Coming up with an idea for a business or creative project can feel exhilarating. Inspiration for a new idea can come from so many places and we’ve asked some great folks from the community to share their stories of how they came up with their ideas.

Lindsey Ross

This is a version of the story that I wrote back in 2008 when I opened up shop! How Yarnia Came To Be… So I’m opening my own yarn store. But not just any yarn store–a make your own yarn store. I really do have to begin this tale by giving a shout-out here to the magasin behind this madness, La Bobineuse de Laine–or Yarnia Proper, as I now affectionately refer to it. I first encountered this gem of a store one fateful fall day in Montreal circa 2004, snow already on the ground. In search of a yarn store that was cheaper and less snooty than the one on Rachel and St-Hubert, and more respectable than buying our yarn at Zeller’s, my dear friend Hollis and I trekked down L’avenue du Mont-Royal for 45 minutes, with little forewarning that what we were about to stumble upon would change my relationship with yarn forever. Read more>>

Travis Lefevre

I have been ingrained in the eyewear industry for pretty much my entire life and the one thing that alluded me the longest was how eyewear was truly designed and made. Having worked in pretty much every facet of the industry it was only right that eventually I would stumble across the opportunity to make frames. Originally this was supposed to be something reserved for our VIP clients in my own store but it was so well received that we wanted to then start creating our own styles. Once again, that was so successful that I started having other Optometrists and Opticians reaching out wanting to do something similar for their own shops. Read more>>

Elisa Molina

The idea for COVEDOZA was born from my 3-year Peace Corps service in rural Costa Rica in 2010. As a Community Economic Development volunteer, I witnessed firsthand the struggles faced by local artisans due to language barriers, limited access to capital and training resources, and competition among them. Their craftsmanship deeply inspired me to create a platform that provided them sustainable economic opportunities. With no knowledge of export and import law, I thought I could create a brand that would work with the artisans to sell their pottery in the U.S. Yet, I quickly realized I didn’t have the preparation or capital needed to import such heavy items so I had to give up on that idea. A few years later (circa 2017), I was on my way home listening to the podcast “The Side Hustle Show” by Nick Loper and there was an episode that talked about a successful e-commerce side hustle. I can’t remember the exact episode but all I remember is the aha moment and all the ideas that went through my head. Read more>>

La’quata Sumter

The idea for my business started with a personal realization and a passion to make a difference. Growing up, I wasn’t handed technology on a silver platter—I had to dig in and figure things out for myself. My journey began when I started learning how to make a computer work using parts from Goodwill stores. I was fortunate to have an aunt and a grand uncle who encouraged me to explore technology and helped me see the potential it had to change lives. When I got to college, I found myself struggling to understand programming concepts because my instructors’ teaching methods didn’t resonate with me. Instead of giving up, I taught myself how to program, determined to make it work. Along the way, I started helping my classmates understand the material too. Seeing their lightbulb moments and realizing how much impact clear and relatable teaching could have sparked something in me—it showed me that I had a gift for breaking down complex ideas and making them accessible. Read more>>

Alina Garcia

When I moved to a new country as an immigrant, I quickly realized that building a career here was a whole different ball game. The rules, the culture, even how you tell your story on a resume or in an interview—everything felt foreign. I remember scouring the internet late at night, piecing together advice from different articles and forums, trying to figure out how to get my foot in the door. It was frustrating, isolating, and honestly, a bit overwhelming. That’s when I started thinking: Why isn’t there a space where immigrants like me can go to get real, practical career advice? A place where the unique challenges we face are actually understood? Read more>>

