In our view, far too many ideas die at the imagination stage. It’s not because people are lazy, we think the primary reason is because many people don’t know where or how to start. So, we connected with some sharp and generous entrepreneurs who’ve agreed to share their stories of how they went from idea to execution.
Jordan Moshi
Ha! When it comes to how I started, it began as a passing interest from seeing interesting weapons in media. I’ve been practically obsessed with Star Wars since I was a child, lightsabers always had a fun appearance to me. I loved seeing that they were all totally different looking, and wondered how hard it would be to make my own. However, I had no idea how to weld, forge, or fabricate anything. I needed the skillset. So, I spoke to another person on here, Wayne Bodmer, to see if he could mentor me. He (graciously) accepted, and I’ve been skill-building and working on projects since! It’s come to the point where I have ideas that are definitely my own, things I am excited to build and work on, now it comes down to actually taking time and putting everything to paper. Admittedly, I am still IN the introductory phase in between “idea” and “execution” of a business. I have inspiration, I have reinforcement, I have mentorship, I just need a little more effort, and I feel like I have some hope of striking something big! Read more>>
Vanessa Faddoul
The idea came about during the pandemic and as we were looking to the future. The idea of starting a business was always intriguing and the opportunity we had by being at home for so long gave us the courage to take an idea and run with it. It started with a practical problem. I practice yoga daily and have had problems finding products that are good for my hair and also fit into the yoga philosophy. That began the process, first thinking about what the products should be, what we anted from the products and then how to being the process. The next step was a name, something that told the story and had a meaning to why we started the brand. That is how ahimsa came to be; it is the yoga philosophy of no harm. From there we knew what we wanted and what to name it, then we branched into 2 paths. Read more>>
Chris Andrade
Starting my production company has been the biggest risk I’ve ever taken but if I hadn’t taken the initial first step to take this idea and execute it, I would have regretted it for the rest of my life. I knew I always wanted to start a collective of creatives that shared similar interests in Music and Film but there’s not a handbook out there on how to do it. The thing is there is no one way to do things in this field. You learn and adapt and if you have enough determination you will eventually find success in it. So-Called Studios was born in my basement in Belleville, NJ. It was January 2019 and a group of my friends and I had a vision to start a collective. We weren’t experienced in anything specific but everyone brought something different to the table. Through trial and error we did everything from filming music videos for friends to shooting weddings and other side ventures like starting a clothing collection and creating YouTube series. We tried everything to find our path and our place in this industry. Read more>>
Dkai Customs
Like many, the pandemic threw our lives for a loop. As full-time students focused on our respective fields—Kinesiology and Engineering—the sudden gap in time allowed us to revisit old hobbies. For us, that was visual arts. We began challenging each other to experiment with different art mediums. In the midst of this, we decided to get custom shoes made as a birthday gift for a mutual friend. Unfortunately, the artist we found in LA took our money but never delivered the sneakers. That experience was a turning point, we were rediscovering our artistic side, and we realized there was a lack of custom apparel artists here in Toronto. Read more>>
Justyce Williams
Starting my business was like setting off on a path with a clear goal in mind but being unsure exactly where each step would lead. It all began with an idea that felt right and a vision that wouldn’t let go—creating a brand that reflected my passion for fashion, sustainability, and making a meaningful impact. But as anyone in fashion can tell you, there’s a huge difference between envisioning a collection and actually bringing it to life. Once I had the initial concept, my next step was to ask myself a few key questions: What did I want my brand to stand for? Who was my audience? How could I make it unique? These questions set the foundation for everything else. I knew I wanted to focus on luxury athletic wear that combined style, quality, and a commitment to ethical production, so I spent a lot of time researching sustainable materials and suppliers who shared that vision. Read more>>
Romell Ward
Well it all started about 4-5 years ago. I generally snowboarded with my military buddies, however as time went on and the wars waged on fewer and fewer of them had time to go. So I started going with random people on the internet. It was mostly positive, but the apre ski really wasn’t my style. Then as always someone I thought was cool ended up being a bit of bigot or I’d get some weird looks from their friends like I wasn’t supposed to be there. After one pretty bad encounter I said screw it I’ll start my own group. Read more>>
