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.

Suzette Munson

 

Our business began after our first trip to Africa. What I had grown-up thinking of Africa wasn’t exactly accurate but one thing was for sure. There was a huge need. After returning home when my babies were only one year and three years old. I started to have a repetitive dream. Read More>>

Lisa Miceli-Capano

My name is Lisa Miceli-Capano, Owner of Stoked On Salt Ocean Conservation Gear, Ocean Conservation Artist & founder of SOS Ocean Clean Up and the annual SOS Ocean Conservation Day event. Growing up, my family gave me the nickname ‘GOLDFISH’ because they could never get me out of the water. Read More>>

Greg Lewis

Orginally my magazine brand started off as an online blog filled with daily celebrity gossip post and click bait headlines. In 2020 I decided to take “Slums Magazine” to the next level by creating real digital and hard copy publications for my brand. The publication would advertise and promote underground music artist and highlight artist in mainstream media as well. Read More>>

Said Salaam

Writing is art and all art stems from inspiration. Ideas pop in my head all day, every day but some refuse to be ignored. Once an idea demands attention I begin to give it life. Once I get into my zone I don’t look up again until I type ‘The End’. Read More>>

Sabrian Bruton

Upon persevering through less than ideal circumstances as a youth, I Sabrian Bruton began dedicated my time to helping others overcome their obstacles and unlock their full potential . Whether as a mentor, motivational speaker, or a workshop leader, i share my experience breaking through boundaries and motivates individuals going through the trials of life. Read More>>

April Eskew

I saw so many talented beauty professionals struggling to find modern, professional spaces that reflected the quality of their work. That’s when the idea for Tier1 Salon Suites was born. I wanted to create a place where stylists, lash techs, and estheticians could not only run their own businesses but feel proud of the environment they worked in. Read More>>

Chelsea Nauratan-Burgos

My bakes are very personal to me; they usually start with one ingredient that catches my eye, or is seasonal in my area. I then brainstorm and (occasionally) research flavor notes and pairings to see how I can best maximize the flavors I’ve chosen in a cohesive way. Read More>>

Kristin Marquet

When I started my first business, it wasn’t some big, cinematic leap — it was a series of small, scrappy steps rooted in necessity and curiosity. I had been working in consulting and realized that many of my clients weren’t just struggling with operations or strategy — they were struggling with visibility. Read More>>

Alex Bass

I realized that in order to reach the level I wanted within the art world, it would likely take years, and even then, I’d probably be working for a company whose vision I wasn’t fully aligned with or passionate about. Read More>>

Megan Bond

Unlike most people, I was not able to start my business on the side and then leave my job after I had traction. I worked in financial services, and any outside business activities that I did, even just volunteering, needed to be improved. I knew that my company wouldn’t approve me starting our on my own, I quit and started my business the next day. Read More>>

Sammy Warrayat

At first, I was very specific to budgeting and saving money in my early 20’s, and I was helping some of my friends track expenses and get started financially. Read More>>

Nury Crawford

I always knew I wanted to write a book—but I also knew I wanted to do it on my own terms. I began researching publishers, from small independents to large national houses, hoping to find a partner who believed in bilingual storytelling the way I did. Read More>>

Teerra Monae

It all started with a feeling — not a business plan. I just knew I wanted to help women heal and learn to put themselves first again. I wrote everything down: names, ideas, color palettes, and that’s how Put Her First was born. From there, I began researching everything — business licensing, coaching certifications, and how to build my brand online. Read More>>

Sarah Teagle

When I first had the idea for Teagle Consulting, it came from years of seeing both sides of business — the structured world of Corporate America and the fast-paced, unpredictable journey of entrepreneurship. I have over 25 years of experience within Corporate America in leadership, building strong teams, influencing major decisions, and driving results. Read More>>

Ashley Fields

Honestly, 444 Design Haus started as a leap of faith before it ever became a business plan. I always knew creativity was my calling, but I didn’t always see how to turn that gift into something purposeful. I was designing here and there logos, flyers, and branding but I hadn’t yet stepped into it fully. Then one day, it just clicked. Read More>>

Dana Pellerin

After visiting England for work, and falling in love with their pub culture and beer, I returned to the US and realized nobody made beer like the English. So I decided to start making beer at home as a hobby. I did this for about 10 years, learning the craft and perfecting recipes. Read More>>

Amber Andrews

Andrews Artistry didn’t start with some grand business plan — it kind of grew with me. In the beginning, I was mostly tucked behind a computer, retouching photos for other photographers and creative teams. Read More>>

Akeya Smith

My journey began with a vision while working as a Youth Developmental Specialist for ACS Youth Juvenile Detention. I’ve always had a passion for doing hair, but I also needed to secure a stable future. I worked for the agency for 15 years, gaining many experiences—some good, some challenging—but I always made the best of every opportunity. Read More>>

Lia Hur

While researching how much waste heat is produced by data centers every day, I was surprised to learn that most of that energy simply goes to waste. Read More>>

Ana Rivera

The idea for our HVAC company was born out of family values not a business plan. My husband was working long hours during the summer, and he couldn’t take time off to be with us. For us, family is everything and missing Saturday morning sports with our kids just didn’t feel right. That’s when we realized something had to change. Read More>>

Sharhonda Jennings

The idea was just a simple thought of how could I help young girls thrive after feeling left out, like a failure, not good enough, or even fearful. I was a full-time Banker, married and expecting my second child at age 24. I started my family earlier than I planned. Life became survival mode for some time. Read More>>

Curt Meinhold

The idea for LilyList first came to me at least seven years ago. I had seen so many people pass away without having much – or anything – prepared to guide and support the loved ones they left behind. I wanted to build simple, human-focused tools that could take some of the fear out of that process. Read More>>

Made in Jersey Creative Collective

SHAKIRA: It really started as a simple conversation between best friends over mimosas and margaritas who left a NYC event wanting more. Marla and I were talking about how exhausting it is to continue to make our way across the bridge to New York in order to meet like-minded individuals. We knew how much creative talent there is in New Jersey. Read More>>

Hanrie Fridjhon

I was 30 and working for Swift Handling Services many years ago. I started doing soft skills training for them as my background is teaching. I was not happy with the politics, the shifts and the constraints of the 8 to 5 job. Read More>>

Justin Lomprey

The idea for VALIANT SUPPLY was just a solution to a problem existing within the first responder community within the Southern Nevada region. Being former law enforcement and transitioning into freelance graphic design, I had plenty of friends and family within that community I’d design for and they’d always tell me that they wished I did more in turn of apparel services. Read More>>

Autumn Hawkins

My podcast, Beyond The Record, was something that was in the works for two years prior to starting. In March 2024, I launched my podcast, which focuses on telling the stories of different artists, entertainers, and creatives in their own way. Read More>>

Logan Wiening

I started with a concept of designing Minor League Baseball style logos for local Fort Wayne business just as a fun thing to post on social media, which led me to sketching some logos for what I called the ‘Old Fort Baseball League’. Read More>>

Winston Greene

Over ten years ago, in my last year as a Beverage Director, I started daydreaming about what a business would be like if I owned it. What my philosophies would be. How i would treat someone working the job i was in. These fantasies turned into sketches of the interior and mock menus. I could see it in my mind. Read More>>