Justine A. P. Louis

I officially created VivLiv Books, my publishing company, in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. At VivLiv Books, we want our young readers as well as their families to go on a journey through our books and to experience all the beauty that Caribbean countries have to offer. Our mission is to foster the teaching of Caribbean culture through books. I started VivLiv Books for a variety of reasons. I strongly believe that representation matters. It is so important that our children feel valued and seen in media, books and more. In my practice, I work with many children and families from all over the world, including the Caribbean and Haiti. Often times, children and families search for books, resources, materials, languages and even characters that represent them or books that can allow them to learn more about another culture. With the knowledge and experience that I have from living in Haiti for my entire childhood into my teenage years, and with my love for books and writing, I felt that my calling was to create cultural books for children. With the diverse communities that I work with, I wanted to become part of the author community in order to provide authentic, helpful and cultural resources for children from the Caribbean and Haiti. My dedication to promoting Caribbean languages and culture, as well as my drive to expand on Haitian children’s literature have inspired me to write children’s books and to launch my own publishing company. Read more>>

Jfam Johnson®

When the world was hit hard by the pandemic in 2020, it shook us all up. Many people were at home feeling isolated and unsure about everything. But instead of letting it get us down, we—eight siblings ranging from 8 to 17 years old—decided to lean into our faith and do something big together. Our creative collective is made up of Emmanuel, Abigail, Elizabeth, Jael, Phoebe, Sarah Judah and Joshua. We’re a team not just by blood but by dreams too! Each of us brought our own flavor into this mix, and set out to bring a little hope and joy to families during those tough times. We felt driven to act—to create things that would lift the spirits of children everywhere. That’s how our idea turned into a real mission with JFAM JOHNSON® at its heart. We started dreaming up books that could encourage other children to know that they are special. We also started designing clothes that shouted ‘You’re Special!’ and speaking to youth and young adults using our “The Power of You” workshop. Every book written or shirt designed or speaking engagement reflected what we believe: young people are powerful beyond measure! Read more>>

Tia Reiser

It all began with a peanut butter smoothie and what would later become a year-long battle to learn how to collapse a circular reflector disc. But let’s backtrack for a minute, first! In January of 2020, a friend asked me if I was interested in assisting her first restaurant gig. After running through many different ways I could decline the offer because “change is scary”, I simply replied, “of course”! After accepting the offer, I began to dive deep into everything and anything restaurant photography, food photography, and beverage photography. If it weren’t for Google, I’d have been pretty darn lost and exceptionally frantic. But with tips on camera settings, artificial and natural lighting, best angles, and basic composition techniques freshly ingrained into my brain, I assisted the shoot, got paid via peanut butter smoothie, and struggled to fold up a collapsible reflector in the middle of the restaurant parking lot. Needless to say, I enjoyed the entire experience! Read more>>

Rachel Horgan

I’ve spent my adult career as a corporate event planner working for a variety of clients. Five years ago, I was hired as an internal planner for a local business newspaper. I didn’t think I cared much about business news, I was there to operate the events. But over time, by writing scripts, interviewing honorees on stage, curating panel discussions, and just hanging out with my journalist co-workers, I started to really get interested in what was going on in Seattle. I began wanting to read the newspaper every week, but just couldn’t find the time, and I knew there were others out there like me. I’m much more of a podcast listener than a reader, so I pitched the idea of creating a podcast that recaps the top stories to my current employer. For reasons I won’t go into, this was turned down. I then thought I would create it on my own, separate from the company, but after speaking with our legal department, I learned that wouldn’t go well either due to my employee contract. I knew this was a good idea because there wasn’t another podcast like it and when I would tell people about it, I felt the demand was there. I sat on this project for close to a year before I was finally able to part ways with the employer and launch it in February 2024. Read more>>

Deborah Buelow

On the outside, starting my business was more of a gut reaction to the places I had been working – none of them felt right. I needed some space to explore what it meant to be an architect on my own terms; to really stretch the limits of what I was capable of. I also felt, and this is a constant thread in my work that continues to grow, that none of the offices I had worked for in the past (with the exception of one) cared much for sustainability, even if they said they did. I needed to test out what sustainability in design really meant. On larger projects there are checklists you can follow and in the end call the building “sustainable”. On a smaller project it’s not so clear. I’ve been working hard to define that goal and provide clarity so that in the end I can say yes, we did our part to make this building, space, house, whatever the project is, good for the environment. And as my research and exploration has grown, I’ve learned that what we do to improve the environment is also good for our health. So by providing sustainable homes, we are also providing healthy homes. This is something I can really get behind, and hope others will begin to get behind as well. Read more>>

