Saverio San Lorenzo, Founder & CEO, HiveHub

In an interview with Invest:, Saverio San Lorenzo, founder and CEO of HiveHub, highlighted Doral’s business-friendly environment. He praised local leadership for fostering growth, saying, “Manuel and his team have been extremely supportive. They understand networking and business development, making them feel more like private-sector partners rather than public officials.”

How has Hive Hub been received by the business community? 

It’s been received much better than expected, which is good news. When I first thought of it about four or five years ago, my main goal was finding a solution for small to mid-sized businesses in the South Florida area. About 10 years ago, I was trying to replicate my business or open a business here in the U.S., moving my operations from Venezuela to Miami. It was very difficult to find the right space due to obstacles like long-term contracts and excessive space we didn’t need. There was a lot of demand but not much supply. I thought there had to be some kind of co-working or warehousing solution, so I started developing this model. It combines aspects of self-storage, traditional warehousing, and co-working. That’s the foundation of this idea. It’s been well received by the community, particularly small and midsized businesses looking to consolidate operations. Many mid-sized businesses started in areas like Wynwood, renting small office spaces, then later expanded to warehouses in Doral. But as the city grew so fast, they needed to consolidate operations in one place. Our model allows them to do that by providing office space and warehousing in the same location, making it easier to oversee inventory and operations. 

Another advantage is the shared resources and tools, starting with utilities and equipment. For example, we provide shared Wi-Fi across 60 clients, reducing costs. Shared equipment is also a significant benefit. Investing in something like a forklift can be a $40,000 expense, which is unnecessary when multiple businesses can share the cost. The key word is flexibility. Businesses can start operating from day one without waiting for permits or approvals. We also offer month-to-month contracts instead of long-term commitments, which is a game-changer in the industrial sector where standard leases are often three years or more. On top of that, traditional industrial leases often require hefty security deposits, tying up capital that businesses could otherwise invest in operations. 

How do you see your company helping small businesses navigate these current economic challenges such as tariffs and interest rates? 

That’s exactly where flexibility becomes crucial. In times of uncertainty, businesses need to be nimble. They don’t want to commit to long-term leases or large capital expenditures. Our model allows them to scale up or down as needed without penalties, giving them more control over their operations. Right now, given the global situation, this business model provides stability amid uncertainty by offering adaptability. 

How do you feel the City of Doral has progressed, especially as a logistics and trade hub, but also in areas like retail, e-commerce, and luxury markets?

I couldn’t have found a better place to start my business. The city is amazing. The people here understand business and want to help companies grow. Manuel and his team have been extremely supportive. They understand networking and business development, making them feel more like private-sector partners rather than public officials. Doral has experienced incredible development across residential, industrial, commercial, and office spaces. It’s home to one of the most important industrial parks in the state, if not the country. It’s not easy to achieve that level of development, but they’ve done it successfully. 

Even though I’m not originally from here, I can confidently say that this city is exceptional in that regard. You can see it in the way Doral has grown. I remember when it was just a small area, and now it’s a well-planned community with strong industrial and commercial sectors. The mix of residential developments and thriving business districts makes it unique.