Rj Ibe Ibe
Growing up, I always had an affinity for cameras and capturing life’s moments, bridging my interests with a passion that allows me to look back in time as I pictured it—through my lens. There was something about the storytelling in movies and music or the authenticity of my favorite creators that inspired me to pick up a camera and try it myself. I was the friend who was always taking photos and filming videos, even making YouTube vlogs that still make me cringe to this day. But the moment I made my first video, I was hooked. My friends thought it was weird, but I thought it was the coolest thing in the world. I used to think, “This would make a cool shot,” or, “This would be a dope photo or video idea,” but too often, hesitation held me back. Fear of what others might think kept those ideas from ever seeing the light. No matter how on-and-off I was with this hobby, I always knew I wanted to do something in the creative space—photography, videography, design, and more. Even when I didn’t know exactly what I wanted in life, that idea lingered in the back of my mind. Read more>>
Sondra Falk
I actually started my fashion design journey in the uniform industry in Las Vegas Nevada. I got a job working for a uniform company after I graduated from college. This position of sales and designer helped me understand the uniform industry and how it worked. Even though I had full time job, I continued to practice my craft of pattern making, sketching and sewing every day. After a few years of cultivating my territory and clients, one of my casino executives was getting married and asked me if I would design her wedding gown. But being used to uniform type of textiles i.e. 65/35 poly cotton and poplin I was treading into an unknown textile area, I was not used to working with satin, silk, chiffon and all the other refined textiles that are necessary to construct a wedding gown, but I was determined to make it work. This incredible experience was all it took for me to realize that I truly loved the finer more luxurious textiles and wanted to be immersed in high fashion. Read more>>
Eddie Betz
Brilliant Scents began with a single, persistent idea: to bring the luxurious, immersive feeling of high-end hotels and resorts into everyday spaces. I wanted people to come home and feel that same sense of comfort, elegance, and calm. Once I knew that scent could create such an impactful experience, the vision for Brilliant Scents really started to take shape. The journey from idea to execution was an intense one, full of research, testing, and fine-tuning. I started by researching scent delivery technologies, seeking out methods that were not only highly effective but also safe and natural. I discovered cold-air nebulization, which could distribute fragrance evenly and powerfully without heating the oils, preserving their integrity and purity. After countless hours studying the science behind scent diffusion, the next step was finding reliable suppliers for high-quality, all-natural oils. We worked with experienced perfumers to create unique blends that would resonate with people emotionally, just like the scents in luxury hotels or spas. This phase took over a year of trial and error, adjusting and refining each blend until it was perfect. Read more>>
Arthur Rutledge
I recently wrote the bestselling book “11 pillars of Confidence” and didn’t know I had the ability to even accomplish it. I did not have experience with writing a book like most people don’t. What I did have was a background in speaking and coaching combined with a strong discipline to achieve whatever I put my mind to. The first thing I did was to make a solid decision. I say that because most things we want to accomplish in life are not followed through with due to indecisiveness. Second was to stay committed to an ideal that was closest to my heart. You may ask what’s that desire? The answer was to be able to ensure and cultivate over a million leaders in my lifetime. This may sound steep and for some unattainable. I realized to become the person who was going to take on such an enormous task would need to be able to see the people that I visualize helping with my future book is in their hands. The possibilities of the many embracing their possibilities and hopefully obtain the things that fulfill them in their lives. Read more>>
Meisha Gaines
I started my freelance graphic design and photography business during my last semester of college. I was motivated to start getting clients and using all the tools I learned from school while they were still fresh. I was working on my last photography project and decided to use a model for the shoot. After editing the pictures and printing them out for the presentation, I realized how much I loved my work. I then decided to make a Facebook post offering people to do $10 photoshoots. Over the next couple of months I graduated with my Associates in Graphic Design and continued to offer shoots for little to nothing. After the summer of doing shoots for friends and family, I decided to go to different night clubs and ask people to do random photoshoots in the club. That allowed me to start getting booked to photograph Artists and stage performances for local events. I had to create a website, logo, business cards, social media and network in person to get my brand noticed. It took me being consistent and advertising myself on social media to attract paid clients. Now I’m able to charge full price for my photoshoots and people reach out to me when they need a session. It is still a process of getting clients but now I’m able to attract reoccurring clients. Read more>>