Natalie Young

I started The Trophy Club as a place where I could create the kind of content I wanted to create, and find others who liked to color outside the lines. I had come to a sort of impasse in my career and I started to realize I was not enjoying my time as part of a system. Creatives need challenges, problems to solve, and others who will enthusiastically engage in the problem solving with them. If you’re working for someone else, it’s always a gamble whether their enthusiasm or desire for innovation, their expectations, or even their daily workflow will align with yours. I felt there were better outlets for my creativity at that point, so when it finally came time to start, I almost felt choice-less in the matter. Read more>>

Lila Quests

It all started one rainy February night in our dorms at university. Chris was already in his PJ’s, braced against the Iowa cold and ready to turn out the light, when he saw an incoming call. He ignored the pull of his comforter for a moment to answer, and without any preamble came Haley’s voice: “I want to create a Quest for our friends this Valentine’s Day, you in?”. The comforter would have to wait – because of course Chris was in. Within moments Chris and I were designing a puzzle journey that would organically create teams within our friend group, prompting them to collect cozy items for an intimate house party (fluffy socks, roses hidden across the town, etc.). Designing this became our hobby over the next week, squeezed between classes & homework. Wildly – it all worked: the puzzles, the community building, the party – and thus our first Quest was born. Read more>>

Mary King

I had moved from Kansas to Colorado and I needed direction. I was feeling a little lost and I decided to ask my spirit guides for help. I started my spiritual awakening about 5 years ago, So when I need advice I seek help from my Spirit team. I remember asking them if I should start making candles, I asked them to show me a specific sign. I made this a symbol that I wouldn’t see regularly. I asked them to show me an upside down heart if I was supposed to start making candles, my spirit teams normally shows me signs within 2 hours to 2 days. The next day I decided to clean out my storage closet and I found a tote that I was looking for since the move. I opened it up and found a tarot book and lo and behold there on the book was a small upside down heart. I knew it was my sign. Read more>>

Patience D’anunciacao

Back in 2020 I was working a 8 to 4 job and was pregnant with my first. I knew I didnt want to return and after I did self protraits for my maternity session due to covid I really wanted to use my camera more. It was always a hobby and I never thought I could do something with it until that moment. With the support of my husband I started reaching out to friends and family to practice and it just exploded from there. I didn’t know if it would succeed. I just gave it my all and kept pursuing. Read more>>

Tawanna Jones

This work was actually not part of any plan I made for myself. I began my doctoral work with a focus on Black boys. This has been a huge focus for me as an educator. While watching Republican National Convention, I heard Condolezza Rice speak about being told as a child that she could be whatever she put her mind too – this got me to thinking about the Black girls I worked with everyday – I questioned if they also believed in this ideal, aligned closely to the American Dream. In that moment I decided that I would focus my doctoral studies on Black Girls belief in the American Dream – and the role of public education in their pursuit of the dream. As I worked through my study I heard so many stories from Black girls about their experiences in school. I was shocked at my own ignorance as a Black woman, mother, sister, daughter, and aunt. Read more>>

Jennifer Bird

Executing a thoughtfully crafted creative brief is a cornerstone of my approach. Once a concept is in development—be it for a video or photography campaign—I delve deeply into the story, visual concepts, and comprehensive research. This process typically involves creating a script, mood board, and shot list. In our visually driven society, it’s essential to draw from diverse sources for visual examples and proof of concepts, as these elements play a crucial role in pre-production materials. In my experience, the most successful concepts emerge from careful planning and meticulous research, coupled with extensive creative collaboration prior to production. This foundation not only enhances execution but also ensures successful video, photography, and social media campaigns. Read more>>

