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.

Jordan Santini

Rotate started messy. I wasn’t sure what it was supposed to be at first; a nonprofit? A socially responsible business? A club? An advocacy group? All I knew was that I wanted to do something that actually made a difference. Over time, it became clear that Rotate could be all of those things in its own way — a place where creativity and impact overlap. Read more >>>

Vincent Chan

I started a company called Based Dating, which helps men improve their online dating results through professional dating app photography, profile optimization, and coaching. It really began from my own experience. I entered the dating scene a bit later in life, and like a lot of guys, I struggled on dating apps at first. I wasn’t getting many matches, and it was frustrating. Read more >>>

Jake Westerfield

I have always had an inspiration to own a business, however being employed full time I thought it may happen after retirement and be something simple like a storage unit or car wash. That all changed in early 2009 when I attended a wedding for a friend and observed my first photo booth. I LOVED it! Read more >>>

Pearl Mashour

For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to do something meaningful, something that creates real change in women’s lives. But it wasn’t until I went through my own transformation that I found my purpose. When I discovered the world of life coaching, something inside me clicked. Read more >>>

Nicole Sdae’

I’ve been interested in writing since I was a little girl. I grew up in an era where girls my age would collect magazines just for the posters. I collected the posters too, but I was always interested in the actual story that was being told. I knew early in life that I wanted to be somebody who told or contributed to stories. Read more >>>

Sheena Agyare

The SHĒK Lifestyle started from my own healing journey. I was in a season of reflection, learning how to love myself after years of grief and showing up for everyone else. It wasn’t planned as a business. I was simply documenting what I was learning about self-love and boundaries. Read more >>>

Gracie Eddins

I received my first camera at 15 and have always been interested in photography from a young age. My grandfather was an incredible wedding photographer, so some might say it was in my DNA. Read more >>>

Eva Evans

It was May, 2014 and I was on a flight from Nashville to Portland, OR for a half marathon race with my mom. I was unhappy in my current associate ER doctor position at a local Pet ER in Nashville, and I was ready for a change in me career. Read more >>>

Angelo Flowers

Spoony Candle Co. started in the quiet moments of 2020 when the world slowed down, and I found myself craving calm and comfort at home. I’ve always loved creating spaces that feel intentional — where scent, sound, and light work together to help you breathe a little easier. Read more >>>

Ipshita Krishan

When I was finishing high school and choosing colleges, I honestly had no idea what studying in the “Western world” would be like. I had to pick a major upfront, I couldn’t apply undecided, and I remember seeing “Design” as an option and thinking, ‘that sounds cool.’ There were two paths on the list: graphic design or interior design. Read more >>>

Alexa Parker

Our marketing agency, Crimson Park Digital, has existed for over seven years, serving as an outsourced marketing team for service-driven brands across the Carolinas, from healthcare and hospitality to real estate and tourism. But again and again, we saw the same challenge: brands had strong strategies and lofty goals, but struggled to keep their content fresh, cohesive, and creative. Read more >>>

Gabriela Huezo

When I first came up with the idea for Haus of Duke, it wasn’t just about starting a business, it was about solving a gap I kept seeing in the industry in El Salvador. Working in influencer marketing across Latin America, I noticed how often global brands were missing genuine cultural connection in their campaigns. The strategy was there, but the soul wasn’t. Read more >>>

Melissa Peraldo

I moved to Sneads Ferry, North Carolina, sight unseen — drawn only by the dream of catching sunrises over the ocean and living somewhere that would feed my beach-loving soul. When I arrived, it turned out to be even more beautiful than I imagined. The landscapes, the light, the quiet moments — I found myself wanting to freeze time and capture it all. Read more >>>

Alan Ruffin

I was thrust into what I do for a living. Growing up, I was obsessed with photos, magazines, and music. In college, I studied political science while playing in a band and photographing everything I could. Back then, it was an expensive pursuit because film was still the standard. I thought I might go to law school, but that never felt right. Read more >>>

Gavin Hammond

Music has always been the driving force in my life. I grew up in Albuquerque surrounded by live performances because my parents ran a café with a small stage and weekly open mics. I was constantly around real musicians, and that atmosphere shaped everything about who I became. Read more >>>

Ty Tekeli

Fabl Design started with a simple idea: residential design could be both creative and well-coordinated. I’d seen too many projects where design and construction didn’t fully connect, so I wanted to build a company that bridged that gap. I began from my home office, creating drawing templates, refining workflows, and taking on small projects to test the process. Read more >>>

Richard Rowland Jr.

It began outside Bourbon One Bar on what seemed like an ordinary evening. The old ball coach was enjoying a Perdomo Champagne cigar when the aroma caught the attention of my barber. The two struck up a conversation right there on the sidewalk, and by the time they walked away, they were dreaming about opening a cigar lounge — a brick-and-mortar space where community could gather around good cigars and Kentucky bourbon. Read more >>>

Casey McManus

My husband and I purchased an old road-side Motel in Vermont in the winter of 2024. We renovated the property in the spring of 2024, while renovating we documented our journey on social media. We were very fortunate to have one of our videos to hit and go viral. This resulted in a large following of 300K+ followers. Read more >>>

T. McCall Stern Stern

I started my law practice in 2014 while caring for my great-grandfather and raising two young children. That experience shaped my commitment to helping families navigate transitions through estate planning, business law, guardianships, and fiduciary matters. Read more >>>

Shih-Hsueh Wang

In museums, ideas usually begin with a client’s mission. A history museum may want to honor a community, a science center may aim to spark curiosity, or a nonprofit organization may seek to prepare young people for the future. Read more >>>