In our view, far too many ideas die at the imagination stage. It’s not because people are lazy, we think the primary reason is because many people don’t know where or how to start. So, we connected with some sharp and generous entrepreneurs who’ve agreed to share their stories of how they went from idea to execution.

Ursula Echeverria

Overall, I feel my ability to communicate clearly and connect with my clients has been the key for successful professional relationships. Working as a filmmaker in animation is like having a white canvas for a painter. You start from cero. Usually you get nothing more than a prompt. What gets difficult sometimes, is that your clients don’t know about the process of making an animated short film, which had lead me to include before start any development in the project, time to educate them in the process, to know and define the expectations delimited by the budget, time, deadline and and overall limitations of the project. Read more>>

James Watson

You know, the whole Media by Semaj thing didn’t just happen overnight. It goes back to when I was just 13, and I got my first guitar and a camcorder. That was the kickstart for this lifelong connection I have with both music and telling stories through videos. Read more>>

Heather, Chauncey Young, Woods

We started So she Slays about seven years ago at one of our favorite taco places in San Francisco over a glass of sangria. At the time Chauncey was a very big blog consumer and I was writing for a few. We would always discuss the lack of representation and not feeling like our voices were heard, or the fact that it was very sugarcoated, so we decided to start our own that would show the less pretty side of life while also inspiring others to go after the life that they wanted. Read more>>

Chad Treadway

My most recent idea for execution revolved around my book, Digital Marketing for Rural Small Businesses. The idea came from several angles. Read more>>

Michael Campo

As videographer and filmmaker for over 15 years I was searching for a new creative outlet. Something I could sink my teeth into and really explore that would give me joy and a sense of accomplishement. This past January I decided it was time, and I bought myself a camera for photography and began reading, learning, and practicing the craft. Read more>>

Rahiem Thompson

My business started long before getting my first customer. I started building my personal brand in college by documenting my daily life as a computer science student. During those few years of daily video editing I gained a ton of skill with graphics, photo and video editing. My dad gave me one of his old Nikon cameras and I used it to take high quality portraits and landscapes around campus. That brought me a lot of attention and eventually turned my peers into customers. Read more>>

Brandon Crouch

I am a registered nurse who worked in the Emergency Department for 8 years and has been working for a medical device company specializing in Urology for the last 13 years. Read more>>

Kurt Ballash

I started woodworking in my garage to help with pain associated with injuries from being in the military. It helped so much, and I found that other veterans were often in my garage with me which led me to a new purpose. Realizing that it wasn’t just helping other veterans find a hobby that released a natural happy but helping them decide something out of the box in their transition out of the military. Read more>>

Jordan Character

How did I become The Spiritual AI Guy? A fusion of AI consultant, spiritual guide, and health coach- I had many failed ideas, I made lots of money and lost lots again and again trying to launch a business by doing the same things…by stalling processing the same hard memories that were inherently full of the medicine I needed to break out of this detrimental loop of disaster…so when I think of how I actually launched this idea, it began with dusting myself off, wiping the tears, and taking yet another leap of faith. Read more>>

Shakyra Talley

I started my business as a way to grieve the loss of my father. It was a therapeutic way to escape from my feelings of unanswered questions, guilt, and heart break. Read more>>

Tahquetta Hunter

I’ve always had the creativity. I mean always. Read more>>

Chasity Davenport

Opening a salon was never part of my game plan. I loved being a stylist because it offered a creative outlet, a way to connect with the community and flexibility to be a mother and partner/wife. It became a sideline event because a corporate job seemed like the “right” path, the big girl job I needed. The reality is that we can paint a picture of  what our life should look like and that’s not at all what life has in store for us. Read more>>

Ju – Julia Berrios

SANARTEFOUNDATION.ORG COMPASSION IN ACTION Read more>>

Wilma Herrera

In life, an unexpected event often ignites the spark of inspiration, leading us down uncharted paths. For many, the journey into nonprofit work is a calling that emerges from a profound experience. In the case of US Dog Coalition & Rescue, that life-altering moment came in the form of a visit to Mexico’s breathtaking Copper Canyon. Read more>>

