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.
Summer Morgan
The idea for my business came from a combination of personal healing, deep listening, and a desire to create magic in the wellness space — a space where people could fully let go in a supportive immersive environment. Read More>>
Andrea Dershin
Meet the woman who traded late nights in Beijing bars for early mornings with a cold-
pressed juicer – and never looked back. A lifelong wellness junkie with a knack for turning good Read More>>
Claire Howe
When I was in my early 20’s, I had a cubicle job I absolutely hated. One day, a friend and I went to lunch at a nearby Subway, and as I stood staring at the lunchmeat, neatly arranged behind plexiglass, I suddenly realized that I had absolutely no idea how (or from WHOM) it had gotten there. I went home that night and Googled “where does meat come from?” Read More>>
Ralph Belony
My name is Ralph Belony Jr, a regular guy who just walking in Purpose. Growing up I’ve always had great ideas and have always been told to bring everything placed in me to fruition. When God gave me the idea for Trenton Christian Fashion Week, I had no idea where to start. I simply had faith in following what God told me to do. I connected with some strong people in my community who believed in the vision and stood behind when we first started in March 2024. Read More>>
Cooper Cordero
I created BBQ to help other fitness enthusiasts and folks who like to cook but want to be healthy. I want people to be able to do more than just copy a simple recipe that fits their macros; I want them to understand how to maintain flavor while keeping a recipe healthy. Helping folks cook delicious, healthy recipes that will fuel performance and deliver on taste is my ultimate goal. Read More>>
Angelina Harper
It started pretty organically. I was posting my photos on Instagram, nothing formal just shots that I genuinely loved. I wasn’t trying to start a business, I was just sharing my perspective. People started responding—commenting, saving, sharing—asking me if I offered shoots. That’s when something clicked that maybe this is bigger than just a hobby. Read More>>
Kikko Wong
I came up with the idea, based on the fact that no one else in Las Vegas has a fetish, BDSM theme wedding.
Also, recently I created Weed ceremonies, Golden Age weddings, Pet weddings, Nude and a few other unique themes. Read More>>
Holly Delmonico
I have always been obsessed with plants. Both of my grandpas taught me to care for plants and vegetables starting when I was around 3 years old, and I loved being taught things like how to propagate begonias in a greenhouse. Now, spending time in nature and putting my hands in the dirt puts me in a meditative flow state that makes me feel contented. Read More>>
Kaylee Seitz
I came up with the idea of Valleygirlsread during covid. I was reading so much and posting my reviews on my own personal Instagram, the person who introduced me to “bookstagram” was my best friend, Molly. After posting so many reviews I thought why don’t I make a page, I reached out to Molly, my cousin Audrey and our friend Kaitlyn because we all had been avid readers. Read More>>
Samantha T. Mitchell
It all began after I wrote my book, “The 3 Keys to Unlock and Unleash Your Confidence.” I poured my journey into those pages—every obstacle I faced, every breakthrough I earned, and every moment I had to believe in myself when the world told me I didn’t belong. I thought I was closing a chapter. But in truth, I was opening the door to something far greater. Read More>>
Kelsey Payton
So, here’s the deal–I like to party. At the time of starting this business, I was a mom of a teenage daughter and toddler son working full time and wanting to throw birthday parties for them that would be memorable and would capture the season they were in. I also loved hosting wedding showers and baby showers for my friends so I had accumulated plenty of party decor over the years. Read More>>
Natsuko Oshima
Throughout my professional dance career, I suffered many dance-related injuries which led to three surgeries. Everytime I went to physical therapy for my rehabilitation, I would learn a lot but also wonder why I needed to be injured in order to see a PT. Read More>>
Cayla Cox
It started at Empire Beauty School, where I was studying to get my License in esthetics. Those final weeks are mostly state board prep, and also the business side of mastering our career field. During this time our instructors really pick our brains to see what our goals are moving forward. They want to know what our plans are to break through, and create our own lane as estheticians. We create our names, specialties, product line, etc. Read More>>
Funmi Osatuyi
LagosChop was born from a deep hunger—literally and spiritually. I had just left Nigeria to study in Vancouver, juggling survival, healing, and ambition. I missed home. I missed flavor. I missed the kind of food that makes you pause mid-bite and say, “God is good.” It all started with one rice cooker and a pot of egusi that tasted like home. Read More>>
Jon & Crystal Wells
“It started by accident—but it felt like fate.”