Shanshan Yuan
In a startup, where resources are limited, the journey from idea to execution involves managing all the core UX design steps—research, brainstorming, wireframing, prototyping, user testing, and iterating, where each of these steps might be distributed across different specialists in big company. Every designer in a startup develops their own approach to balancing these demands. For me, the key is maintaining a strong, open feedback loop with our users. We achieve this through various means, including regular surveys, user panels, and review sessions. This direct line to our users allows us to stay closely aligned with their needs and challenges. Another essential part of my approach is fast, iterative development. I don’t aim to get everything perfect on the first try. Instead, I prioritize rapid prototyping and iteration, with clear documentation at each stage. By actively listening to user feedback and quickly adjusting, we can reach effective solutions faster. This combination of user engagement and agile iteration helps us deliver impactful designs while keeping pace with the demands of a startup environment. Read more>>
Nick Clarke
A Flick By Nick started because of failure. Becoming a better portrait and event photographer came from failure. Learning how to become more confident came from failure. Now how do you gain success from failures? Through connecting dots, and learning from every experience thrown in your way socially, academically, and in business. The quote, “Say Yes, and figure the rest out later” has been one of my favorites lately, and when used correctly opens doors once thought impossible. This journey started during the end of my first year at the University of Washington, a time filled with lots of drama, chaos, and uncertainty within my life. Going into college I knew that I wanted to pursue becoming a clinical pharmacist, but after a few bad tests and sinking grades I was feeling a bit lost in life. Feeling lost, I decided to pick up some old hobbies of mine from childhood, which is how I picked up the camera for the first time again in years. Now I would be lying if I said at this point everything clicked, “A Flick By Nick” was made, and everything was happily ever after. Read more>>
Kate Kenney
I will never forget the day I was driving down Courtland Street in Atlanta, GA and saw a young mother sitting on the curb on the side of the road with 4 school-aged children running around beside her. One boy was barefoot, and another was without a shirt. The woman looked tired and sad. As the mother of 4 children. I cannot imagine the stress of living on the street with children—not knowing where you might sleep or eat that night or how you might find shoes and clothes for your growing children. I began to talk with mothers I encountered in homeless serving agencies across the city, and a disturbing trend emerged. Many of these children were not enrolled in school. Without a permanent address or easy access to paperwork, it is difficult to know which school to attend. As well, transcience, trauma, low language exposure, and food/sleep insecurity impede a child’s ability to be successful in a mainstream school setting. Read more>>
Marcus Castillo Montoya
It all started when I wanted to pursue and learn spanish classical guitar at the age of 21. I bought a one way ticket to spain. When, I got there I decided to explore different parts of Europe. My curiosity led me to a very unique shop that taught me learned how to cut my very first coin. This was the day I met my mentor who changed my life. He showed me a coin, but it was cut out. The image of the figure looked like it was floating inside of the coin. I was so fascinated from the idea, and the process. I proceeded to ask him how he did it. Then, he showed me a handsaw. I held that handsaw, and knew in that instant it was fate. Then, I learned that my mentor who has two sons that he planned on passing down this trade to. Neither of them wanted to learn. When, he saw me, and the amount of enthusiasm into what he was doing. He decided to take me under his wings, and teach me. From there on I trained, and broke countles +saw blades to get to where I am at today. In exchange for him teaching me I sold his work all over street corners in Europe. When, I gained the skills to create my own beautiful pieces of art. I wanted to scale it further by eventually opening up my own shop called MCM Coin art shop in Old town ABQ, NM. I worked many jobs like furniture delivery, and odd jobs over a 3 year span. Finally, I opened the shop in old town abq, NM my hometown. Today I have done thousands of coins from different countries, and sold over thousands of coins to people from all over the world. I became a full time business owner, and artist. Read more>>
Amani Spicer
