Starting a business or creative project is scary for many reasons, but one that is often overlooked is the anxiety related to whether this is really “the one.” To some, this isn’t a valid consideration while to others this is the only consideration. Some argue that what you work on, along with who you work with are the two most pivotal decisions you’ll make and so we’ve asked folks to tell us about how they came up with their ideas and how they knew this idea was the one.

Nenad Shuput

I have been an athlete my whole life (I played basketball all throughout high school and college, then played in a basketball development league) and have always lived a very disciplined life of competition and workouts. After my basketball career ended I started looking into martial arts through a friend. I started with Muay Thai and later progressed to MMA. Read more>>

Hadiya Gumbs-Rouse

In 2016 my family moved into a neighborhood with a better school system for our 2 daughters to attend, Although the schools were considered exceptional, the demographics of the school reflected very little students of color. Being an educator myself, I am aware that there is very little education about the black culture and prominent events or notable figures in the Black community so I knew my children would have to learn this information from me. Read more>>

Anne Marie Watson

I have been a student for many years, but never a business woman. As a matter of fact, selling myself has always been a difficult process. Most of my business has come from word of mouth or from some just simply giving it a try. Believe it or not, I’m a lot of people’s last option; mostly from them not being a fan of needles. Read more>>

Marc Steren

During the pandemic, I was an adjunct professor at Georgetown University teaching entrepreneurship. A colleague of mine, John Jabara and former social impact entrepreneur of the year, suggested, why don’t we teach high school students how launch a venture but for social good. I thought we would get 20 kids signed up, we had 67 students from California to Florida signed up, taking the summer program. Read more>>

Alexandria Foxx

When I was in university, I had the idea that I would become this high-powered attorney, fighting for justice and peace. I spent five long, challenging, stressful years succeeding in my studies and graduated with honors. Yet, my grandfather backed out on his promise to pay for my studies, leaving me with five years of loans and intense burnout. Read more>>

Christina Terry

In 2020, I was selling my homemade Elderberry syrup for my small business; The Crunchy Cactus. Elderberry was super popular during that time but when the shutdown happened, people were losing their jobs and no longer able to afford things like my wellness syrup and tea. So I started to barter with them just like the old days. I started to realize that a lot o my customers, neighbors and friends were picking up a hobby to sell online and make ends meet while they were out of the corporate world. Read more>>

Rachel Moore

My husband and I have always loved going to the TX Hill Country to try different Texas wines. We used to go several times a year, but then we started getting more involved in our other passion, dog rescue! We’ve saved over 40 dogs and cats! Read more>>

Siri Wieringa

The journey to my business began from experience that I had while at college, ski racing for Westminster University. While most Freshman were studying and partying, my life took a different path. I remember waking up in the hospital, IV”s attached to both arms, wondering “where am I??” As it turned out, I had taken a really bad crash in our ski race, causing me to be life flighted to the nearest hospital due to a traumatic head injury. Read more>>

Indica Gaess

The idea for The Wheel was proposed to me by an acquaintance at the time, William Thomas, in the fall of 2022 while we were both performing in mutual friend Mary Shoen’s dance piece for her local artist residency. Will and I had met that spring performing together in another one of Mary’s pieces for Naropa University’s School of the Arts Concert, where we were all in the undergraduate Interdisciplinary Studies program together but rarely crossed paths. Read more>>

Big Texas

I got the idea to become a music artist from my journey with psychedelics at a young age. I’ve always enjoyed multiple genres of music and it’s always played a huge part in my life. But it wasn’t till I had an epiphany one day with a friend of mine (who’s a really talented singer & guitar player) while on psychedelics that made me actually pursue a musical career. Read more>>

Shiloh Bigles

Level Minds CBD was born out of a deep desire to offer people and their furry companions alternative solutions to address various health concerns. Myself and my husband Nelson are passionate about our business and have dedicated ourselves to exploring the world of alternative therapies and have accumulated extensive knowledge and experience in this field. Read more>>

Téfarra Echevarria

FarreeMakes Sweet Treats started as a Youtube channel created in June 2021 under the name FarreeMakes. I was working from home at the time and felt it was a great opportunity to explore the content creating process while sharing quick, easy delicious meals with other home cooks. As the holiday season approached, I wanted to film the treats I planned to make for cookie gift boxes for friends and family. Read more>>

Alicia Stemper

I’ve always been creative. As a child, I was truly a dreamer; the one with my head in the clouds always imagining things and letting my mind wonder. That creativity has carried into my adulthood, but with much more focus. My Grandfather made jewelry and it’s always been a process that has peaked my curiosity. I started a hobby jewelry business in early adulthood and would tuck myself away in my office to design at night when I wasn’t at my corporate job. Read more>>

LaSean Brown

The idea of The Label by LaSean really stemmed from my genuine love for fashion. Much like music, it serves as an additional creative outlet for me and form of expression. Since I was young, I’ve always loved clothes and dressing up. I was the girl that always wanted to play the online dress up games, such as MyScene, which literally allowed you to design and pick out clothes for the dolls as well as dress them in the outfits. Read more>>

Matthew Merchant

Music has been a huge part of my life from a young age. With a musical background in various choirs, a handful of instruments, and songwriting/producing my own music, it’s easily my favorite thing in the world! In late 2011, I worked at a restaurant where we hosted large events and weddings. One night, I saw the DJ during a party and thought, “I would love to do that!”. Read more>>

