Zach Cohen didn’t set out to build a startup. He just wanted to throw a good party.
A few years ago, Cohen and his brother were living together in New York. When his brother decided to move back to Miami, they hosted a small going-away party.
But something about that night stuck. The energy. The turnout. The realization that people were hungry for more curated, high-quality experiences – something beyond the typical bar scene or generic event listing.
That spark eventually led to Contra, a new kind of event platform that’s already picking up traction among creators, brands, and influencers.
“People wanted to be invited somewhere that felt intentional,” Cohen told Refresh Miami. “After COVID, there was this craving to reconnect in real life, but in a way that felt aligned with their interests, style, and community.”
Cohen grew up between Boca Raton and Coral Gables and studied at the University of Florida. Though he later built his career in New York, including a stint at Goldman Sachs, he kept a close eye on what was happening back home. And it’s Miami – not New York – that’s now become Contra’s biggest hub.
“Miami is energetic, young, and growing fast,” he said. “It’s outdoors, wellness-oriented, and social. People want to be at the events. They want to be part of something.”
Contra combines event management with a curated guest community that is currently invite-only, with over 5,700 applicants in its first three months. The average applicant has 45,000 Instagram followers, and accepted members average more than 70,000.
Cohen described it as “if Partiful collided with Raya,” a limited set of hand-picked events, hosted by brands and creators, and surfaced to a trusted network. The platform helps brands skip the cold invites and recycled email lists that dominate traditional PR.
“PR firms are tired of spending big money just to get the same group of people to show up,” he said. “We flip that. Now they’re asking us how to get on the list.”
Brands already on board include Wilhelmina, Saint Spritz (founded by JoJo Fletcher of The Bachelor fame), Netflix (for a Battle Camp premiere), and even the World Trade Center’s arts initiative. Every event hosted on Contra provides tools that go beyond a standard RSVP: pre- and post-event messaging, curated guest metrics, and built-in photo galleries for easy social sharing.
For now, it’s free to attend events. Monetization comes from premium tools for hosts and brands, such as influencer tracking, built-in production support, and integrated sponsorships. Cohen sees a future where access to Contra’s event community could come with a subscription.
But for now, Contra’s priority is quality.
“This isn’t a volume game for us,” he said. “It’s about the right people, the right energy, and building something that feels real.”
Cohen isn’t doing it alone. While he’s taken the lead on day-to-day operations, he’s joined by a group of six early co-founders and advisors, many with backgrounds in VC, consumer brands, and entertainment. The team has already hosted over 25 events with more than 50 hosts.
Looking ahead, Cohen is most excited about keeping Contra grounded in community. “We’re not here to gatekeep,” he said.
“We just want people who genuinely want to be there, who want to meet others, and who care about what’s being built.”
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