When businesses are covered in the media, often there is a lot of focus on the initial idea, the genesis moment. Then they almost brush over the middle part – the scaling up part – and arrive at how big and awesome the business is today. It makes for a fun read or in the case of a movie or show an entertaining watch, but it’s also a missed opportunity. The middle part – the scaling up part is where so many small business owners get stuck. It’s the part so many of us need more guidance with and so we wanted to get conversations going on the topic of scaling up.

Adam Sarr

I started creating content seriously in 2020 during the pandemic when the world slowed down and everyone was glued to their phones. I had been making videos since I was a teenager, but that moment gave me the time and clarity to see what was really possible. I noticed friends of mine gaining traction online and decided to take a leap myself. Read more >>>

Krista Patterson

When I first launched my paddleboarding company in 2015, it was with just a van and a trailer, teaching lessons and SUP yoga classes along the Columbia River. As demand grew, we scaled into a full-service storefront in 2018 with a team, retail gear, and community events, a huge leap that taught me so much about leadership and systems. Read more >>>

Jamal Helewa

In the world of real estate, the journey of scaling up often begins with a single client and a single phone call. For me, it was exactly that: a friend introduced me to someone looking for a property in San Diego, and we found the perfect fit within a couple of months. That happy client then referred me to others, and the cycle continued. Read more >>>

Jay Vaishnav

Jay Vaishnav, COO – QeCAD My journey began as a graduate of AVPT, stepping into the architectural and engineering world with a curiosity to explore how design and technology could come together to shape the future of construction. Over the past two decades, that curiosity evolved into a purpose — to build teams, systems, and solutions that redefine excellence in the AEC industry. Read more >>>

Pat Case

This is probably one of my favorite topics to discuss: In the fire service, we end up spending about 1/3 of our lives with individuals who end up becoming like a second family. As cliché as it sounds, this family ends up becoming a secondary support system. Read more >>>

Katie Monroe

When people see where my business is today, they often assume it happened fast, but it has truly been years of building, refining, and growing. What might look like an overnight success has actually been a slow, steady evolution that started with a camera, a lot of heart, and a deep love for connection. Read more >>>

Mark Wilson

Brains and Brawn started in 2018 as a tutoring company. It was fairly straightforward: we would help students prepare for the SAT or ACT and improve their scores to be competitive for their target college. At first, I was the only tutor. We slowly grew and hired other tutors. Read more >>>

Molly Wilson

Growing up, I always had an eye for design, a knack for working with my hands and a passion for delicious food. In high school, my favorite class was visual arts, but at the time I thought, “What the heck does someone do with a visual arts degree?” So, off I went to college and decided to be more practical with my career ambitions. Read more >>>

Marina Shikman

When I started in real estate, I was completely new to this country. I didn’t have friends, family, or any connections. I began with open houses, trying to meet people and learn as much as I could. I started by attending every training I could find, with TriplePlay as my first big conference. Read more >>>

Jillian Rosey

I started my business, Jillian’s Pop-up Yoga, in early 2021, with the vision of creating a “pop-up” following by offering beach yoga at sunrise and sunset, residential community classes, and in-home private sessions. I moved from the Northeast in late 2020 (like so many of us) to South Florida. Read more >>>

Brandon Cartlidge

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Around the year 2017 we attempted to create a business from scratch called K Through 9 Dog Boarding and Training. Unfortunately we went about it ALL wrong. Not only were we unsuccessful, but we got scammed by several different people, lost a lot of money and even had a dog abandoned with us. Read more >>>

David Perez

Scaling up New Design Cabinet Factory wasn’t an overnight process. It started with a simple goal — to build high-quality, custom cabinetry that truly reflected craftsmanship and precision. My father started the shop years ago, and I grew up watching the process. Over time, I wanted to modernize the business, improve our systems, and bring in technology to increase efficiency while maintaining our craftsmanship. Read more >>>

Gregory Hyman

Cornerstone Landscapes officially launched on October 1, 2012. The week prior I had been let go buy a general contractor, who I worked with as a junior sales manager and construction superintendent for a year. His letter of termination came as a relief as I had planned on giving my final notice the same week. Read more >>>

Maxime Allouche

Three years ago, Insouciant Films, the production company where I work and am now a co-partner, was only a line producer and did not finance any of its projects. The company’s main task was to receive projects from friends and organize shoots. Read more >>>