Simoneese Williams

I started TSB out of a personal passion for self-care following what could have been a near death experience in 2017. I did a soft launched it in the midst of the pandemic after realizing that there was a growing need for people to prioritize their well-being. It was my way of helping people to lead a healthier, and happier life especially during a time when we were mandated to stay at home and not being able to do anything that was normal . Read more>>

Adonis Moise

Before I started Adonis Fitness LLC, I once was once 75lbs overweight and I made a commitment to myself to take control of my health. I lost 75lbs and use my knowledge from my experience to help others lost weight. I started consulting a friend and he lost over 50 pounds, which made me think that I have the ability to start my own fitness business that can change peoples lives. After helping my friend lose 50 pounds and advertising it on social media help me gain confidence to help others. People started to reach out to me for fitness advice, which led me to open up my own fitness business. Read more>>

Brad Borkowski

I was teaching woodworking in Colorado and my girlfriend at the time had just moved in from Iowa and didn’t have a job yet. We were really struggling because my salary was not enough for both of us to live off of. At that time, Etsy was just starting to become popular and I had a lot of family and friends telling me I should look into it. I am not the most tech savvy person, so the idea of not having to build my own website was very appealing. Read more>>

Brittie Crawford

Once upon a time, in a land filled with cubicles and corporate jargon, I embarked on a journey that would take me from the bustling world of marketing to a colorful realm of tiny tots and playful discovery. It all began with a Bachelor’s degree in marketing and a passion for shaking things up. Read more>>

Dee Ware

Ive been a Personal Stylist for more than a decade and I have always added layers to my business. After 5 years I adding in Houston Shopping Tours because there was a need to create community while supporting community through building confidence in others. Recently, I created a concept called Style Mapping which is a simplified system of curating capsule wardrobes for my clients virtually. Read more>>

Cathy Blatnik

When COVID shut our world down as we know it, my son went from in-person school to “virtual” learning. This type of learning was not great for my son, because his two main diagnoses are Autism and Epilepsy. We had unexpected “extra” time and we started receiving more “virtual” private speech therapy from his speech therapist. She started teaching Dominic, my son, about the concept of “if you bake something, I will pay you.” Read more>>

Ali Ayhan

I wanted to do something I enjoy and at the same time, be useful for other people. So, I looked for ways to inform people about some topics I am interested in. I decided that starting a social media account is an easy and fun way to do it. That’s why I opened up my accounts. I didn’t have any big expectations when I started. Read more>>

Claudia Farrokhnia

I’m Claudia Farrokhnia, a seasoned professional in branding, marketing, and PR. Originally from Austria, where Prosecco has been a cherished companion for the past three decades, I know firsthand the joy it brings to gatherings with friends and family. In Austria, it’s not just a drink; it’s a symbol of the Italian lifestyle we adore, a taste of Italy right next door. Read more>>

Veronica Vasquez

I started my journey in makeup back in 2012, with Special Effects Makeup. Long story short, I used to do work with the church and in a fundraising attempt, we decided to do a “Hell/Haunted House” Maze. Putting everything together in such a short amount of time, from paper to reality, was such a rush. Makeup wise, I had a very specific vision so I knew I had to execute it in my own way. Read more>>

Molyan Dery

Hello! Thank you for being interested in the process of making MOLYAN a brand. My first career is in anesthesia, and it has been quite the transition to apparel and textiles, but the expression of my creative side has been at the forefront over the last few years. Providing anesthesia to patients is extremely black and white, and not an environment to get creative, and for me, it was time to start accessing my colorful side. Read more>>

Sam Madani

Turning thoughts to things is a beautiful accomplishment. The process, on the other hand, is far from pretty. Read more>>

Jessica Godinez

I had the idea to start the churro catering a few years before I actually took action. I decided it was time when I became pregnant with my second child and had to find a way to make money while being in a high risk pregnancy. I did some research to make sure there was no one in my area offering what I had in mind, I purchased the equipment I needed to get me started, I drew out what I wanted my cart to look like and with the help of my husband and dad, we built my first cart. Read more>>

Tiannia Barnes

I started my business with a dream and a vision. My passion and purpose collided and that was the beginning of my journey into entrepreneurship. Once I had the vision of design women’s footwear, I researched classes to take to confirm that this idea was not a hobby but more of something that I wanted to pursue, a gift of design. After the class, my love for footwear excelled. A boost of energy, confidence and creativity ensued. Read more>>

