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.

Sahar Shahabi

Starting my photography business was a journey that took shape over time, but I can tell you that the process didn’t happen overnight. There were moments of doubt, planning, and a lot of trial and error. It all started with a love for photography that had been growing over many years. I’ve always enjoyed capturing moments—whether it was family gatherings, nights out with my friends, or just everyday life. I’d take photos with my cameras, phone, anything I had, and it always brought me so much joy. Read more>>

Dennis Rosario

Well, the start of Blanc.NYC was from me being creative and always capturing great moment with my phone. I usually share them to my social media account (@Blanc.NYC) & it started off me capturing landscapes, historic monuments moving on to capturing nature such as plants, animals, the 4 seasons and of-course the New York City madness that happens around us everyday. For something that was a simple hobby became to grow into something people wanted to see more of, had several people interested in me shooting their photos and wanting to see where I get my creative mindset when capturing the right image. With all this traction from the people and posting on my instagram, I decided to purchase my first camera to see if maybe I can capture more professional pieces. Read more>>

Jim And Sherri Borton

When we first started talking about starting a winery it was after we had been growing grapes for another nearby winery for about 5 or 6 years. We started attending our state wine and grape conference more to learn about increasing production and quality. As we met and talked with other winery owners, we would get excited about the possibilities of doing one of our own. Over the course of the next 5 years, we would go to the conference and on the drive home and for the next few weeks we would discuss things like location (i.e. where to build on our current acreage), what size, what equipment we needed, cost to build/equip, etc. Then after a few weeks, life took over again and we went back to more normal routines at work in the vineyards, hauling kids to sports practices/games, etc. Read more>>

Danielle Hanosh

The process of going from idea to execution with LEAP happened over the course of several years. In 2017 the idea for a humane education program for teenagers began taking shape at my sanctuary, Blackberry Creek, in Northern California. We had recently helped a young woman named Audori who was in FFA (Future Farmers of America) rescue her beloved pig, Sebastian, from slaughter. While interviewing her and several other FFA students, we learned there were no alternative programs that students could participate in that offered a way to learn about and work hands-on with animals without having to send them to auction for breeding or slaughter at the end. Read more>>

Ramy Ayoub

The Red Sea Academy was born out of a clear and pressing need: the booming tourism industry in the early 2000s in the Red Sea region was growing at an unprecedented rate, with new hotels and resorts opening regularly. However, there simply weren’t enough skilled entertainers to meet the high demand. Resorts often relied on foreign agencies, predominantly from Western Europe—France, Italy, and England—to provide entertainment services. This came with several challenges: Read more>>

Kuba Sitak

It all started with a simple but powerful idea. Attaching a small wheel to the nose or tail of a skateboard, like training wheels on a bike, to help beginners develop balance, control, and confidence. At first, it was just a thought but I knew I had to take make it happen.
The next day, I began visualizing how it could work. I sketched out the concept on paper, imagining how the wheel would attach to the board and what it would need to do to help users improve their balance. My first goal was to create a prototype, no matter how basic, to test if the idea worked and solved the problem. Read more>>

Olha Barabash

The inception of my company, “Sense of Moment”, along with its name, came from an unexpected source. While managing a corporate event at my previous job, I was tasked with creating a ‘wow’ effect for the client and all attendees. The opening became the pivotal moment of the evening – much like naming a boat, where the right choice leads to success, and a misstep could spell disaster. Read more>>

Virginia Toliver-lyons

The idea for Love & Logic Skincare came to me during one of those rare, quiet moments when life slows down just enough for inspiration to strike. I remember looking at my bathroom counter, cluttered with products that promised transformation but delivered disappointment. Like everyone else—and possibly even worse—my kids’ skin was getting destroyed by over-the-counter products that were supposed to help. It hit me: skincare should be more than a routine—it should be a balance of love and science, nurturing both the skin and the soul. Read more>>

Joshua Boyce

Joshua Boyce always believed in the power of family and the value of hard work. It was late one evening after a family lacrosse practice when the idea first came to him. Hudson and Mason, then just 9 and 8 years old, were practicing their shooting drills in the backyard, their passion for the game unmistakable. Watching his sons’ dedication, Josh thought, What if we could share this love of lacrosse with others? What if we could build something bigger—something that not only showcased our journey but inspired others? Read more>>

Anne Wintemute

When my co-founder and I first started talking about creating Aimee, it was out of a shared passion to solve a problem that felt impossible to tackle with traditional approaches. As a subject matter expert in domestic violence, I had seen firsthand how many people slip through the cracks because they don’t have access to consistent, meaningful support. My co-founder brought the technical expertise, and together, we wanted to see if new technology could provide a type of support that had never been possible before—one that could reach people at scale. In the U.S. alone, 10 million people are victimized by domestic violence every year, and the impacts of that abuse are incredibly long-lasting. We knew the solution needed to be something accessible, responsive, and always available. Read more>>

Amanda Patrizz

I’ve been a bartender for nine years, in 2022 it was a slow Thursday day shift and I was asked to bartend for a private birthday party. He said he would pay me $200, it was his wife’s 40th birthday and it was a bunch of their family and friends. So with the $200 I bought myself a bunch of bar tools I spent around $100 and worked four hours and made an extra $300 in tips. So then I thought that I could make this a business, I could in hopes one day completely work for myself and not have to work in a bar much longer. My daughter and I lived alone since she was under one and bartending has made sure the bills were paid and we had everything we needed. Read more>>