You might recognize siblings Sebastian and Vale Genta for their lifestyle content and playful, bilingual videos celebrating—and poking fun at—life in the 305. The Miami-born duo started posting silly Vines for fun in 2015. “The term ‘influencer’ didn’t exist yet,” recalls Vale, who was a high school student at the time. Once they built followings on Instagram and other social media platforms, partnerships with companies like AT&T, Amazon, LTK, and Revolve followed, turning their hobbies into full-time careers. Today, the siblings boast a combined social media footprint of more than 2.7 million followers.
More than a decade after their first viral posts, they’re focused on #NextGen Creators, a biannual summit series for digital creators, entrepreneurs, founders, and marketers to build relationships, learn from industry leaders, and grow alongside Miami’s rapidly expanding creator economy. The idea took shape when the siblings returned home to Miami Beach in 2021 following five years in Los Angeles. Miami looked dramatically different: brand activations had become commonplace, and the digital creator scene was booming. What they didn’t find was a central place for those communities to connect. “We recognized a gap in the market for a space like this, especially in Miami,” says Sebastian of the #NextGen summit.
The full-day meetup blends education with networking, pairing keynote conversations and panel discussions with brand showcases, a networking luncheon, and a closing happy hour. The siblings have recruited everyone from Gary “Vee” Vaynerchuk and TikTok Shop executives to CEOs and marketing leaders to discuss AI, affiliate marketing, brand strategy, and content creation. The upcoming summit, taking place October 23 at Andaz Miami Beach, will feature conversations with leaders from Dr. Brandt Skincare, Crown Affair, K2o by Sprinter, and more.
“We love seeing our attendees come out of the summit with opportunities and brand relationships because that’s what it’s all about,” Sebastian says. “We want them to make friends, but also to leave with something valuable.”
Vale agrees, noting that while social media has opened countless doors, it can also be an isolating profession. She sees #NextGen as an opportunity to transform digital connections into lasting, real-world relationships. “This is a way to meet brands in real life and build relationships beyond those contacts,” she says. “From there, maybe an opportunity can grow.”
The event itself has evolved significantly, growing from about 70 people in attendance in 2024 to nearly 300 guests expected this fall. Despite the growth, the founders still aim to foster an approachable experience with plenty of opportunities for conversations that continue long after the panels end. Brand collaborations, creator partnerships, mentorships, and new friendships have emerged from past summits.
One of #NextGen’s biggest success stories is travel advisor and content creator Olivia Ferney. Ferney first attended the summit as a guest while growing her social media presence. Within months, her following had exploded, and she returned as a #NextGen panelist in October 2025. Today, she has more than 1.2 million Instagram followers. It’s proof, the siblings say, that the summit is creating the kind of community they wish had existed when they were first starting out.
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