Back in 2021, we weren’t trying to start a business. Jon had DJed off and on over the years, even spent time as a sports announcer for a local high school. It was something he enjoyed, but it wasn’t something we ever pictured becoming a full-time venture. Then one October evening, everything changed. Read More>>
Mary Ann Murtha
As the Owner and Chief Creative Officer of A Never Ending Basket, my journey began in 2016, deeply rooted in decades of experience within the corporate landscape. Throughout my career, I was fortunate enough to ascend through various leadership roles, allowing me to witness firsthand the intricate dynamics of organizational culture. Yet, despite the accolades and successes, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something crucial was missing in many workplaces: gratitude. Read More>>
Eunice Nnenna Nwankwo
The idea of my business came when an old friend reached out to me asking if I had any vinyl records at home, or knew someone who did. Before then, the last time I’d seen or heard of vinyl records was about 15 years before, when I was going through stuff in our store room at home, and happened across a stack of Michael Jackson albums in vinyl Large plates. I asked my friend what he needed them for and he said he was interested in buying African music on vinyl large plates Read More>>
Daniel Warren
Whenever I think of how GrandRYZE Productions came to life, I don’t just think of a business plan or a marketing strategy—I think of a calling. A spiritual alignment that started long before I ever held a camera.
My roots are in Hip Hop. Not just the music, but the movement. I performed under the name One Kahleo — a name that meant something. It wasn’t just a stage name; it was a declaration. Kahleo stood for purpose, expression, and elevation. In my songs, I wasn’t chasing trends. I was trying to shift minds. I would say things like “RYZE with me” not as a slogan, but as a spiritual request. Read More>>
Kellymarie Otto
Back in 2020, I had let go of my chocolate pairing business a year prior (2019) and had an idea to make cocktail garnishes and other cocktail related items to sell on a website. I claimed the domain of Gar-Niche so I could make niche garnishes. We then hit the road to travel across 15 states, which eventually led us back to California. Read More>>
Nicole Lane
My idea for my first book “I’m A Book Dragon” came from my love of being carried away by a story, really living the adventure the characters in the books were on. I wanted to teach children that that’s what reading can be like. Cassandra, the main character in my book, is an astronaut one day, a superhero the next, then a deep sea diver, and then she is a dragon. Read More>>
Lauren Cirkot
How Seven Continents Was Born
It all started with Christmas presents.
In 2023, I decided to make candles as gifts for friends and family — something thoughtful and handmade. I bought way too much wax (classic me), and one of the scents I created — Crème Brûlée — was a huge hit. People genuinely loved it. They started asking if I could make more, requesting different scents, and even saying they’d pay for them. Read More>>
James
I purchased a home and it had a formal dinning room. A good friend of mine said you should make a table set for that room. I made one and others told me I should start selling them. And Farmhouse Style Furniture started. I started making just tables and benches and it quickly evolved to living room furniture, bedroom furniture and now we are furnishing the whole house including kitchens, laundry, bathrooms and mudrooms. Read More>>
Fredricka Wynn
I wrote poetry during my teen years, and I always envisioned writing my own story. During the COVID pandemic, I was laid off from work and began writing more. I decided to go for it. I started my first book, Discernment. I expressed all that I went through during my childhood years. Having my first child at an early age and being in and out of foster care. I went back to what it felt like, and also to the memories. Read More>>
Tracy Hammond
The idea for Up Together – Your Mom Society was born out of shared experience, deep expertise, and a whole lot of heart. As professionals working in the perinatal space—Tracy as a lactation counselor and postpartum doula, Shelby as a childbirth educator and nutrition guru, and Stefanie as a pelvic floor physical therapist—we kept seeing the same thing: new moms were being sent home with a baby but without the support or education they truly needed for themselves. Read More>>
Rache’l Veney
The idea came to life in January of 2021. There were many days I felt overwhelmed with being a single mom, working a full time job, and full time student. During these times I wanted to feel pretty, but still remain basic and not feel consumed with dressing up or full face make up. Nor did I have the time. Moreover, I wanted to create a business where everyday women can feel beautiful and not overlooked. Read More>>
Lewis Greer
Do Good U was born from music.
