PopUp Republic

Acknowledgments

This book could not have been written without the help and guidance of a number of incredible individuals.

First, my family—my wife Marissa, my parents, Robyn and Larry Baras, my sisters, Samantha and Rachel, and, of course, (and arguably most importantly) my dog, Betty. You all have been tremendous sounding boards for me during this process, and the support that you have given to me throughout my career is immeasurable.

Special thanks go to Jeff Wang, Florence Hardy, Greg Spielberg, Aaron Gadiel, Laura Layton, Melinda Holland, Patty Hirt, and Shuchi Naidoo for being incredible interview subjects and for taking the time out of their busy schedules to answer a few questions. These folks are the best at what they do, and they are all doing great things for their respective industries.

My entire PopUp Republic team is phenomenal. Obviously, I wouldn’t be in this position if it weren’t for them. They have helped me build an outstanding company that is at the forefront of a growing, multi-billion-dollar industry, and I’m extremely grateful to work with them on a daily basis.

David Ghysels is an iconic figure when it comes to creating once-in-a-lifetime pop-up dining experiences. He is the founder of Dinner in the Sky (who also let me include some incredible photos!), an innovative dining experience that suspends patrons, via crane, over some of the most beautiful cities in the world.

I have great appreciation for the Community Entrepreneurship program at the University ...