Sierra Jones

I started back in 2020, 2021. Needing an outlet during the shut down. I started out making goddess candles. I had no experience and just jumped right in. I joined Facebook groups and met people on there that gave me so much free game! It was only right that I make something of it! In winter 2021/22 I experience a bout of homelessness that I did not expect to happen. Read more>>

Alya Alghmadi

I spent the last decade as a professional athlete, dedicating myself to rigorous training for the Olympics… However, my journey often unfolded in the shadows, overshadowed by younger competitors. My inherent nature has always been one of generosity, extending far beyond my public persona and charitable foundation.  Read more>>

COURTNEY MONTES

Anchorage party store has been in the exact location for many years, but it has changed multiple owners and was closed due to poor management. We decided to re-open the convenience store with a Cuban deli to give us another footprint for our co-owned restaurant, Havana Grill. We decided to pursue a new liquor license, remodel the store, and change our name to stand out from the typical liquor store. Read more>>

Shayne Wells

Going from idea to execution took a few years, as the idea of originating the concept of starting my own business, specifically within social media and marketing, was an ongoing process and I remember just wanting it to be perfect. During college, I interned, took extra classes to perfect the “craft” and worked with a few mentors that guided me in the right directions, and the business idea was developed in 2016. Read more>>

Mingzhi Cai

I’m a product experience designer working in the fintech sector. Beyond my regular duties, I’m also passionate about knowledge sharing. The journey began with some notable achievements in my daily work. Last year, after spearheading a revamp of our team’s design system, which led to a remarkable 200% increase in usage, I recognized that its potential extended beyond just our team. Read more>>

Nona Brown

I’ve just completed something I NEVER imagined myself doing! Read more>>

Octavia Morgan

I have always loved fragrances since I was a little girl. Several years ago I noticed that I was having allergic reactions to some of my favorite mass produced parfums only to discover I was becoming fragrance sensitive to the chemicals and toxins in my parfums. Because I did not want to stop wearing parfum, I went out to stores to find natural and clean fragrances only to discover scents that were flat and not complex or didn’t last long on the skin. Read more>>

Alscott Worrell

At the time, I was in my 6th year of education. I was working as the Director of Campus Operations for a middle and high school in Houston, Texas and we were on spring break. I didn’t waste any time getting on the road to NYC. I missed it so much, so the 25 hour drive didn’t bother me, but the music started to so I decided to ride in silence. Read more>>

David J. Franco

In 2021, during a week-long trip to New Jersey, I found myself in urgent need of a vehicle.That’s when fate led me to Turo, often described as the ‘Airbnb of car rentals’. Renting a Tesla Model 3 was a breeze; a quick Uber ride to the host’s location, and I was behind the wheel in no time, with no waiting or hassles. The experience left me genuinely impressed. Read more>>

Daaimah Reid

During June in quarantine, I sent myself outside of my house in the sun. Being home everyday for about three months at this point, I found peace with self, and I didn’t want to let the time go by untapped. With a sketchbook and markers in hand, I told myself I couldn’t come back inside until I had a tee shirt idea. Read more>>

Tahirah Goins-Nall

My business began as a blog. It started because I, as a college graduate, had gone from volunteering in fashion shows to wondering how I would pivot from my initial track of becoming a lawyer, into someone who worked in the corporate office of a fashion or beauty company. As a youth, I had always been an advocate–a storyteller–and I realized in my senior year of undergrad that I could channel that same storytelling in the creativity and artistic expression of fashion. Read more>>

Toni Gary

For the last 10+ years, I’ve been known as Toni the baker, and owner of Sweets by Toni. After running a successful business, I still did not feel fulfilled. So in 2022, I started to ask God what is my purpose? I began to pray and fast. I wrote down some of the desires I had on my heart, and the Holy Spirit lead me to a pastor by the name of Dr. Dharius Daniel’s. Dr. Daniel’s ministry is located in Georgia. Read more>>

Niyaz Pirani

The most important thing to do when starting a new business is to lean on your interests and your talents. Read more>>