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.
Vasudha Nagar
The idea for my business, Shreeta Salon & Spa, came from my upbringing in India, where I was surrounded by the wisdom of Ayurveda and herbal remedies. My parents, especially my father, who studied Ayurveda, taught me the incredible power of natural healing. When I moved to the U.S., I saw how the beauty industry heavily relied on chemicals, often causing long-term harm. This inspired me to create a space where people could embrace safe, herbal alternatives. Read More>>
Nikki Lam
I wanted to make extraordinary cakes accessible to everyone! When I sold cakes previously, some of my customers had difficulty affording the cake that they really wanted. By the time I added in the cost for the cake, sugar flowers and/or edible figures, the expenses added up. I decided to create a more affordable way for people to get the cakes they desire. I started selling cake kits that allowed my customers to get plain store-bought cakes and use my kits to decorate their cakes. Interestingly enough, the customers enjoyed getting involved with their kids’ cakes. If the customer wants even more involvement, I offer an online cake course teaching amateur bakers how to bake and decorate a cake like a professional. Read More>>
Veronika Kandaurova
Konstantin is a chef with extensive international experience, and I have spent over 10 years producing contemporary art exhibitions across the UK, Venice, and beyond. On our very first date, we found ourselves dreaming about how we could combine our skills and passions, as we are both deeply in love with our work. Read More>>
Joseph Magnelli
In the winter of 2022 I was given an opportunity to run my first kitchen. My roommate’s boss purchased a local pizza joint that was attached to his current business. He needed someone to run the old pizza place while it was being phased out, and create the menu for the new restaurant and run the new kitchen once it was open. My roommate knew I loved to cook and loved my cooking, he also knew my dream was to one day run a restaurant. He suggested I meet with his boss. Unfortunately, other than being a dishwasher in my teenage years, I had never actually worked in a restaurant. However, my dad was cook and chef at various restaurants and I had spent a lot of my childhood in those restaurants learning the ways of the kitchen. Read More>>
Alcides Nova
Digital communication plays a key role in achieving the goals of growth and development of companies in all branches and sectors. The implementation of a communication strategy based on the strategic objectives of the institution, not only makes it possible to achieve the goals, but also allows the audience to identify with the brand and cause a high impact on the surrounding communities. Read More>>
Noah Hernandez
As I grew and matured, reality began to set in. I watched from the sidelines and discerned a shift in the heart of our nation. The country I had enjoyed from my childhood was eroding, the reason being something I could not yet call by name. This sparked what I now know to have been a crossroads of destiny and duty of citizenship. Read More>>
Linda King
I came up with the idea of The Smart Travelista while I was on a trip to Europe and the Middle East in 2019. I’ve had many conversations with travellers in my travels. During my 2019 trip, I talked about money-saving techniques with fellow travellers and realised that my methods weren’t common knowledge. I’d used these money saving techniques since I worked in the travel industry to save money on travel. Read More>>
Mj Peters
In 2021 I managed a photo studio part-time and fell in love with the creative collaboration opportunities it invited for all kinds of artists and small businesses. When that studio closed at the end of 2022, I knew I wanted to continue providing a space for people to create. My partner and I found the home for our new studio conveniently located in our city’s creative district. We quickly got to work setting up shop, building our one of a kind infinity cove, and stocking our prop room so “StudioDaze” could be available for hourly rentals by February of 2023. Read More>>
Justin Larkin
I had been working on this trading and investing software independently for about three years when I met my co-founder, Dennis Butler. I shared my work with him, and he was the first person to truly support the product and recognize the potential impact it could have on the community. We quickly discovered that our interests in technology, investing, and, most importantly, our motivations were perfectly aligned. Both of us shared a strong ambition to honor and continue the legacy of those who influenced our upbringing. Read More>>
Vanessa Taylor
I’ve always been passionate about the unique bond between dogs and humans. Growing up in Germany, I spent countless hours immersed in books and dog training shows, always fascinated by how understanding a dog’s behavior could transform its relationship with people. I began helping neighbors with their dogs—often earning a reputation for being the one who could get even the most unruly pups to ‘behave.’ That early experience sparked a deeper passion for bridging the communication gap between dogs and their humans. Read More>>
