Float Milwaukee LLC
211 W. Freshwater Way
Neighborhood: Walker’s Point
Founded: August 2015
Owner: Andy Larson
Employees: 10
Service: Sensory deprivation
How did you come up with the idea to open Float?
“I found a place that was doing it in Waukesha so I went there to try it and I was blown away. Initially, I got in the tank and wondered what I was going to do for an hour, and then I let go and relaxed and it was this unbelievable experience. For me, it was the meditative state people talk about. I had never felt so relaxed or at peace in my life.”
Was it hard to get financing?
“Not as hard as I thought it would be. I am a CPA and worked in corporate tax for more than 10 years before I left my job to do this. My wife and I had a decent amount of savings. So the combination of our own savings and an SBA loan, plus the fact that I was a CPA with experience in the financial field helped.”
How would you describe ‘floating?’
“It is different for everyone. But you are in 10 inches of water that has 1,000 pounds of epsom salt dissolved in it, so the water is more buoyant than the Dead Sea, so you can effortlessly float. The water is skin temperature, so after a while, you forget you are in water. You can control the light and music. Because you are weightless, there is no pressure on your muscles and joints and you are able to experience pain relief and stress relief.”
Who are the types of people who ‘float?’
“People who are clinically anxious and depressed really find it to be beneficial. Athletes use it, too. Steph Curry (Golden State Warriors) and J.J. Watt (Houston Texans) are both people who talk about recovering mental focus before games.”
