Our story began over ramen while Jose was visiting Orlando. A chance meeting between two bartenders from opposite coasts. Two months later, Jose was in a motorcycle accident that nearly took his life. Within 24 hours, Renate flew across the country to his bedside. While holding Jose's hand, she sang “Fly Me to the Moon” and he responded for the first time. Life later pulled us apart, but years later, we found our way back to each other. This time, we knew, and we’ve been inseparable ever since.

One night, I picked Renate up from work after a terrible day. It was dark, and the rain had just begun to fall. We sat quietly in the car, letting the day fade away. Without a word, I stepped into the rain, opened her door, and held out my hand. Beneath a streetlight, we slowly danced. Her sadness turned into a smile, then laughter, until we were running through the grass, soaked and giggling like kids. It’s our favorite memory because, for a moment, the whole world disappeared but us.

We’d invest the $20,000 into the dream we’ve been building together “Elsewhere”. We’re currently creating immersive pop-ups where food, cocktails, culture, and storytelling transport guests “Elsewhere”. Our ultimate dream is to open a permanent home for Elsewhere, a place built from everything we’ve discovered through our travels and our life together. Winning would give us the chance to turn a dream we’ve shared for years into something real, and invite everyone else along for the journey.