Niani Phillips
My inspiration for Not Your Normal Denim stemmed from discovering the significant amount of textile waste that ends up in landfills, alongside the immense water consumption required in denim production. I was shocked to learn that it takes almost 1500 gallons to create one pair of jeans. I decided to only use denim that I would source from local thrift stores as my materials and swore to never purchase new fabric. I knew this was a worthwhile endeavor due to the rise in second-hand shopping and increased support for local businesses during the pandemic. People were finally understanding the dangers of fast fashion and the impact it has had on the environment and they wanted to find ways to fight back. Read More>>
Ben Ferris
For a long time I have felt that there were inherent problems in the consumer facing wine business. For one, it can be very pretentious and that is a major problem for consumers just learning about wine. There is a big world of wine out there and It can be very intimidating even if people aren’t talking down to you when you have questions. I also got annoyed by upselling consumers to increase guest check averages. I wanted people to be able to follow their curiosities and make choices for themselves without outside influence. The technology we use at taste allows us to provide a self serve environment that allows guests to choose between 48 different wines from all over the world. Read More>>
Ana Curiel and Angelo Garrido
Casa AnKan was inspired by a passion for human creativity and the desire to bridge cultures through art. During a trip to Mexico that highlighted the rich narratives behind diverse artistic creations, we envisioned a gallery that not only showcases unique pieces but also celebrates the stories and craftsmanship behind them. We saw a gap in the market for a platform that emphasizes cultural significance and innovation, offering clients more than just art—they gain a meaningful connection to the work. Casa AnKan is our way of fostering a community that appreciates authentic, exclusive, sustainable, and dynamic design, creating a lasting impact by honoring the art of storytelling through curated collections. Read More>>
Jake Ziegler
I was drawn to the style of central Texas barbecue because of its history and simplicity. Having spent many hours as a kid in my dad’s butcher shop, I already had an interest and familiarity with the process of taking an entire animal from hoof to plate. Historically, many of the well known restaurants that inspired me started as meat markets through the week, and would then take the less desirable cuts and cook and serve them on the weekends. This practice of minimizing waste was really the foundation that defined the style. Read More>>
Princess Budgets
I came up with the idea for Princess Budgets LLC during one of the most challenging times in my life. When the pandemic hit, I lost my job, and suddenly, my plans for financial independence and continuing my education felt uncertain. I hadn’t saved enough to cover essential expenses like rent, utilities, and tuition, which left me feeling overwhelmed and unsure of how to move forward. Read More>>
Ernsie-bianca Nicanor
I’ve liked fashion and art from since I can remember, so I’ve always wanted to get into something that had to do with clothing. I wanted to allow myself to be vulnerable about my ADHD diagnosis while bringing more awareness to our world’s mental health crisis. I wanted to do this while acknowledging my son because, without him and his unwavering support, I would not have gotten to this point. Hi Cain 👋🏾 Read More>>
Courtney Buchanan
CB Grey started as one of those completely unexpected, “What if?” moments during the early days of the pandemic in April 2020. The world had shut down, I had a six-month-old baby (Grey, who was into everything), and I was trying to navigate this strange new reality. I’d let go of the work I loved— producing videos for trade shows—because, well, nothing was happening anymore. I needed something to focus on, something creative, and honestly, just something to keep me sane. Read More>>
Heather Haycock
I grew up competitively dancing. It was the only time I felt free in my body as a high functioning anxious person. I took a break from dance in my late 20’s, with competitive dance came a lot of body image and competing with everyone all the time issues, and I needed a break form that. I had a different job where I truly fell in love with reminding humans how grand they are. I excelled in pulling humans out of loops and stories that kept them small or in constant self doubt and it felt so nourishing for me to see them see themselves differently than what they’ve been told. Shortly after that, i began teaching dance again. Read More>>
Diego, Aldana and Abby
The idea for Abby por América was born out of a shared dream between my partner, Die, and me—to explore the world together as a family, break free from the conventional, and live life on our own terms. The true star of this adventure, however, is Abby, our beloved dog and the heart of our journey. Her curiosity, energy, and zest for life inspired us to create a project where she could be the protagonist, showing the world how incredible life on the road can be. Read More>>
