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.
Kenny Vertus
UNRVLD Performance started from pure drive and a little bit of stubbornness.
Back in college, I already knew I didn’t want to work for someone else after graduation. So in April of my senior year, while most of my classmates were focused on finals and job applications, I was walking through Boston collecting pamphlets from gyms and fitness studios. I brought everything back to my dorm and started building a business plan from scratch. Read More>>
Nikki Almanza
LezBeHonest wasn’t born in a boardroom — it came from the trenches. I spent years working in social services, helping youth and communities navigate systems that were never really built for them. My background in psychology and degree in sociology helped me guide people through their growth, but it also showed me how much unlearning and reimagining was needed — not just for others, but for myself too. Read More>>
Claire Johnson
We first came up with the idea to start Pixie Paint in our junior year physics class. Miranda had mentioned wanting to start face painting over the summer to make some extra money. The idea kept being brought up and we decided to act on it. As the idea kept growing we thought to include glitter tattoos in our business plan as well. After many conversations we decided to make our dream a reality. Read More>>
Manuel Gonzalez III
One day, I joined this master class to learn how to sell high ticket items, but I didn’t know what niche I wanted to be in. That same day I began to have a conversation with Chat GPT. I asked it questions like: What are the top 3 niches for high ticket items with high demand and high profitability? It replied in seconds. Then I asked: What are the top 5 products in this niche that sell for more than $3,000 and have a high demand. Read More>>
Keshawna Pritchett
Sugar Luxe Candle Co was born from my personal self-care routine. During a time when I was pouring into myself through soothing bath rituals, candles became an essential part of that experience. It wasn’t just for the scent, but for the overall peace of mind and reset. I noticed I was constantly searching for something that felt luxurious, eco-conscious, and still affordable but when I couldn’t find exactly what I was looking for, I decided to create it myself. Read More>>
Neil Sheard
The journey of Quintessential Grooming LLC, the Barbershop was a concept that came about in 2015. Having just completed Barber School, I wanted to immediately open my own shop. Sadly, at that time, I was living in Baltimore, but unsure of how long, I’d be there. My plan was to move back to Atlanta, eventually, where I had previously lived for 3 years. I looked into a few locations but never leased any of them. Read More>>
Sofia Pipolo
I was taking a break from my career path in film production and journalism. At that time, I started taking my camera to local concerts to photograph bands and build a portfolio. I knew I had all these production and editorial skills, so when I was ready to return to that work, I decided I wanted to do it for myself – start my own zine and brand. Read More>>
Christian Green
It started with a question: What would it look like to create something bold, safe, and culturally rooted for LGBTQ+ youth in the Antelope Valley? Especially those navigating housing insecurity, transphobia, and isolation. Read More>>
Joy McCarthy
We officially launched Hello Joyous in April 2023, but it was over a decade in the making.
About 10 years earlier, I started experimenting with making my own lip balm and sunblock in my kitchen after taking some DIY courses with a friend named Kathrin. I was immediately inspired and began sharing my creations with my Joyous Health community (which is my personal brand—I’m also a Holistic Nutritionist). Read More>>
Pablo Lerdo De Tejada
The idea for Datalogz started with a small gut feeling from personal experience. BI environments were exploding in size and complexity, and no one really had control. But in the early innings, we only had a rough thesis of what we could go after. So we did the hard work: talked to hundreds of data leaders, especially chief data officers and BI platform owners. Read More>>
Aimal Khan
I had been friends with my business partner, Khusbu, since high school, and we always wanted to become business owners. Khusbu came from a long line of business owners and I became the owner of a fried chicken shop soon after graduating from high school. As life went on, I sold my business and Khusbu attended college. She married our third business owner, Harvinder. Read More>>
Catherine & Cristy Matos
Triple Goddess was born during a time when everything felt uncertain. The pandemic had changed our world, and like so many others, we were navigating major life shifts, personal grief, and spiritual questioning. That collective stillness, painful and powerful, forced us to look inward. In the quiet, we began to ask: What are we really here to do? Read More>>
Paris Sharpe
My grandparents were tobacco farmers in rural Carolina. Connection to the land and it’s cycles have always been a part of life but it took me until adulthood to truly appreciate how special it is. For most of my life, I lived a great distance away from the family farm, so it existed fondly in my memories as a place that we went to for the summer, family reunions and to harvest corn and snap string beans beans on a long weekend. Read More>>
Savannah Harmon
The journey started when I felt I had I reached a plateau in my career. I had a thriving clientele back home in Cleveland, Ohio. I was well-established, booked, and financially stable. But something inside me knew I was being called to more. Not just more money or more clients—but more impact, more purpose, and more alignment with the vision God placed in my heart. Read More>>
Lissette M. Calderon
This dream started in childhood. My father was my hero, and every Saturday I’d accompany him to his job sites, walking through half-built homes while we talked about the company we’d build together one day. His passing during my high school years reinforced my commitment to pursuing the path we once envisioned together. Read More>>
Anna & Wendelin Axster / Von Schroder
We started with a love for whiskey and the realization that we did not see ourselves represented in that space. From the initial idea it took us a couple of years to learn about whiskey making, visiting countless distilleries, coming up with a detailed flavor brief, and creating a blend of two different whiskeys. Then we developed the brand, secured initial financing through an accelerator program, did a first production run, navigated all the compliance and licensing in spirits, went to market with a soft launch in our home market of Los Angeles. Read More>>
Ted Bradley
The idea for my business started with a feeling I couldn’t ignore. I had spent ten years working as a product manager in tech after studying mechanical engineering. I was on a stable, successful path. But I started having vivid visions of sculptures I wanted to bring to life. They came to me at night, waking me up with a sense of urgency and possibility. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had to make them real. Read More>>
Kelsey
I started my business in 2020 right after graduating with a theology degree, expecting to work in worship ministry. But with COVID shutting everything down, that path was no longer available and I quickly saw how many churches and small businesses were scrambling to figure out the digital world. Read More>>
Ashley Escola
Photography was something I always loved. I remember going through boxes and albums as a kid and loving all of the memories and stories behind the photos of my family. Read More>>
Sarabeth Butler
It all began with my daughter. One day she decided to start her own sourdough journey. She carefully nurtured her starter, baked a couple of loaves, and just as quickly as it all began… the starter died. But that little experiment planted a seed. Read More>>
Inalim Lady Bridal
Honestly, I didn’t just wake up one day with the perfect business plan—I woke up with desperation, pain, and faith. That’s what birthed Inalim Lady Bridal. The idea was planted during one of the darkest seasons of my life. I had just lost my home during the pandemic, my car’s engine blew for the second time, and I found myself stuck in Atlanta with no support system beyond my own children. It felt like everything around me had crumbled. But inside, I still believed. Read More>>