One of the challenges we’ve seen to true equality of opportunity is that schools and books often can’t (or choose not) offer access to one of the most equalizing resources – first hand stories of how successful entrepreneurs made their ideas a reality. If you grew up in a family or community that had many successful entrepreneurs you may have been lucky to hear many conversations and stories about starting and executing on an idea, but there are millions of people across the country who haven’t had the same advantage and so our hope here is to create a space where those stories can be told in a more public forum for the benefit of any and every aspiring entrepreneur.

Andy Kelemen

I was working as a commercial director, which entails collaborating with agencies, clients, and production companies. But you come onto a commercial video pretty late into the creative process. Read more>>

Crystal Arellano

I started out with sewing as a pass-time hobby, which then grew into a passion. At the time while i was learning about sewing techniques, i started with making dresses. Read more>>

Rachel Cafferty

I first said I wanted to work in the interior design sphere in a 5th grade paper. I also said that I wanted 4 shih tzus and a spider monkey, but that is beside the point. Read more>>

Madison Royal-Martinez

After passing state board exams and earning my license, I began working for a waxing company that prioritized quick in-and-out services. Here I learned incredibly valuable skills such as wax techniques, working efficiently, and selling products. Read more>>

Kola Adetola

During my undergraduate years, I regularly convened with my friends for monthly meetings at a local restaurant. These gatherings were an opportunity for us to discuss our lives and aspirations. Read more>>

Elisia Sanchez

I am not throwing away my shot – Alexander Hamilton In March of 2021 a previous director of mine asked me if I would do balloons for an event at her job. Read more>>

Quinten Thomas

Back in 2021 I lived in Baltimore, MD and was working at Whole Foods as a grocery stocker. I had recently decided that college was not the best choice for me due to personal & financial reasons. Read more>>

Christina Cevetillo

Sage Marketing & Media began with my passion for both marketing and fitness. I envisioned a business that could combine these two interests into something meaningful and impactful. Read more>>

Katelyn Rohde

DAY ZERO When Roland died it was like I had taken a step away from my body and was watching everything happen in slow motion around me. It felt as though a dark, ever expanding hole had formed inside me. Read more>>

Sarah Cassidy

From the time was 8, I always knew I would paint, create, and be an artist. My first painting was in my back yard on a Saturday in Los Angeles, California. I am native Californian. Read more>>

Joanna Catiller

I came up with the idea right before COVID hit I was playing around with the Cricut machine that I had lying around. I originally bought the machine for one of my good friends’ weddings, as I was doing candy bars for fun for family and close friends’ parties and then I stashed it away not knowing what else I wanted to do with it. Read more>>

Lupe Cambiasso

I’ve heard that a professor of mine went to Italy to do a workshop on Commedia D’ell Arte and he had just returned. When I met with him I asked how he’d come up with the idea. Read more>>

Zachery Barthel

In the beginning my father was always creating various little company’s and doing many different things not so much for the money but simply because he enjoyed it and wanted the challenge of doing it. Read more>>

Janel Foo

My journey with Stained Glass Supplies began in the quaint Eagle Rock store, where as a novice stained glass enthusiast, I instantly connected with the cozy, mom-and-pop ambiance. Read more>>

Sandi Galaura

The idea of starting Rapha came divinely. It was a vision that God gave me, and the first thing I did was to make vision boards. Each board represented each room and space within the business and described and visually represented aesthetics and functionality for each space. Read more>>

Angela Mongrain-Boell

I didn’t necessarily learn social media the way a lot of people do. I was both drawn to it and thrown right in. So in most ways, I’m self taught. A lot, and I mean A LOT, of trial and error occured. Read more>>

Alcides Aguasvivas

Well it was early 2021 and I had just learned about NFTs, a new type of digital asset. While they had been around since 2015 it didn’t really start taking shape until 2021. Read more>>

Mathew and Angela Hallden

The idea started as a dream and a tribute to family. There is a long history of baking and fond memories within our families. We met as dog lovers. Through Covid, as many did, we refined and tested our ideas on our own fur babies. Read more>>

Jake Leavitt

Certainly! Let me paint you a picture of my journey from idea to execution.It all began with a spark of inspiration during a conversation with my friend on his couch, who shared a passion for entrepreneurship and also happened to be an in a similar space as a photographer/ artist. Read more>>

Gigi Rock

I have always been a connector. I am passionate about helping others, creating new ideas and businesses, and working with others who need help. Read more>>

Carolyn Schneider

After graduating from college, I began my career in art galleries. While in the art world, I became excited about the idea of hospitality as a fully immersive art experience. It’s 360 and taps all senses. Read more>>

Nathan Brandt

My business partner and I were blacksmiths, making railings, gates, ornamental work for homes and businesses and we built a machine to aid us in that work. Read more>>

Steven Gottfried

Ever since the bread and the process of making bread gripped me years ago, I knew that this was what I was meant to do; what I wanted to do. Read more>>

Sara Hayat

My journey from idea to execution in launching my furniture business involved taking cues from my heritage and innovation. Read more>>

Natasha Hall

I like to doodle/draw. That’s where it all starts. In middle school….back in the 80s when we had to use book covers or brown bags over our books, I would draw and doodle on mine. Read more>>

Shonda Broadus

In the midst of the chaos brought on by Covid, I found a spark of creativity that ignited a whole new chapter in my life’s journey. Read more>>

Hoda Mohajerani

CHAKRA CHAI is, as one journalist called it “The Brand from the Beyond”. A year after the passing of my baby boy, Arta, I was deep in meditation when he appeared to me and clearly spoke the words “CHAKRA CHAI”. Read more>>

Aria Walton

Initially, I started modeling when I got accepted to be in the running for Miss Universe Canada. From there, a talent agency scouted me and then I started posting in instagram which led to growing my page and it led to brands reaching out to me as an influencer. Read more>>

Devin M. Butler

Starting is the hardest part and I am no exception. The idea for JoyPop had been swirling in my head for a bit without actual execution towards starting a business. Read more>>

Lauri Partanio

In 2014, after working as a veterinary receptionist, I decided to start Professional Pets Florida to provide specialized care for animals in need. The idea came to me after seeing the challenges faced by anxious, special needs, and senior pets in traditional pet care settings. Read more>>

Kindra Parker

After being invited by a friend to be a speaker for the My Girl Pride program in Kwahu, Ghana it filled my heart with joy. I went back home… but a piece of my heart stayed with those 20 girls that day. Read more>>