Alejandro Gonzalez’s family business was distributing industrial gases, but he saw the potential for using liquid nitrogen and other gases for purely entertainment purposes and created Miami-based Kryogenifex in 2000. As one of the pioneers in the field—creating visual effects as well as new culinary applications—Gonzalez, 42, has worked with some of the biggest nightclubs in Miami, Las Vegas, and New York as well as in Dubai, Singapore, and Ibiza.
The company made its name from its cryogenic effects systems for clubs—visual effects remain about 70 percent of the business—but a growing segment comes from products made in its Kryo Kitchen. One of its creations, which debuted this spring at Ultra Music Festival, is the Kryopop ice treat. The organic popsicles, which can be infused with alcohol, freeze in minutes using liquid nitrogen and can be distributed throughout an event from a tricked-out scooter.
About five years ago Gonzalez opened Kryo Lab, a venue in which ideas are developed that also serves as an event space for demonstrating products and services. “We always have something new for the customer to want and experience,” Gonzalez says, adding that many of his ideas come to him through dreams. “Then I’ll wake up and say, ‘I have to try this.’”
The competition in Gonzalez’s field has grown, but one of his advantages is being able to navigate the increasingly complex regulations around the business. He is so well-regarded in the industry that he is working with the National Fire Protection Association to create safety codes and best practices.