Aaron Rivera
One meeting after another and anther, the main statment I heard from everyone was ” I wish I would have known this earlier”. I could relate in so many ways from all my meetings. Growing up it was get a job, work my way up and save for retirement. Read More>>
Audrey Presser
Katie and I were college roommates, and our friendship blossomed through our shared love of hair and makeup. We spent countless hours in our little dorm room, chatting about the makeup “gurus” we loved watching on YouTube. It was back when YouTube hair and makeup tutorials were all the rage, and discovering that we both had this shared passion felt like fate! Read More>>
Josh Raymond
Dating back to the mid/late 90’s, there have been a few things that have always been important in my life. Animal Rights, cooking and sharing that food with people, working hard and having a good work/life balance. From the time I was 16 and throughout my 20’s I worked hard helping others grow their businesses. While at time the work was fruitful and enjoyable it was never rewarding to my soul. In 2011 after a run in with a car while riding my bicycle and a couple broken ribs later, I really started to think about a change in my career path. Read More>>
Louisa Warwick
I first started Social Acceleration Group two days after graduating from NYU. It began as a Celebrity Instagram Sweepstakes company and has now evolved into a Marketing, Advertising, and PR agency over the years. The bulk of what we do is Public Relations—we put all sorts of clients in the press, from entrepreneurs, fashion models, influencers, and reality stars to anyone looking to gain media exposure. Read More>>
Tamara Mckane
My journey began with creating products for my home and body. Realizing the presence of toxins in everyday items, I sought a more holistic approach to healing and home fragrance. I started with essential oil roll-ons for headaches and soy wax melts for scenting my home. One day, I brought some wax melts to my friend Brittany Spencer’s shop, and she immediately wanted to sell them! That was the moment I became a vendor. What started as a small endeavor in my kitchen quickly transformed into having my products in a shop. Read More>>
James L.
My business ideas and mindframe started in 2018 when I was tired of the lack and quality of the clothing choices there was for plus size people. So I decided to launch a clothing line that not only had quantity but also quality because when it comes down to designs and options it was only available to the smaller built society. Read More>>
Grace J. Park
If you asked me in college if I ever wanted to be a business owner, I would’ve said absolutely no – but, cut to 2025 and I’m the Founder of Park Avenue Styling!
After college, I took a year to really think about what I wanted to do in the fashion industry and I came to the conclusion that I wanted to learn more about styling. I choose this because I honestly love shopping and I wanted to use what I was good at to help people. Read More>>
Courtney Cecil
15 years into a career in management consulting, I realized I was living in a man’s world. I had given tirelessly to my company, and around every corner I was being faced with more evidence that the male leaders would continue taking care of their own kind and that they didn’t appreciate that women solve problems differently. Despite working directly for multiple administrations, there were sizeable examples of injustice and qualified females being passed over. This pattern encourages attrition of women in middle-management, particularly in the professional services industry. Many women are discouraged that those a step ahead of them are not being respected and leave, particularly for industries more amendable to raising kids. Read More>>
Madison Dunaetz
Trauma plays a huge role in my life. I have been formally diagnosed with Complex PTSD (CTPSD) and panic disorder after experiencing years of abuse in my adolescence. PTSD typically results from a single traumatic event, while CPTSD develops from prolonged exposure to abuse or repeated traumatic events. Both CPTSD and PTSD share common symptoms related to psychological and behavioral stress responses, such as flashbacks, hypervigilance, and attempts to avoid triggers of the traumatic event(s). However, individuals with CPTSD often experience additional challenges, including long-term and pervasive difficulties with emotion regulation. Read More>>
Jackie Pilarte-ramos
I have worked in Healthcare Leadership for the last 23 years, so I was content with just having my 9-5 job at the hospital and leading my teams, until I went through a very traumatic divorce at the age of 42. I found myself having to start from scratch in my early forties, with two young girls while struggling emotionally and financially. Read More>>
Leah Townsend
How did I come up with the idea of Leah’s Wholesome Bakes? My love for baking began when I baked my first official cake in Home Ec—a Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake! I excitedly took the recipe home and baked it over and over until it reached perfection. This experience, combined with watching my grandma bake her legendary pound cakes and sweet potato pies, sparked my baking journey. Read More>>