Coming up with an idea for a business or creative project can feel exhilarating. Inspiration for a new idea can come from so many places and we’ve asked some great folks from the community to share their stories of how they came up with their ideas.

Wak

Since childhood, I’ve been captivated by the allure of vintage treasures, engendering a lifelong passion for collecting historical artifacts and unique furniture. Read more>>

Andrea Taylor

My company has been in the making for more than 20 years. I started my wellness & fitness journey with a certification in Primary Group Exercise in 2005. Read more>>

Patricia A Griffin

I have been a creative my entire life. The first award I won was in First Grade for a Smokey the Bear drawing. When it became time to choose the trajectory of my life’s work, art was the clear direction. Read more>>

Renee Gelin

The concept for this organization began in 2011 when I connected with Lisa Woolsey in blogland over our mutual loss of our infants shortly after they were born through unnecessary infant adoptions. Read more>>

Sabetha Price

One night while I laid awake in bed I had the bright idea to make topical products to increase my curves fast. I healed my anxiety and depression with homeopathic medicine (under the supervision of a doctor and I was already an herbalist) so i just knew that the concept had to be similar. Read more>>

Bryn Sanders

In the beginning of 2020, I decided I wanted to start an online jewelry shop- with other brands, my own designs and vintage/antique finds. Read more>>

Iesha Congo Watson

I came up with idea for my business after prayer and meditation with God after a very traumatic time in my life . During my time of grief I had to find something calming. Read more>>

Al Montagna

The idea of Unarthodox was almost instant. However, the build-up that helped me come up with the idea, took almost a lifetime. Read more>>

Thias Fritz

I’ve always been fascinated by how technology can transform businesses. But what struck me was how smaller businesses often got the short end of the stick when it came to digital marketing. Read more>>

Mistress Deep Love

Female Domination is not new. It is still considered taboo, especially in this part of the U.S.! There is so much misunderstanding related to BDSM and Domination, which is what kept me from exploring this side of me until age 39. Read more>>

Dave Stern

Short and sweet. I was in the printing business (manufacturing side) when my best friend relayed how he was having trouble getting his book published. Read more>>

David Prescott

Growing up, one of the best snacks you can get is beef jerky. Back in my day, jerky chew was bigger than candy. Everyone wanted to be your friend if you had a bag of jerky, It actually tasted good back then! Read more>>

Shatoyia Turner

Once upon a time, amidst the bustling energy of the CIAA tournament when it was in Charlotte, my friend Lillie Mae organized a memorable gathering. Read more>>

Richard Porche

RighteousPeopleWorldWide is my Athletic program as well as my clothing line. I started my clothing Line because I wanted people to feel good. Read more>>

Brandy Bickham

The climax of same sex couples marriage was how I came up with my idea! To give a little background, I will start here, lol. The supreme court and some states were already toying with the fact of all US states being able to marry same sex couples. Read more>>

Geolaina Copeland

The inception of The Adventures of Super Kai was a deeply personal journey intertwined with a profound desire to foster a love for reading among children. Read more>>

Tiffani Teachey

Certainly! Let’s dive into the story from a first-person perspective: Picture me standing in front of a classroom full of bright-eyed students, ready to share my passion for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Read more>>

Jean Guzman

Traditional decor gets outdated, right? Not to mention if it’s cultural, and what some may view as dust collectors. These sentiments are common, especially with younger generations that value a more modern aesthetic. Read more>>

Ameerah Barker

In 2009, I underwent plastic surgery on my chest to remove a keloid that formed because of a scratch from a chain that healed as a keloid. Read more>>

Vernita Griffith

My husband and I met and married after meeting each other 9 months prior. As you can imagine, even though this was the second marriage for both of us, we really didn’t know each other and quite frankly had not done the work to resolve our past relationships. Read more>>

Jada Shirley

My father used to do clothing and I was only allowed to get 1 piece of each color of whatever tshirts or hats he made. He wasn’t too fond of my ideas lol or trying to switch his work around he wanted it how he wanted it. Read more>>

