Lean startup is one of those buzzwords in the business world. Everyone telling you to get lean, reduce overhead, don’t take investors, but few people to seem to ever take that advice.

Unless you are Ryan LaPete from DEEP Brewing Company.

Ryan started DEEP inside of his Miami condo with the help of his wife, Marsha. Ryan wasn’t afraid of starting big either, so he self-funded a 10-gallon home brew system that was still in use years later, when DEEP’s doors opened for the first time.

Eventually the LaPete family would make the move back to Ryan’s hometown, our town, Tallahassee and grow DEEP into the award-winning brewing company it is today.

All while not taking a single investor or a business loan. Now that’s lean.