A dad can’t find a bakery to make a birthday cake that can accommodate his daughter’s allergy-related needs. Two freelancers realize they need a way to organize all of their client contracts and can’t find software that adequately handles their use case. Necessity is often hailed as the mother of innovation – but not all ideas come from necessity. Unfortunately, in our experience, often media coverage of the ideas that powered amazing businesses and projects often stops at a very superficial level. The founders noticed a need and boom – idea. Often the ideation process has a much longer, more complex story and so we’ve asked some entrepreneurs and creatives we admire to go into detail about their ideation stories.

Joe Loper

I left the military to pursue a career in acting, which makes sense right? The truth is I was done working for other people in a way that only served their purpose. I’m proud of my service but I wanted to do something with my life that was rare and could also benefit others in the largest scope possible. Read more>>

Kathleen Fitzgerald

I’ve been on the move for many years, it may look like escaping at times, and I’m sure part of that is true, but when a situation isn’t working for me anymore, I pivot. Read more>>

Vernita Sherman

I came up with the idea for my business because for years I watched many amazing experts with products and services to sell have a hard time converting their podcast listeners into buyers. They’re excellent at what they do in their field, but their ideal clients and customers are not aware of that. Read more>>

Sandra Hardy

The conception of me becoming an entrepreneur and starting my company, Bootz To Heelz, LLC began in 2003 when my life took a turn for the worst in an already chaotic and heavy hearted time. It was the middle of war and I was on active duty preparing soldiers to leave their loved ones and deploy. Read more>>

Kimberley Chan & Linda Cajuste

A few years ago, we were both working 9-5 jobs in Montreal, Canada. Linda worked in accounting and Kim worked in marketing. We both have a creative side and like doing creative activities. We met at an improv theatre class, which we were taking for different reasons – Kim wanted to try something new, and Linda wanted to improve her writing and storytelling skills and also wanted to become less shy. Read more>>

Ashlee Nicole

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been fascinated by the entertainment industry. Straight out of college, I landed my first “real” job as an Online Account Manager at a company serving as New Orleans’ premiere entertainment source. Read more>>

Jida Kalai

Years back I was going through some hard times and I wanted to release this negative energy, so I turned to exercise. I was working out sometime twice a day. I created a fitness group for friends where I lead some hikes, bikes, and fitness retreats. While exercise became my anti-depressant, my body suffered. Apparently too much of anything isn’t good for you. Read more>>

Lizzy Averebck

Growing up, I always had a fixation on fashion. I watched every season of Project Runway with my dad and dreamed of one day joining the fashion industry. However, growing up in a small midwestern town that has a ‘drive your tractor to school day’ does not necessarily set you up to be an ever-successful fashion guru. Read more>>

Addison Morris

Founding a Cannabis Chamber of Commerce in 2011 in Colorado was not an ah-ha moment. It was based on my decades of experience as an entrepreneur, and member. and ambassador for my communities’ chambers. Chambers of commerce are a group of businesses that supports the interests of its members. Read more>>

Mia Monae

I came up with the idea of starting my own skincare line when I was a sophomore in high school. I ALMOST wanted to quit working on my business because getting sells were hard. But the love for being an entrepreneur kept coming back so I gotta right back into it. Read more>>

Reginald Quarles

I knew a few things prior to starting to Teatopia. I knew I wanted to created something that was mine, I knew that I wanted to create a space that was relaxing, peaceful, and could allow people to be themselves without having to put on a facade, and I knew I loved tea. Read more>>

Kendra Washington

Online personal training like most people came to me during covid, but I wasn’t doing much of it. A little here and there, then gyms opened back up and I was back to the gym. This idea of a whole wellness approach really spoke to me when I had my son and we had to move, PCS (permanently change of duty station) my husband is in the Air Force. Read more>>

Cathy Gomes

My name is Cathy and I am the founder and CEO of 700 Rivers. My family immigrated from Bangladesh to the USA right before I was born and I definitely grew up as a product of two cultures. When I was in college, I learned Bangladesh is a top country for human trafficking. Read more>>

Reed Allen

LIV as a brand and culture materialized through a combination of my personal life experiences and personal inspirations. The idea for the vibe of the brand actually came before I knew which direction to take our products in, but I always knew for sure that I wanted to do something with healthy, plant-based, yet still delicious food. Read more>>