Naika Winy Jean Louis

My journey as a digital creator began in 2020, building on years of writing about hair and skincare. Initially, I was encouraged by friends and family to start a YouTube channel, but soon realized that Instagram felt like a more natural fit for my voice and creative expression. What started as a personal space to share my hair routines, skincare insights, and product experiences quickly grew into something more meaningful. As I shared my honest experiences from hair struggles to product successes , people resonated with my transparency and realness. It was both exciting and a bit nerve-wracking to open up online, but the positive response from my audience reassured me that I was on the right path. My purpose became clear: to offer content that was not only helpful and genuine but also relatable to others on similar journeys. Read more>>

Helen Lac

I came up with the business idea of being a scalp micropigmentation artist because I wanted to do something that can change lives. I saw how this technique could help individuals regain confidence and feel better about themselves, especially those dealing with hair loss. The transformative impact it has on people inspired me to pursue this path, allowing me to combine my passion for artistry with the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in others’ lives. Read more>>

Patricia Moses

The story of how I came up with the idea for my business, Starilized, is deeply personal and intertwined with my cultural upbringing and my love for jewelry. Growing up in a home that valued our Igbo culture, my parents made sure we connected to our roots, especially during our visits to Nigeria. Those trips were crucial in shaping my identity. I wasn’t just a tourist; I was truly immersed in the food, lifestyle, and traditions that made Igbo culture so rich. As I got older, I developed a strong desire to contribute to preserving and celebrating our culture, particularly through fashion and jewelry, which had always been something special in our family. I have vivid memories of playing dress-up as a child, wearing my mom’s gold jewelry from the 80s and 90s. Her vintage pieces, alongside the beaded jewelry she brought back from Nigeria, left a lasting impression on me. Read more>>

Kyrie Patterson

When I first started sharing recipes on Instagram, my goal was to make cooking approachable and easy for everyone, regardless of their experience in the kitchen. Over time, I noticed my audience gravitated toward the Japanese and Asian-inspired recipes I shared. As someone who is half-Japanese, I’ve always had a deep connection to this cuisine. But growing up, it wasn’t always something I felt proud of. I remember being embarrassed to bring Japanese food to school for lunch because it was different from what everyone else was eating. Those experiences stuck with me, but over time, my confidence in my culture grew, and I developed a deep passion and pride for it. Read more>>

Lucy Parmenter

I studied Apparel Design at Auburn University and always believed my life’s path would lead me to fashion. However, during Christmas break, I was offered a job as a sewer in a custom draperies workroom. That opportunity opened an entirely new world to me. Deanna Hollis, the owner of House Warmings Birmingham in Alabama, became a mentor who instilled in me a deep love and passion for custom interiors and finishing work. After getting married, I moved to San Diego, still convinced that fashion was my next step. Yet, life had other plans. The only job that offered me an interview was at a workroom. At Irichka, I learned the art of diligence and perfection in sewing under the guidance of Irina Otto, the owner. Irina dedicated herself to refining my skills and teaching me the intricacies of running a workroom. My time there was invaluable, and I’ll always hold it close to my heart with gratitude. Read more>>

Csilla Horvath

I was born and raised to Hungarian parents in Switzerland, an immigrant child who learned to navigate multiple cultures and languages from a young age. Traveling the world with my family gave me a thirst for exploration, a curiosity about people, and a love for languages. At 19, I moved to the U.S., first to LA and then to NYC, chasing a dream as a performing artist. I spent many years on Off-Broadway, immersed in the vibrant, diverse life of New York, before deciding to shift my focus and return to school. I pursued a BA in english literature and education, driven by a desire to help others find their voice—just as I had through performance. After graduating, I spent nearly a decade teaching in New York City, working across the educational spectrum—from private to public, international, and German schools. The experience was invaluable, showing me the nuances of how different environments and teaching styles impact language learning. But then, the world changed when COVID hit. Read more>>