Jamine Moton

For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to help make the world a safer place. I started my career as an officer and then as a sergeant in the Metro Atlanta police force, and while those eight years provided many invaluable lessons, I realized the kind of impact that I wanted to have was going to transcend the boundaries of law enforcement. Read more>>

Fanuel Muindi

The idea for the Sai Resident Collective (SRC) goes back to around 2015 when, as a postdoc at MIT, i was searching for support and communities of people who were doing civic science-related scholarship and practice. Read more>>

James MahKween

I created “The MahKween Method” back in 2014/15. This came about from working with dancer’s and constantly being told that my choreography/ movement was completely different from what the dancers have done before. Read more>>

Tealjoy Grove

Classic Strange Productions and Publishing Company began when I was a freshman in high school. I was always an outcast because my mother wanted well-rounded children, and her kids hated sports. Read more>>

Chasha Vee

I came up with this idea when I started to pay more attention to myself, my own wants and needs. How I always put everyone before myself and barely had anything left when it came to my self-care. Read more>>

Marlowe Boyd

The Crafted Pen, formerly known as Writing on Marlee’s Wall, has its humble origins traced back to the cozy confines of my living room couch at the tender age of twenty-two. Read more>>

Neelam Chand

My journey in evolving my business is deeply intertwined with my personal transformation. Beginning with a focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) consulting, I aimed to close gaps and enhance inclusivity within organizations. Read more>>

Geraldine Peri Amis

As someone who has always prioritized health and fitness, I was puzzled when I started noticing unexpected changes in my skin after turning 45. Read more>>

Lori Fertel

I am the proud owner of the super sweet Surf and Beach lifestyle brand, Extremely Stoked®️. I create and license product designs from the Extremely Stoked®️ brand to licensees for big box online and brick and mortar retailers. Read more>>

April Cooper

My journey into the world of beauty coaching began as a college student at Clayton State University back in 2013. While I was not exactly a makeup aficionado at the time, I found myself leading the charge as the head model coach for our campus fashion organizations. Read more>>

Kori Frazier Morgan

I’ve been on an interesting career trajectory for the last nearly eighteen years. I’ve earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing, taught college courses, worked as a freelance writer, and worked in marketing as a copywriter and content strategist. Read more>>

Jasmine Neveles

Jasmine and Danielle, sisters and co-founders of Uncharted Coffee Supply, were inspired to start a coffee roastery from their shared passions for travel, coffee, and a deep-seated desire to make a positive change in the world. Read more>>

Sensi Graves

I started Sensi Graves Swim because I couldn’t find a bathing suit that worked. I was 23 years old and living in North Carolina working as a kiteboarding instructor. Read more>>

JAYMES ALEXANDER-COLE

Well, I’ve been a nerd and collector all my life. I read comics and YA books voraciously as a teenager and was always fascinated with superheroes, both male and female. Read more>>

Adriana Catalinotto

Coming up with the idea for Groovehive Market was truly a journey of self-discovery and inspiration. After relocating back home to Florida in late 2022 as a single mother to twin girls, I found myself at a crossroads, unsure of what path to take next. Read more>>

Danielle Alvarez Alvarez

Towards the end of 2017, I was contemplating whether to leave my full-time job. I didn’t feel as fulfilled and started to get the itch to try something new – whether it was to apply to a new job or go solo. Read more>>

Jessica Vogl

I started taking food photography seriously during the COVID lockdown. We were working from home (I was working a corporate job at the time in PR and communications) and I felt like I needed a creative outlet. Read more>>

Shamika Johnson

A trip to the movies in 2017, LOL My son was graduating from elementary school and around this time some movies theaters were adding bars. Read more>>

Sarah Belisle

My family and I moved to Florida in September of 2022 from Massachusetts and not only was there the expected culture-shock and weather-shock… but I am afraid we experienced some “donut-shock.” Read more>>

Chloe Davis

The idea for Baking for Backpacks was born out of the COVID pandemic. This left so many families out of jobs and struggling. The year between my 8th and 9th grade year, my mom told me that I should try and help them in some way. Read more>>