From the beginning, I was drawn to the idea of real estate investing, but the “how” of it always felt elusive. I spent countless hours researching ways to make money from a property, fueled by the simple yet complex question: how could I turn a house into a source of income? Initially, I planned to purchase a two-family house. My vision was to live in one unit while renting out the other, ideally to families in need through low-income housing programs. However, when I got preapproved for a loan of $160,000, I quickly realized that amount wouldn’t cover the cost of a two-family property. It felt like a setback, and for a moment, I worried I had missed my opportunity. That’s when I stumbled upon the concept of short-term rentals. The more I looked into it, the more it made sense as an option I could afford and an opportunity to maximize my investment. Read more>>
Victoria Alario
My career and personality are entirely intertwined, and so my work has been a very natural and seamless transition that went along with each season of my life. I’ve always been a confident person, and I’ve always been the friend who was honest and real, which led to being the go-to girl for advice. The idea of starting a podcast or feeling called to do work that is in service of others was always a part of me, so it wasn’t a matter of ‘if’ these things would happen, just a matter of ‘when’ and ‘how”. I initially began a career on social media through fashion and beauty, but that wasn’t necessarily what built my audience or brand. The things I said always weighed more heavily on my community than what I was wearing or what products I was using. The more I shared my opinions and beliefs, words of advice, and words of encouragement, the more they were requested, and it made perfect sense to start a podcast to give my community what they wanted. Read more>>
Javier Guandalini
Absolutely! My journey began with a spark of creativity rooted in my high school chemistry classes. I was fascinated by the way different elements could combine to create something entirely new. It was there that my passion for formulating and crafting started to take shape. After I graduated, I knew I wanted to channel that love for chemistry into the beauty industry. I spent countless hours researching and developing my ideas, often in my kitchen, mixing ingredients and experimenting with formulations. Each small success fueled my excitement, and even when setbacks arose—like sourcing the right materials—I kept pushing forward. I remember the thrill of creating my first prototype; it felt like bringing my vision to life. Years later, I’ve transitioned into helping others realize their dreams of launching their own beauty brands. It’s incredibly fulfilling to guide aspiring entrepreneurs through the same journey I once experienced. For anyone in the beauty industry, I urge you to embrace your passions and the process. Every challenge you face is an opportunity for growth, and every step you take brings you closer to realizing your dreams. Read more>>
Mimilacedme
I decided to create Mimilacedme brands and llc as an umbrella to for my hair business and it just grew into a business brand to encompass all of my products from hair branding and podcasting. Mimilacedme brands and Shapeshifters podcast and Mindful Mental health. My ideas just come and when they do I have to execute it’s like a rush that I get seeing things I’ve built come to fruition. Read more>>
Julia Baker
Before starting Brothy, I had no intention of being a business owner. I just wanted to make bone broth for myself because I’d been hearing about all its health benefits. I would source my ingredients at local farmers markets, test different recipes and techniques after reading about a million different food blogs, and (when the broth turned out well) I’d share it with my friends. Its those same friends who are the ones to credit–or blame, depending on how you look at it–for my foray into the unpredictable and opaque realm of entrepreneurship. Read more>>
Shirelle Brown
I retired from government service at the young age of 40, after two decades of dedicated work. As a single mother of two, I took a leap of faith and launched a consulting business, leveraging the skills I’d honed during my time in government. Initially, I focused on government relations and policy, but the business soon expanded to include government grant and proposal writing, as well as business and workforce development. I started with minimal resources, less than $100 to be exact. I knew that emails were free, my voice was free, and setting appointments required only a phone and an active plan. I applied the same advice I give to my clients: “What do you already have?” I identified my existing skills and resources and began to build on them. Read more>>
Marisa Demos
I’ve had an entrepreneurial spirit since college. I worked primarily on Instagram collaborating with brands, doing UGC content creation and digital marketing. I was able to supplement some income while I finished my bachelors degree and I LOVED working for myself. Fast forward years later, a good friend of mine asked me to take some pictures of her and her newborn son, since the photographer she originally hired cancelled on her last minute. I picked up my very dusty, old DSLR camera and gave it my best shot. I posted the pictures and shortly after, my inbox flooded with inquiries. I realized the potential and opportunities I had, and I quickly had to figure out manual camera settings, poses, direction, composition, and how to market myself as a new photographer. Read more>>