Elayzea Clarke

The story of 5Stars begins with a spark of passion that ignited back in high school, where I first immersed myself in the world of fashion. From the moment I picked up a sketchbook and started drawing designs in my classroom, I knew that my creative energy had found its outlet. During those high school years, I wasn’t just studying the theory of fashion, I was living and breathing it—experimenting with textures, colors, and shapes. My love for fashion grew even deeper when I started modeling as a teen. The runway became a place where I could express not just my look, but my vision. I realized that fashion isn’t just about clothes—it’s about identity, about owning your uniqueness and being unafraid to stand out. Read more>>

Jolene And Jesse

We were in a grocery store in downtown Brooklyn, and I noticed that they had hen of the woods (maitake) mushrooms. I turned to Jesse and excitedly exclaimed “ We HAVE to make fried chicken sandwiches with these tonight!” I think Jesse was more intrigued than skeptical, so we brought them home to try it out. – Jolene I was pretty mind blown by how good those first sandwiches were. We immediately went back to that store and bought more and kept tweaking the process and recipe. At the time there were pop ups happening all over the city, so I thought, people will love this we should totally sell these! – Jesse Read more>>

Elizabeth Montejo

**From Adversity to Success: The Inspiring Story Behind Elibell Productions** It all started during a pivotal stage in my life. I was going through challenging times due to a divorce and had become a single mother. At that moment, I felt the need to reinvent myself, to create something new and meaningful for my future and my daughter’s. In the midst of my healing and personal reconnection process, I discovered something valuable: I had a natural talent for serving and connecting with people. I was always the friend who organized every detail at gatherings and parties. I loved seeing everyone enjoy themselves and made sure everything ran smoothly. Read more>>

Elif Akaydin

As a young girl, I was fortunate to be raised by my parents and grandmother, who instilled in me the importance of finding my independent voice through formal education—something not accessible to many women in my country. After earning my fashion degree in the USA, I immersed myself in every layer of the industry. My journey began as a buyer for a Soho fashion boutique in New York, which broadened my vision and led me to work as an assistant designer for Judy Ross Textiles. Later, I discovered my passion for fashion accessories while working with the Fashion Accessories Boutique chain, which specializes in women’s handbags. This path eventually took me to a high-end Fashion Brand, where I led custom buying teams and collaborated with Hollywood wardrobe departments. Read more>>

Kelsey Soule

I missed several months of work in 2020 due to a back injury, and then COVID-19 struck, completely altering the food business. I quarantined myself and my family for a while and took time off work to recover my back. After going a few months without working I really missed cooking and I thought holding a curbside pick-up pop-up would be entertaining. Bringing boxes of pastries to people’s cars seemed like a brilliant idea because the pandemic was still going strong and people were trying to avoid contact with each other. I created a post on Instagram that included a tiny selection of my pastries. The first pop-up was so much fun, I made it a weekly event. After word spread, I realized that I was running out of room and capacity and had to cap my orders. The fact that people were eating pastries and returning made me feel very honored and touched. During a period when everyone felt so isolated and alone, it was a great way for me to connect with my community. That was the beginning of Soueld out pastries, and I will always remember that period with wonderful nostalgia! After hosting pop-ups for over two years, I joined together with Signal Coffee in 2022 and began selling my pastries at their cafe. I now serve as their head npastry chef and supply desserts to four East Bay cafes! Read more>>

Elke Govertsen

I had kids on the younger side, everyone I knew was thinking about getting a dog, and I had a baby. I was lonely until I met a group of moms, HONEST moms, and we all started sharing. I threw them a party on the night before Mother’s Day– year one was 45 people, by year three it was pushing 500 people. I know I was on to something, so I launched a print magazine, then a website, then a national event series– Mamalode grew to 2 million moms, multiplatform and massively meaningful. Read more>>

