From a Law Student's Dream to building an exclusive travel social club app

Zach Latos, the Founder and CEO of FlyMeOut, has charted an intriguing course through the realm of startups, painting a vivid picture of dreams, challenges, failures, and ultimate triumphs. Hailing from Queens, New York, Latos's entrepreneurial odyssey culminated in the birth of FlyMeOut – the globe's premier travel social club. This unique platform summons travel enthusiasts, fostering bonds and shared adventures. With FlyMeOut, sightseeing is not just about the visuals; it’s an intimate bonding and networking experience.

Latos's journey is a rich tapestry of diverse experiences. Before embarking on his academic pursuits at St. John’s University School of Law, he honed his work ethic in the demanding restaurant industry of Long Island. From the age of 16 to 21, Zach navigated roles ranging from busboy, food runner, bartender to waiter. The relentless pace of the restaurant world, with its punishing double shifts, instilled in him grit, determination, and an unwavering work ethic.

In the midst of legal studies at St. John’s, Latos's ambition ignited. Envisioning a transformative product for networking, he imagined an ingenious amalgamation of tech and touch. Determined to bring this to life, he ventured onto Fiverr, seeking a UX/UI product designer. Fate intervened, pairing him with Shantanu from India. Together, they soon faced a daunting obstacle: development firms demanding staggering six-figure sums. Investment was scarce, and the duo realized the impracticality of securing such a massive sum, being untested, fledgling entrepreneurs.

In this challenge, however, lay an opportunity. Rather than rely on external sources, they chose the path of self-reliance, leading to the inception of 'Little Planet'. What started as a mere rebranding endeavor soon metamorphosed into a full-fledged product development enterprise, bringing several founders' visions to life.

As Little Planet grew, the allure of launching their own startup became irresistible. Despite initial hiccups, they persevered. All the while, Latos's parallel journey in law witnessed remarkable milestones, from earning a joint JD/LLM degree to a stint with a federal bankruptcy judge, and later, a prestigious law firm. But the call of entrepreneurship, with its heady blend of creativity and leadership, was irresistible. Deciding to pivot entirely, he resolved to craft the most engaging travel platform the world had witnessed.

This determination gave birth to 'FlyMeOut'. A marathon six-year journey distilled into rapid success, with a mere landing page and a $100 ad yielding over 100 applications in a day, 300+ within the week, and a whopping 1,000 by the month's end. With an MVP ready in mere 2.5 weeks, the market response was overwhelming. In just three months, FlyMeOut witnessed a staggering 6,950% growth, generating a remarkable $12,500 in revenue last month. October 1st, 2023, marked a significant milestone with the release of their custom build, poised to usher in an era of expansive growth.

Latos's odyssey, a blend of tenacity and vision, symbolizes the quintessential entrepreneurial spirit. And while his journey is replete with invaluable lessons and experiences, for Zach Latos and FlyMeOut, it seems the real adventure has only just begun.