Gary Dugan and I worked together at high-tech company, but we also went to the same church. He was the pianist there, and whether the music was traditional or modern, choral or solo, he was at the keys and great. Read More>>
Xavier Thomas
The concept for MiracleArts came from the struggles my sister and I faced while trying to break into our creative fields. We both grew up balancing athletics and the arts, and what really stood out was how different the support systems were. In sports, we had everything coaches, funding and multiple pathways. But when it came to our creative passions, that structure just wasn’t there. Read More>>
Javi
After competing with several semi-professional teams in the NISA Nation League and SWPL here in California, I began to notice something important — many talented players around me were committed and full of potential, but lacked access to extra training or a professional-like environment to truly grow. That observation sparked an idea. Read More>>
Ariel H
Back when my wife and I were living in Guadalajara, we traveled to Mexico City for a punk show. The next day, a friend asked if we wanted to do anything. Initially, he suggested a museum, and my first thought was, “No way, I’m here to have fun, not learn!” Read More>>
Art Rymer
I’ve been a participant in the world of sim racing since the 1990s, and it’s always been a hobby that I enjoyed. I signed up for iRacing in 2014, and I’ve been on that platform ever since. Read More>>
Chad Lipka
Let me begin by sharing that I’m mostly Finnish and I have been using saunas my entire life. It was a normal part of our weekly routine to use the sauna on Wednesdays and Saturday nights growing up. Mid-week and end of week bathing where we also got to socialize, relax, and sweat out the struggles and frustrations. Read More>>
Shezal Babar
While I had been thinking about starting a similar business for years, I came up with the idea specifically for SAÉA in August last year. This was a period in my life where I had hit rock bottom mentally and physically. I had undergone significant health issues and took some time off from work. For some reason, during this time I felt the urge to create – maybe I felt that a creative outlet would help me feel better. Read More>>
Sandra Cameron
How I came with the idea of providing hair services was caused by a unique experience. At the time I was a sophomore Iin high school and I had gotten on punishment from my mother. As a result my mom refused to pay for my hair, lashes, etc. In result I had to learn how to do them on my self. I was 16 at the time. Read More>>
Michael Myers
My family and I love to go to fairs and festivals. My wife and I have done this since we started dating, and back then, it was just the two of us, so finding something for us both to eat at one spot was easy. After adding two kids to the mix, finding food for all four of us to enjoy (especially something the kids would eat) became a little more complicated, which meant standing in multiple lines, which could become time consuming. Read More>>
Micah Hanks
Since Joanna and I have been married, 13 years, we always wanted to open a coffee shop. Between the two of us, we have about 12 years of coffee shop experience. Four years ago, I was working as a pilot and Joanna was an accountant. We felt that God was asking us to do something different… to create a space where people could come and rest in a crazy world. Read More>>
Iqra
I’ve always been a dreamer ,but more importantly, someone with a “will-do” mindset. Ever since I was a child, I had this drive to create, to contribute, and to earn my own way. I earned my first income at the age of 12 as a henna tattoo artist, designing intricate bridal henna. By 17, I had developed a passion for sewing , it started as something I did just for fun, making dresses for myself and my sisters. Read More>>
Michael Etcheson
C.R.E.A.M. Coffee and Pastry was born during a really difficult chapter of my life, while I was incarcerated. In that environment, you have a lot of time to reflect, and I started thinking deeply about what I wanted my life to look like once I got out. I didn’t just want a job, I wanted to create something that could actually make a difference, something that gave back to the community in a meaningful way. Read More>>
Garima Gupta
From Health Coach to Snack Creator—How Trailblazing Kitchen Was Born
After over a decade in the wellness industry, working with clients from all walks of life, one thing became clear—most people could figure out nutritious meals with the right guidance, but when it came to snacks, they were lost. Between meetings, errands, and daily chaos, they reached for whatever was quick, often compromising health for convenience. Read More>>