Misha Kuryla was born and raised in Coconut Grove until she moved to attend the University of Pennsylvania for her Bachelor’s degree. After graduating, she spent two years in Italy working at a perfume manufacturer in Venice and as a tour guide in Tuscany. In 2002, she returned to Miami to pursue her Master’s in International Business at Florida International University, graduating in 2004. Misha’s Cupcakes began in 2005, shortly after the birth of Kuryla’s first child, Ella. She introduced her cupcakes to a number of cafes and restaurants around Miami, and that first year she sold over $50,000 worth of cupcakes. In 2007, operations moved from her home to a warehouse. During that summer, she also opened a retail cart in Dadeland Mall, which instantly became a daily go-to spot for fans. In 2008, Kuryla’s first retail store to open in Coral Gables was quickly followed by more locations, and by mid-2018, there were a total of nine Misha’s Cupcakes locations in Miami and Broward, including a short-term space at her alma mater FIU, and a pop-up at the Miami International Airport. Kuryla also increased the number of other retailers that carried her cupcakes, stretching from South Miami to Broward County. Misha’s Cupcakes makes more than 10,000 cupcakes a day in over 36 flavors. The company has also expanded the product line to include cake-in-a-jars, cakes, brownies, cookies and bars. Today, there are seven retail locations, plus a commissary where all production takes place, as well as a presence on Goldbelly.com shipping nationwide, Uber Eats, eight Whole Foods, Milam’s Markets, and others. Kuryla spends her days working in the business, pursuing opportunities for sales avenues, and managing her team of 85+.
