Recognized for his innovation, sustainability, and community impact, he has earned national accolades, mentored aspiring entrepreneurs, and donated nearly $100,000 to conservation efforts.
If there’s one thing Justin Buzzi is passionate about, it’s creating unforgettable adventures, and helping others do the same. As the founder and franchisor of Get Up And Go Kayaking, Justin has transformed a small side hustle into one of the fastest-growing eco-tourism brands in the country.
Before founding Get Up And Go Kayaking, Justin spent a decade as a rapper, performing at various shows, creating anthems, and charting on iTunes. His corporate stint at GolfNow, part of the Golf Channel, ran parallel to his entrepreneurial pursuits, often involving late-night tours followed by early morning corporate responsibilities.
Justin’s innovative approach and commitment to sustainability have earned him numerous accolades. He was named in the 40 Under 40 by the Orlando Business Journal, received the Entrepreneurial Knight Award from the UCF College of Business, and was featured in Forbes for his sustainability efforts. Get Up And Go Kayaking was recognized as a Top New & Emerging Franchise by Entrepreneur Magazine in 2023 and Top New Hot Franchise to Own in 2026, featured on The Bachelor and Teen Mom, and highlighted on Amazon packages during the 2023-2024 holiday season across 10 major US markets. The company also earned the title of TripAdvisor’s #1 Outdoor Thing To Do in the USA in 2021 and was rated #1 in the US by USA TODAY.
With over 50,000 five-star reviews and nearly $100,000 donated to conservation efforts in Florida, Justin’s impact extends beyond business. He is an active business coach with UCF’s Blackstone Lab, mentoring students with business ideas, and hosts several podcasts, including Get Up And Scale, Let’s Yak, and Building a Buzz.
Outside of his professional endeavors, Justin loves creating content, videography, photography, playing video games, recording music, editing videos, and building businesses. He cherishes time with his wife, Tia, their two dogs, and loves adventuring and exploring new destinations.
Donated to conservation efforts in florida
of Get Up And Go Kayaking
The pursuit of more has always driven me to push myself and those around me. I first picked up a camera many years ago and immediately found that I loved to shoot videos and photos. Along the way I’ve found a great passion in travel and adventure photography. I’ve been able to utilize this skill with Get Up And Go Kayaking in shooting content for each of our new and existing locations.
Whether it’s flying my DJI Mavic 3 Cine over the crystal clear blue spring waters in Florida from my kayak or hanging out of a moving car window with my Sony Alpha 1 to capture majestic bison in the plains of Yellowstone, or even knee deep in the pitch darkness with my Sony A7Siii to capture the bioluminescence in the middle of the night, I’m always up for pushing my abilities. I’ve recently been loving shooting with my Ronin 4D with the unique capabilities of filming with an 8K cinema camera that can stabilize in 4 dimensions.
It’s not just capturing the right shot that gives me joy but the process of capturing it that really excites me.
I’m beyond thankful to be ranked amongst some amazing leaders on Orlando Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 in 2023.
I am so honored to be awarded the UCF College of Business Entrepreneurial Alumni Award alongside Adam LZ and Jeff Stafford in 2024.
Networking and connection have defined my journey, from my music career to podcasting, i’ve engaged with people from all walks of life, learning from diverse industries, cultures, and perspectives. Travel has enriched this path, and my podcast is where those experiences and relationships converge.
Let’s take an adventure on a kayak while podcasting. GaryVee gave me this idea during a 4D’s session (deep dive) on my business. During this podcast we will paddle through unique locations with all sorts of different guests. We chat pop culture, life, struggles, successes, and so much more.
In this podcast, alongside my cohost Kai Kaapro, we dive into the world of scaling businesses. Drawing from my experience growing 30+ unit franchises, and Kai’s Tour Scale with 80+ units, we share insights, challenges, and lessons, while hosting guests who reveal the strategies and “secret sauce” behind their own business growth.