Oya & Idil

We let our intuition guide us on our jewelry journey. In our quaint town known for its artisan community, we attended a craft fair. We have a natural talent for creating unique, handcrafted jewelry pieces that captivate all those that see them. I caught the eye of a curious passerby. Intrigued by the intricate designs and attention to detail, she approached me and asked me to purchase the necklace I was wearing. Read more>>

Sophia Weller

As a mother and entrepreneur, I know well the challenges faced by women who are balancing motherhood and running a business. When I started my business, I faced the struggle of not having enough time and resources to market my brand effectively. I had to rely on generic marketing strategies that did not consider my unique position as a mom-owned business owner. Read more>>

Andrea Jenkins

My first job with b2b sales was years ago. I started working for the FOP lodges, Sherriff’s support divisions and helping to raise money for them through ad space sales in the annual Country Spectacular show. I did this on and off for years, but didn’t really realize my talent for b2b sales until the beginning of this year.  Read more>>

Leah Bellemore

I was on a work trip in Charleston, SC in late 2020. When I solo travel I like to seek out local hidden gems to experience the heart of the city or town I am in. I found a wine bar / shop near by where they utilized self pour wine machines. What I loved about it, was that it removed the barrier that exists at the majority of establishments. I was able to taste wines at my leisure without the commitment of a full glass or bottle purchase. From there I just spiraled. Read more>>

Kelly Armstrong

I am an entrepreneur by trade. I have been in several different MLM companies. One I got myself over $30K in debt. I had to learn how to get myself out of this hugh debt. I started reading several different books to help me understand more about finances and credit. Read more>>

Amanda Boyson

You could say SYNT has always been an idea brewing. We’ve been friends for over 20 years and are both avid travelers. We’re known as the “go- to” people for travel advice. One day I (Amanda) made a comment that if I wasn’t working in my current job, my dream would be to run a travel advisor business. Lauren said “we can do it together, why not”. From there, the idea just snowballed, and quickly. Read more>>

Claudia Walker

As a former Wall Street analyst turned public school teacher and proud second-generation HBCU graduate, I was disheartened by the educational outcomes for Black students in California. In response, I began hosting after-school programs and summer camps teaching Black history and spotlighting HBCUs. The interest and engagement confirmed a pressing need for engaging youth in our stories. Read more>>

Quatina Frazer

I wear several hats and I have many interests, but for this interview, I’ll focus on my passion for photography. Although I’ve always loved pictures and photographs, I had never thought of myself as one to become a photographer, so I’d say this idea is the definition of organic. Read more>>

Cortney Ewing

As a young girl, I always had a love for hair. In fact, during middle and high school I was the go-to person for friends and family when it came to hair care. During high school, I began to get paid for styling friends’ and family’s hair. Hair loss unfortunately has impacted every generation in my family so it was something I was always seeing. Read more>>

Heather McG, Laura Koo

We were longtime friends who had lost touch, but like many, stayed connected via social media. One day, Laura noticed that Heather posted an Instagram photo of Sunday morning coffee in a brand new kitchen. Laura sent Heather a DM asking if she’d finally renovated her World War II era kitchen, but Heather responded with “Nope. Just gettin’ a divorce. Hello from my divorce apartment! How have you been?” Read more>>

Sonali Randhawa

From a young age, immersing myself in the world of influencers and YouTube gave me peace and direction in life. I vividly remember those early mornings, eagerly tuning into YouTube before school to watch my favorite creator, which was my sanctuary during challenging times. Read more>>

Khang Nguyen

Khang Nguyen’s paintings are rooted in various philosophical ideas and approaches that seek to provide insights into certain undisclosed domains of being, knowing and time that exceed subjective faculties. In essence, his paintings are diagrams that investigate and express the nature of primordial awareness, such as nonduality, unbounded nonlocality, trans-conceptuality, reflexive consciousness, and self-recognition. Read more>>

Ben Gerlach

The inception of Basement 20 Design Studio has its roots in a combination of passion, personal experience, and a desire to fill a niche in the market. After my nine-year military career and more than 17 years supporting the government as a civilian, I found myself yearning for a new chapter that would allow me to channel my creativity. Read more>>

Khadijah Phillips

As a mother of two children on the autism spectrum, I’ve personally experienced the significant lack of programs and resources available to caregivers in our community. This issue becomes even more pronounced in the black community, where resources for children with autism are often scarce, and support for their caregivers is almost nonexistent. This realization led me to establish the Autism Mom Club, with a primary focus on addressing the needs of parents. Read more>>

Elise Brigandi and Morgan Murray

Nuku was founded in Newport Beach, California. Two daughters of the ocean with a passion for design and eyes on the horizon. Morgan Murray and I [Elise Brigandi] joined creative forces after an inspirational trip to Fiji. On Tavarua island, Morgan and I found ourselves captivated not only by the breathtaking turquoise waters but also by the vibrant culture. Read more>>

Latoya James

This is a story i love to share! So i also create and customize marketing material for or just for a celebration! I make all visions come to life! I started doing a lot of events as far as being a vendor to show case my business. My husband would always say to him, man if they had this or that it would be perfect! after months of this my husbands says, If you feel that way then fill the need and do! Read more>>