Gigi Meyer Pruett

I’ve been an athlete ever since I can remember. There really was no choice with the family I was born into! I grew up playing every sport, until I landed a D1 scholarship to play volleyball at FGCU. After college, I then went on to be a professional wakeboarder for a couple years in Orlando, FL. Read more>>

Laura Chávez

The story of The Outside Institute is one of the phoenix rising from the ashes. I was coming out of almost two years in creative ideation and development on a project that ended up fizzling out due to partnership conflict. It was winter, I felt terribly discouraged and my spirits had sunk. Read more>>

Allison Tennyson

In 2020, my health declined, and I felt lost. Not only lost, I felt like I was going out of my mind. I finally made the decision to share my story on Instagram to find answers. Read more>>

Vladimir Druts

The journey to starting FRWRD Skincare was an emotional one. My struggles with extreme combination skin started early and took a toll on my self-esteem and self-image. After the stress of becoming a father I also developed Rosacea. I felt broken and was looking for a way to heal my skin and my mind. This is when I re-discovered the ancient power of mushrooms. Read more>>

Shane Loomis

Our food truck concept is called Top Nach, and we specialize in gourmet nachos (along with cheese-crusted burritos). Too often, nachos are piles of chips with toppings dumped on only the first layer, leaving soggy chips on top and naked chips on the bottom. Read more>>

Tristan Hunter

Education has always been something that was close to my heart. By the time I was in the 11th grade I knew I wanted to be a teacher because I knew I wanted to instill a love for learning into the next generation. Read more>>

Marcus Hilson

Ever since I was a child I’ve always had a passion for film, comic books and video games. From that passion grew the ambition to being involved in those hobbies in some way, shape or form. Read more>>

Julie Littlejohn

Two of the foundational aspects that contributed to starting this business are a love for people/relationships and movement through athletics. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been interested in the dynamics of people within themselves and with each other. Read more>>

Destiny Bradd

On my 21st birthday, I was ready to celebrate. However, many of my friends cancelled on me and couldn’t come to hangout. I so badly just wanted to go to a place where I could meet new girl friends and not be hit on by guys for dancing, or worrying about getting my drinks drugged. Then I had the idea. What if I CREATED that space for women to come to?! Read more>>

Chloe Zelensky

I’ve always been a very creative person. I had the privilege of growing up with an artistic mom who always fostered my creativity. We were always making something whether the medium was drawing, painting, sewing, etc. Sewing is something that I had done on and off when I got the itch for it. Read more>>

Michelle Mtchona

I grew up with all sorts of birds, reptiles, and small animals. My fascination with them led me to later become a Registered Veterinary Technician. I’ve been a vet tech for about 30 years and have been informally pet sitting for hospital clients throughout that time. Read more>>

Katie Mabe

I was at a time in my life when I was 20, when I was feeling like I had no true skills or talents and was not really sure what direction I wanted to take my life, but always felt like I wanted to do something that made me happy. I had an associate’s degree, working towards a bachelor’s degree, and was trying to pursue real estate at the time but something just did not feel right and I wasn’t truly happy. Read more>>

Ryan Maxey

I was fed up with my job as a trash man working 70 hours a week, making about $800 a week just hoping my body wouldn’t break down on me. They gave us one week vacation and we went to myrtle beach with my wife’s family. Her family is big so there was like 25 people in this beachside house. Read more>>

Nicole Leverett

My photography business was born out of a series of fortunate and unfortunate events. While I have always loved photography, from Polaroids in the 80’s, to my point and shoot Konica Tomato camera in the 90’s and cellphone cameras in the 2000’s, I never considered pursuing photography seriously. Read more>>

Brian Demerson

I have played football since i was little once i got to the end of my high-school career i began to realize i was and had been training myself and teaching myself how to play this game. With no guidance, support, or drive my NFL dreams dwindled after several failed tryouts for the next level came up short. Read more>>

Thomas Woodard

My family decided it was the right time to start our own business. We had been looking at food trucks and trailers for a couple months. We found one in the local area, it was a converted school Bus. On our way to inspection for purchase my wife had come up with the name the Yum Bus. Read more>>

Porchea-Londone Spencer

I started my business by accident. I was about a decade in with the fashion industry when I was let go from my visual merchandising position. (I was told by a new manager that I missed too many days but your girl had fibroids and no insurance so I was doing my best). I loved my job so I was devastated. Read more>>