Finding the key partners to work with can make or break your venture. After thousands of conversations with aspiring entrepreneurs, it’s one of the most common obstacles and risks holding folks back from pursuing their idea. So – we asked some of the smartest, most resourceful entrepreneurs in the community to share their lessons and insights to help inspire and educate the next great set of entrepreneurs.

Ashley Perez

All of the brands, referral partners, yoga studios, etc. that I’ve built relationships with have blossomed from showing up authentically and vulnerably in spaces and places that feel aligned whether that’s an in-person event, through a mutual friend, or online. I’ve realized that I don’t fit into any type of box or category, and the most evaluation and self-growth happens when I embrace my uniqueness with unapologetic confidence. Read more>>

Caitlin Kaufman, Christina Rahimzadeh

We are passionate about sustainability and quality in all aspects of our life. We know that gold and diamonds are forever and we’d like Mother Earth to be also. We have a new found love for lab grown diamonds which is standard in our bridal collection along with recycled diamonds. We love using ethically sourced stones and we use only recycled gold in our pieces. Our aim is to work with people who have a similar vision and ethical standard as we do. Read more>>

Grant Ruhlman.

I feel lucky to have launched Homebucha in Durham, NC, a town that is known for its local food culture. As a fledging business owner, I just wanted my product to be represented at the local businesses where I was inspired to shop. My background is in small scale sustainable farming, so I already had a window into the restaurants and markets that put a priority on high quality local ingredients. Read more>>