Danielle Richardson

The story of Brown Sugar Bakery began in my kitchen, where I discovered baking as a creative outlet and a source of control in an otherwise unpredictable world. Learning to bake on my own was a journey of trial and error, but I quickly fell in love with the process—the precision, the transformation of simple ingredients into something extraordinary, and the satisfaction of creating something with my own two hands. It all started as a personal hobby, a way to center myself during life’s chaotic moments. But one day, as I shared my homemade treats with friends and family, I noticed how much joy and comfort they brought to others. Seeing their reactions—the smiles, the heartfelt “this is amazing” comments—sparked something in me. I realized these weren’t just desserts; they were moments of connection, happiness, and care that I could share with the world. Read more>>

Nina Hernandez

When I left journalism in the spring of 2019, I was dog tired. I was tired of being overworked and underpaid, sure. I think most journalists have to contend with that. But it was bigger than just that. In just a few short years, I’d learned more than my fair share about how newsroom politics affected what made it in the news, who wrote it, and how it got framed. As a Latina raised in a working class background, I experienced first-hand the racism, sexism, and classism that have historically made the journalism industry inhospitable to people like me. Not only had I spent years being exploited for cheap labor in order to secure my place in the industry, but my reward for paying my dues appeared to be nothing but more work for slightly higher pay. And as a woman of color in the newsroom, I quickly learned that I had unwritten duties in the form of educating my white colleagues on matters of race and class. At times, I felt like I was the little boy with my finger in the dam. Except instead of water, I was trying to hold back generations of institutional racism. Read more>>

Kylie Bree Peinado

I picked up a camera with the intentions of becoming a photographer after I had my first birth daughter. I had a friend that was a photographer and I loved seeing her work, and I thought to myself, I want to do that, too. That was in 2008. From there, while I was pregnant with my second birth daughter, I decided to get a certificate of professional photography. I dabbled in a lot of different genres after that. I even did an internship as a wedding photographer for one summer. It was after photographing my bonus-daughter giving birth in 2018 that I found my calling, though. She asked me to be there for support, and I brought my camera along just in case. I had never felt such a high! I went home and Googled “birth photography” and found out there is actually a market for it, and one that’s really big in the Denver area! I jumped in and never looked back! Read more>>

Naseem And Tina Raad

The idea to start this business came from the economic struggles that started in Lebanon in 2019. Lebanon plunged into one of the worst economic crisis ever seen in modern history. Our national currency lost nearly 98% of its value over a few weeks, leaving life savings inaccessible, countless businesses in ruin, and most state institutions unable to provide basic, physiological needs and services. With every passing week, we spiraled further into the abyss. The catastrophe broke our hearts because Lebanon has lots of incredible products and an educated and qualified population who merely lack the infrastructure and support needed for economic growth. Read more>>

Kate O’riley

The inspiration for Line & Label came to me after 13 years of working with designers in NYC. I felt ready to take the leap and create something of my own. At first, I was torn between launching a collection to wholesale or opening a boutique where I could feature my designs alongside other talented creators. The idea of curating a store felt like a less risky, more exciting path. As I brainstormed names for this new venture, I ran into the usual problem—everything I loved was already taken. Then, while flipping through a thesaurus, I stumbled upon the perfect words: “line” and “label.” It clicked—my collection, my line, showcased alongside other incredible labels. Line & Label was born. Read more>>

Paul Williams

I am Paul, also known as DJ P. Skyllz. I am the Owner of Elyte Event Professionals, EEP. EEP is a premier event company based in Baltimore, MD, servicing events throughout the DMV and beyond. We are dedicated to creating unforgettable experiences for weddings and private events with our Elyte DJs, Photographers, Videographers, Photobooths, Lighting, and more! With over 20 years of experience, I would not have gotten here without key people in my life who believed in me. They say if you want to go far in life, go together with those who support your vision. The seed for this vision was planted back in 2003. A close friend of mine and future business partner, DJ Kasper, introduced me to the whole of DJ’ing. I jumped right in as his MC for countless events throughout the Atlanta region. Time and time again, he would ask me to DJ, and I absolutely refused!  Read more>>

