Going from idea to execution isn’t easy. Part of the difficulty is that often there is no playbook to follow and while we can’t offer a playbook either, we wanted to create a space where aspiring entrepreneurs could read the stories of how some very smart, very thoughtful entrepreneurs form the community got started.

Ja’nya Maple

Starting my business the most valuable thing I learned was that going from idea to execution is way easier than most people think. It is important to take a leap of faith, invest in yourself, and be patient even if things seem impossible. Initially I was not specifically looking to create a hairstyling business – I was only looking to learn how to manage my hair and save money. Thats when the idea was given to me by one of my close friends. She asked me if I could do her hair, and she was so in love with the results that she urged me to offer my services to others. At first the idea seemed so foreign to me, but now it’s a huge part of my life. She saw potential in me that I didn’t see in myself. Read more>>

Kim Jurina

The idea for a mobile optical service came from recognizing a need in the marketplace for a specialty concierge experience in eyewear. I saw that people were looking for alternatives to the traditional brick-and-mortar model, and I knew I could fill that gap by offering a personalized, on-the-go service. The easy part of this journey was coming up with the idea—now the real work has begun. With over 20 years of optical industry experience and the help and guidance of my mentor, Helen Whitaker, I was ready to try something new. Read more>>

Victoria Nelson

Glow with Vick was born out of my experience as a skincare consultant with Mary Kay. I always wanted to help women look and feel good about themselves, and realizing I could make a difference in their lives through beauty and skincare was truly a blessing for me. Then, everything took a turn when I read Shelly Shell Williams’ book, Interview Your Way to Instagram Growth. It opened my eyes to the power of promoting my brand through Instagram Lives, which helped me connect with even more women. Read more>>

Brandon Peralta

I first had the idea of opening my own space in January 2024. I had spend the last two years as the lead engineer for a recording studio owned by a major label in New York City. Working there not only afforded me the opportunity to work with huge musical artists – such as Chappell Roan, Post Malone, Marcus Mumford, and many others – but also taught me a lot about how a recording studio needs to be run in order to function properly, and deliver an experience clients will remember. Read more>>

Deanna Whitlow

My love for flowers began as a young first-time home buyer. I spent hours in the garden as my retreat away from the Hussle and Bussle of life creating a therapeutic escape. I loved experimenting with colors, textures, and different plant combinations, turning my outdoor space into a vibrant display of creativity. It wasn’t long before friends and family began asking for gardening advice and even requesting personal arrangements for special occasions. What started as a hobby of creating beautiful floral gifts quickly turned into something more. I loved crafting thoughtful, unique bouquets for birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays, and soon, word spread. People began asking if they could buy my arrangements. I never expected it, but the demand grew so quickly that I decided to take the plunge and turn my passion into a business. Read more>>

Taylor Green

It all began when I shared pictures of the cakes I had made for my family birthday party on my Instagram story. My followers were curious and kept asking where I had bought them, which made me realize I might be onto something special. Inspired by this response, I created a dedicated Instagram account the very next day, brainstorming names and new baking ideas. That’s when my sister suggested “Taylor Baked”, and the account launched! Just a week later, I received an invitation to participate in a local vending market, where I quickly sold out of my creations. As people posted pictures with their cakes, I began receiving orders for birthday cakes, baby shows, and weddings. Read more>>

Alease Jones

I always say that the journey from idea to execution is a bit like being handed a compass and sent into the wilderness—exciting, a little scary, and full of unexpected twists. I’ve always had a passion for teaching and helping others grow, which came from my years as a college professor. I loved seeing my students have those “aha!” moments and realized I wanted to create a similar impact in a different space—coaching. The seed of my business idea was planted when I noticed so many brilliant coaches struggling to get traction in their businesses. I knew I could help, especially using my marketing skills to simplify the process for them. Read more>>

Kimberly Lau

It all started when I was sorting through my boys’ outgrown clothes, realizing how much we had accumulated and how much of it was still in great condition. As a single mom, and after spending 24 years in wealth management, I began thinking about the waste and the financial strain that this constant need for new clothes places on families. That’s when the idea for Project ReWear hit me: what if I could create a solution where families could access preloved clothing that’s stylish, affordable, convenient, and eco-friendly? A Mom on a Mission was born. The next day, I dove into research. I needed to understand the scale of textile waste and the environmental impact of fast fashion. I discovered alarming statistics—like how much water is used to produce just one cotton t-shirt. This only fueled my drive to move forward. I realized I had to do something meaningful, not only for my kids but for future generations. Read more>>

Kaila Dunlap

I started KD Notarial services with an idea to bring value to the community. The main steps with following through and launching the business started with research and analyzing services that were in need. I came across a couple different services, and narrowed It down to Notary and loan signings. There are so many documents people need notarized, and not enough physical places offering notary services. Through market research and analysis I learned that convenience for getting documents notarized were in demand. Once I finished my research, I started working on a business plan to execute the ideas I had for a mobile notary business. There was so much to learn about the notary laws that existed in my state, and It took time to figure out a game plan for execution. Through this, I learned there is no overnight success with building a business and It takes time to see growth in your business. Read more>>