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.

Mike O’Malley

The inception of PKLN wasn’t just a lightbulb moment; it was a culmination of countless late nights that turned into 4-in-the-morning mornings, fueled by a desire to bring this amazing sport to all corners of the globe. Read more>>

Jackson Harris

In 2018, I was a college student at Columbia State Community College studying business. One weekend my grandpa Bobby, came into town to stay with us. Read more>>

Yue Yuan

I strongly believe that “design is not just about design.”Effective design requires a deep understanding of interconnected disciplines such as anthropology, psychology, and economics. Read more>>

Alyssa Berthiaume

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” While these iconic words have been used to begin a very different story, these are also very fitting words to describe the time in my life when my business originated. Read more>>

Ric Dragon

I know I’ve had a dream for many years about creating an alternative Art School, influenced by the Bauhaus and Black Mountain College. Read more>>

John Esterly

My design process is typically qualitative. I have an idea what sound profile I’m interested in creating, and use that as my basis for the physical product. Read more>>

Jeremiah Brown

Back in 2018 i drew this stick figure model of my logo for my brand “Viceversa”. This was something I heard everywhere I went even to this day and I just stuck with it. Read more>>

Boyd Harrington

I first stepped foot into the cannabis industry about two years ago. I had already been working in video production for a little over 10 years at this point, so I was able to see things from a unique perspective. Read more>>

Jason & Christina Stebbins

This is a great question, the story brings us much joy. Our journey into the world of coffee and tea as a husband and wife team began innocently enough during a family vacation. Read more>>

Amy Cobb

Well, About six years ago, the notion of launching a catering and seasonings company crossed my head. My family member and I were chatting away simply discussing some garlic cloves and potential money-making uses for them. Read more>>

Katie O’Keefe

I can talk a bit about my process creating one of my most recent works “Entwined Repose”. I have been struggling to rest and fall asleep lately. Read more>>

Sammy Knight

I’ve always danced to the rhythm of my own drum, finding my own unique ways to rebel from societal norms and challenge the status quo. Read more>>

Nailah Harvey

My journey to authorship was long and short at the same time. As a child, I took pride in writing school essays, poems, and letters to my parents. Read more>>

Savanna Reed

Being an only child I had a lot of time on my hands and so I became curious and also creative. I would always make something, or figure out how to make something, once I went to High School, joined yearbook and graduated I decided to use those talents to make money. Read more>>

Ari Cofer

I have been writing all my life. My closest friends have seen me transform from writing One Direction fan fiction as a teenager to the poetry I write today. Read more>>

Jean Park

In Korea, my country of origin, a captivating new dessert had taken hold of the culinary scene: Croffles, a delightful fusion of croissants and waffles. Read more>>

Jessica Jaimes

I initially started my business just making car accessories (car charms/ car coasters). It all started because I was tired of seeing an ugly basic black tree hanging from my rear view mirror. Read more>>

Leslie Vera

It all began with a transformative experience during a series of plant medicine ceremonies in the Peruvian Amazon, where I lived for 5 months last year. Read more>>

Charese Chambers

My entrepreneur origin story doesn’t start like most, because I never wanted to be an entrepreneur. Financial Fancy was truly birth from a place of care for small business owners and their understanding of their numbers. Read more>>

Alexandra Reid

The idea, years ago, was to get a couple of acres, farm something, get away from the rat race, and retire. The typical dream many people have. Read more>>

Lee Gray

Had a great job as a director of marketing – thought I would retire at that job. Then one day I was fired. My husband said well, you have the best years of your life left, better do something you love. Read more>>

Edwina Gray

Looking back, I never really saw myself as a business owner from the get-go. I’ve always thrived in team environments, especially when I was younger. Read more>>

Nick Laub

Starting my business came out of necessity. Now there are many facets of my life that make that true. One and the easiest one to understand is moving from Los Angles to Singapore with my wife, Jane. Read more>>

SANDRA HARRIS

I started babysitting children at the age of 13 years old lol wherever you seen me, you would see someone elses child on my hip. I have always had a passion for youth. Read more>>

Justin Kirchhoff

When my business partner, Kristina Smith, and I first set out to open a new studio space in Austin, TX, we were thinking about a more traditional studio model, like a green screen or white cyc background. Read more>>

Tylor Rogers

With passion project, they almost consume you. Every moment you are thinking about this idea and how you want it to become reality. Read more>>

Logan Chelise

Once upon a time, in the bustling world of fashion and style, there lived a passionate wardrobe stylist with a boundless imagination and a relentless drive to bring her visions to life. Read more>>

Celia Cox

I was 26 years old, about 8 years into the industry and the owner of the salon I worked at told me she was selling it and I had 4 days to decide if I wanted to buy it. Read more>>

Marvin Autry

I have seen many designers say they started with a bulk of blanks and found an efficient way to finance their logo on the blanks. Read more>>

Anndita Dadzie

I actually started my business in 2017 but I was only doing hair part-time to my full-time customer service job. It started by just doing hair on the side for a few extra dollars. Read more>>

Zane Kingcade

I have always been an artist / craftsman but in my youth it was always just for fun. As i got older i was able to start making money from my different ventures, but it was always on the side from my 9-5 job and that went on for years. Read more>>

Chelsea Jones

For me, the idea to execution phase consisted of many years, I believe three to be exact, of grappling with the idea of starting my own business, pushing fear aside, figuring out the right steps and just taking the leap and launching my business. Read more>>

Kayla Sonneby Kelley Callaway

We’ve both always been interested in supporting the local makers of the community and throughout the years of our friendship, we’ve always talked about partnering up together and doing something fun. Read more>>

Stephanie Artistry

I was 18 years old and fresh out of cosmetology school with my manicuring license. I got my very first job doing nails at JC Penney salon. Read more>>