and workshops centered around personal growth journeys. (Think Summer Camp for adults at a beautiful location.)
The goal was to test if we could host a valuable experience that people would be willing to book and leverage the playbook to open new locations across latin america.
Some of the revenue opportunities included:
1. booking companies for an annual retreat / workshop (b2b)
2. brands to pay for influencer guests to promote their brands on social media (marketplace)
3. book individual guests (overnight stays packages, daypasses, memberships) (b2c)
It's amazing that in such a quick time, we were able to raise some funds, build a team of 8, and launch with guests that booked online.
We had traction for our first month but decided to postpone the operation due to an unexpected outbreak of Covid-19 in Merida, the nearby metropolitan area.
Matt and I are still testing these experiences in Miami (thanks to some friends in our network) as we strategize the launch of a new concept.
Overall, this was my first experience launching an MVP quickly and leading a team outside of REEF. I feel battle tested and prepared for the next project.
Grateful for your support on the entrepreneurship journey. Any feedback or learnings you may have to avoid making mistakes is much appreciated.