For Zachary Picon, Jordan Scheffler, and Jason van Esso, the University of Miami was more than a place to further their educations. It was where three distinct paths began to converge and move together toward entrepreneurial success they attribute to connections forged at the University.
The three alumni—Picon and Scheffler graduated in 2018 and van Esso in 2016—are co-founders of Crewfare, a Miami-based travel technology company offering end-to-end booking and management solutions for group travel tied to live events, festivals, and major international gatherings.
The platform centralizes hotel bookings, packages, and logistics that are typically managed through separate systems. Crewfare has been recognized nationally, including placement on the Inc. 5000 list and in Forbes’ 30 Under 30, and has worked with Formula 1 Miami, Lollapalooza, and Ultra Music Festival, among other clients.
The three did not arrive at the University with the same academic focus. Picon transferred in as a sophomore, majoring in economics with a minor in entrepreneurship. Scheffler studied accounting with a minor in music business. Van Esso enrolled in a biomedical engineering pre-med track. What connected them was not a specific classroom, but a campus culture that rewarded initiative and proximity to the real world.
“My mom and my grandfather both went to UM, so it was kind of in my blood,” Picon said. He quickly found his footing, joining a fraternity and immersing himself in campus life. He also met van Esso, who had already become something of a known quantity among students for organizing large-scale trips and events. “He had started a successful travel business while we were still in college,” Picon said. “That’s how we first connected.”
Van Esso’s entry into entrepreneurship was unplanned. “I came to the University of Miami as a biomedical engineering major on the pre-med track, and ended up starting a business at 18, kind of by accident, by organizing events,” he said. Believing in the power of shared experiences, he set out to create events that brought students together. Those events grew quickly and eventually expanded into student travel.
Scheffler entered the picture through music. A disk jockey throughout college, he met van Esso after messaging him on Facebook with a sample of his DJ mix. “It was really good, so we started working together,” van Esso said. Scheffler went on to DJ many of the events van Esso organized, including early spring break trips that began with Miami students and later expanded beyond campus.
After graduating, Scheffler headed toward the music industry, working at Universal Music Group and later Groot Hospitality in Miami. Van Esso followed, working as an assistant to the hospitality company’s founder David Grutman. Picon also spent time at Groot, and while their roles differed, the proximity mattered. “All three of us worked at Groot at different times, and we always talked about starting something together,” van Esso said.
Miami itself played a defining role in their development. “Being in Miami adds to what makes the University so special,” Scheffler said. “It’s a global, international city, and networking is a huge part of building a career.” Van Esso agreed, noting that the city’s hospitality and nightlife ecosystem made his early ventures possible. “I don’t think I could have started my college business at another school,” he said.
For Picon, the University’s scale made a difference. “The University isn’t massive, but it’s not small either,” he said. “That balance allowed professors to be real resources early in my career.” He credits the faculty, particularly in entrepreneurship, with reinforcing the importance of initiative. That connection has endured. Picon now returns to campus to give guest lectures for Miami Herbert Professor Susana Alvarez-Diaz, and he previously served on the Citizens Board.
The trust that the three built over the years proved critical once they decided to start Crewfare. “Having co-founders made a huge difference,” Picon said. “We trust each other, make decisions together, and move quickly.” Scheffler echoed that sentiment. “Early on, the three of us did everything ourselves,” he said. “Word of mouth and personal relationships were everything.”
Even as their work expanded beyond campus and beyond Miami, the University remained a touchstone. Scheffler pointed to the responsiveness of faculty years after graduation as evidence of that culture. “When COVID hit and I decided to apply to law school, I needed recommendation letters immediately,” he said. “Professors I hadn’t spoken to in years responded within 24 hours.”
All three founders have chosen to stay in South Florida, a decision they see as both personal and practical. “A lot of our team is connected to the U,” van Esso said. “We actively look to hire UM talent and offer internships.”
When asked what advice they would give current students, their answers reflected the same themes that shaped their own paths. “Immerse yourself in Miami,” Picon said. Scheffler emphasized action over perfection. “Don’t wait to perfect something,” he said.
Years after first crossing paths on campus, the three remain bound by the place where it began. Their degrees and journeys differ, but the University of Miami provided the setting, the network, and the confidence to build something together.