Juanita Landrau

For over 10 years I have been a Dominatrix,from learning all types of personalities, to learning all types of kinks. My name is Juanita, but you can call me Mistress Nita. Lets dig deeper into this. Growing up in a strict household with only a bed in my room and a very strict mother, it was very hard to blossom and show my true self to those that I love dearly.It was torture hiding the words and the actions I wanted to do. Something as small as not even being able to go outside to play with my friends. I grew up watching how punishments held so much power. I always wanted to hold that type of power. “one day” I always said. Read more>>

Dimitrius Lynch

The architecture profession is notoriously underappreciated, with many clients perceiving architects as merely “drawing pretty pictures.” I vividly remember one frustrating moment in 2015 when a client, during the process of developing a complex project, dismissed a significant design change by saying exactly that. Though the comment was offhand, it struck a nerve. It revealed a larger issue: the disconnect between what architects truly do—solve complex, systemic problems—and what many people think we do. Around the same time, I stumbled upon Marc Kushner’s TED Talk, which highlighted the growing feedback loop between architects and the public thanks to social media. It hit me: we architects had lost control of our narrative, and unless we reclaimed it, we’d remain undervalued and misunderstood. Read more>>

Sedia Ngofa

Bijoux’s Basket Botanicals was born in 2012, a few years after I began my natural hair journey with locs. At that time, the natural hair movement was still emerging, and I struggled to find products that worked for my hair. So, I started experimenting—mixing my favorite ingredients into one blend. As my hair grew and I explored different styles, my friends and peers took notice. They started asking me to maintain and style their locs, and that’s when I realized my passion for helping others with their hair and skincare. Around the same time, I was pursuing my undergraduate studies in ethnobotany, which is the scientific study of plants and their relationship with humans. My love for plants grew as I learned about extraction methods and plant taxonomy, which helped me understand how to get the best results from plant materials. I began researching which plants were beneficial for hair care and created some of my first staple products. Read more>>

Jasmine Pitt

Anything beauty related has always been my passion. It all started when I was a little girl. I’d use the old school regular polish and paint my nails every other day. I remember blowing on my fingers so the polish would dry and the strong smell that would fill my whole house. I remember my mom always asking me where her favorite polish was and saying “I don’t know” knowing good and well I had it lol. I just loved all the colors. I loved how my hands looked. I loved how shiny my nails were. In elementary school I got my mom to buy me some blue French tip press ons for my school pictures. They were super long for someone my age but I loved them and I felt so cute wearing them. They were blue glitter frenchies if I remember correctly lol. Read more>>

Francesca Inglin

Ever since I could reach my kitchen countertop, I have always been baking. I fell in love with baking because of tea time in the afternoons with my mom and sisters. No matter how busy our days were, we always made time at least twice a week for our tea time. I baked and my mom would prepare the tea. As an adult, I began baking on a regular basis, trying out new recipes, and my family would put in requests. They would text me their weekly orders and would tell their friends too. I was getting about 20 orders a week for my banana bread. My sister, Anastasia—also my business partner—pushed me to get my cottage license and start selling my loaf cakes. Since the banana bread was such a hit, we started with that. Once we saw consistent orders, we expanded to four classic flavors that are offered year round. I also wanted to have the flexibility to change out my flavors seasonally, so I decided to showcase two or three seasonal flavors. This also ensures that I only use fresh ingredients that people look forward to once a year.  Read more>>

Cesar Cortez

I came up with the idea for El Brewjo around 2015. I remember distinctly that the idea came to me while I was enjoying a sandwich and a beer at the counter of a local family run staple in Orange called Hollingshead Delicatessen. I frequented this spot at this time and I just enjoyed the ambience and was drawn to the fact that it was three generations of family behind the counter. In this instance I realized that if you have a great ambience, you make your guest feel like family, you offer a consistently delicious product, the rest will fall into place. I refrained from doing anything about El Brewjo for years simply because of the fear behind leaving what, at the time I deemed as a “well paying career.” When the pandemic occurred in 2020 I had an “Aha!” moment, as most did, and realized that there was more to life than working a 9-5 job, staring at a screen all day. I up and quit my job, got a few gigs in the food industry so I can learn the ropes, and the rest, as they say, is history.  Read more>>

