Tyler and Dara, the duo behind Eluxx, bring a wealth of diverse experiences and a shared passion for innovation and community to their entrepreneurial journey in Tampa, Florida. Tyler, a native of the city, and Dara, who made Tampa her home after living in Sarasota and Los Angeles, embraced local entrepreneurship and led to the creation of a mobile app for wellness services.
Tyler’s Journey: From Wellness to Finance
Tyler’s career began in the fitness industry, working in operations for a regional gym chain based in Tampa, FL. Tyler was later assigned to help launch a company app branded Life Works. The App integrated in-location health devices such as blood pressure and heart rate monitors with exercise libraries as well as health resources to provide real time data and analytics to over 200,000 members. Tyler transitioned his career into Finance at Quantum Capital Partners, where he currently serves as President. Tyler remained passionate in health and wellness which eventually led him from Positive Lifestyle International in 2012, a company that sold wellness products, food and notably the Cheeks Footwear brand on Television and online in the US, Canada, as well as the UK. He served as President from 2012 to 2018.
In 2014, Tyler invested growth capital into and joined the board of Tampa based wellness brand Fitlife Foods which provided chef quality healthy prepared meals. He remained a board member until 2022. Fitlife Foods grew to be the largest regional omni-channel healthy prepared meals brand in the Southeast United States.
In 2021, Tyler along with other partners formed an Opportunistic Debt Fund and Advisory Firm, Plutus Capital Partners, providing creative financing solutions for entrepreneurs and real estate professionals.
In 2023, Tyler experienced the frustration of his wife Dara (and mother of their 2 children) having multiple failed attempts to book a medspa appointment prior to a family vacation. This was an obvious pain point for both customers and providers. After doing a lot of research, Tyler realized there are small business owners that are trying to make wellness services more convenient for customers ranging from concierge medspa providers to Mobile Aestheticians. That is where the idea for Eluxx was formed, “your style, your way, on your schedule” In a world where booking anything from a restaurant on Opentable to a handyman on taskrabbit happens in just a few clicks, the beauty and wellness industry was still doing most of their bookings over the telephone. Small business owners such as the local salon owner, or the independent yoga instructor deserve the same access to customers as these other industries. These individuals are the pillars of our American communities. His entrepreneurial drive and strategic insight continue to propel the self-care app, Eluxx, forward.
Tyler is also a local philanthropist. In 2018, his generosity helped fund a new Securities Analysis program for the University of South Florida Students at the Lasher Center for Financial Markets. The center offered the same technology resources available to other top tier Universities. In 2021, Tyler joined the Tampa Chapter Board of the Phoenix, a charitable organization that provides free community programming for people in recovery. Tyler and Dara also support other local organizations including Tampa General Hospital and Redefining Refuge.
Dara’s Path: Education to Entrepreneurship
Dara’s professional journey began in behavioral therapy after earning her degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders, with a concentration in Deaf Studies, from the University of South Florida (USF). Her dedication to supporting children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) led her to become a licensed Registered Behavior Technician and later a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst. Fueled by her passion for behavioral modification, Dara pursued a master’s degree in psychology with a focus on Applied Behavior Analysis, all while skillfully balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship.
In 2022, amidst significant personal milestones, Dara shifted her career focus toward business creation alongside her husband, Tyler. After countless attempts to secure last-minute beauty and wellness appointments, she recognized a critical gap in the community—a lack of platforms enabling individuals to book and pay for services easily while allowing independent providers to fill open slots with seamless integration into existing booking systems. This realization ignited Dara’s passion to create a solution.
Together with Tyler, Dara co-founded Eluxx, a luxury wellness app designed to provide instant gratification through streamlined booking and payment systems. Her unwavering commitment to community engagement remains central to Eluxx’s mission, as the platform aims to enhance accessibility and convenience for both service providers and clients.
Shared Values and Vision
Beyond their professional achievements, Tyler and Dara share a deep-rooted passion for family, travel, and community engagement. They balance their entrepreneurial pursuits while raising two children, exploring new cuisines, and nurturing local connections.
The Future of Eluxx
Their vision for Eluxx encompasses not just growth, but also a commitment to enhancing community wellness through innovative products. Their path from various professional backgrounds to co-founding Eluxx shows their dedication to innovation, community, and family. As they keep pushing boundaries and expanding, they’re set to make a lasting and significant impact on Tampa’s business community.