Shushu Xie

After graduating with a master’s degree in Chinese history, I worked in the sales department of a renowned publication house in Beijing (The Commercial Press), where everyone stays their whole career life. Then, I found my passion for French pastry after I read a blog post about studying pastries at Ferrandi School in Paris. I wanted to do the same, so I quit my job and bought a one-way ticket to Paris. After the training, I arrived in the US and found American pastries very sweet. Many cakes ended up in the garbage after a kid’s birthday party. People have lots of health issues related to consuming too much sugar, diabetes, high cholesterol, cavities, etc. I have a problem with the cavity and would scared to see the dentist. French pastries are delicious, but most are still very sweet, even in France. People are alert to sugar, but on the other hand, they crave it on certain occasions.  Read more>>

Oceanview Brand

The idea for OceanViewBrand came from our personal experiences growing up in Mississippi. Darius, Kevin, and I have always embraced having waves and taking pride in keeping our hair well-groomed. Back then, there were really only a couple of products we relied on, but the options were limited. We’ve always been connected to the culture of maintaining waves and hair care—it’s a part of who we are. While catching up one day at a bar, we started brainstorming about the lack of options for wave and hair care products tailored for men like us. Kevin, being a barber, brought valuable insight into the challenges people face when trying to achieve that perfect wave or lay their hair down just right. Read more>>

Antoine Esber

After working in Wallstreet for a few years, I decided I wanted to start a business on my own. I had the experience of working in a busy corporate sales environment, and wanted to see how that would translate to the hustle of a startup. The missing piece? An idea… So I set off traveling the world. Backpacked down the west coast of South America, visited family in Europe, and I finally ended up in Australia. Although I contemplated several different ideas, I settled on the field I was most passionate in – Soccer. I worked in a Youth Soccer Academy in Sydney for the first time, and quickly rose the ranks from a coach to the program director. It was through this experience that I got my idea. Read more>>

Jenlyn (unbn) Ford

My journey to creating avant-garde branding came from a deep personal struggle with the traditional concept of “niching down.” For eight years, I felt trapped by the expectation to fit myself into a single box—a limitation that didn’t reflect the complexity of my skills, interests, and passions. I realized that old systems, with their rigid, outdated expectations, couldn’t encompass what I envisioned for myself or the evolving world around me. Instead of compromising my muchness, I decided to build something new. Read more>>

Ashlyn Marks

My journey to starting my business was inspired by my passion for both social media and aesthetic medicine. I’ve always had a deep love for aesthetics and wellness, and I knew I wanted to build a career in creative entrepreneurship while staying connected to that passion. In terms of social media marketing, I had years of experience managing social media accounts interning in social media marketing, and completing a certification in content marketing. Through these experiences, I began to see just how powerful social media could be when done right — especially as a tool for growing and elevating aesthetic and wellness businesses. Read more>>

 

 

Tesia Royer

My business was born in a time of need. Prior to this my husband was the sole provider and unfortunately lost his job. This was such a scary time for us, we sold our home, downsized our lives and moved into an apartment. During this time, I was trying to juggle all of the changes going on in our life as well as big changes happening with the dental office I was with at the time. I’ve always been a list maker but needed something more. I decided to buy a planner that I could organize all of my thoughts and responsibilities. In 2014 there were planners of course but I didn’t want just any planner, I needed it to be cute! I was dreaming of stickers that I could use to help celebrate the mundane things as well as the exciting times in my life. Who doesn’t want a cute little trash can to mark putting out stinky ol’ trash?  Read more>>