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.

Hilary Richards

After Covid, I noticed how disconnected and lonely so many women felt. During that time, the online coaching and “female empowerment” industry exploded, and it seemed like everyone was building communities online so they could create passive income. I joined several of those groups, but something was always missing. Read more>>

Natosha Fleming

August June Desserts started off as a hobby in 2010. I was interested in learning how to decorate cakes, so I took a few cake decorating classes at a local craft store. The more classes I took, the more I fell in love with the art of decorating cakes. Over time, I started sharing the ‘practice’ items from class with family and friends. Read more>>

Nejra Hojic

Being fascinated by the brain, I did everything I could to quench my curiosity. As I discovered the wondrous world of PubMed, MIT OCW, and Coursera, my understanding and love for the field only deepened. However, I also realized there was a clear lack of research published by people my age. There was also a lack of neuroscience research conducted internationally. Read more>>

Mahelet Kassa

The idea for Zoma Coffee started with a simple observation. High-quality, culturally authentic coffee experiences were hard to find, especially ones that honored the story behind the beans. Growing up in Ethiopia, coffee was never just a beverage. It was a ritual, a story, a moment to connect with others. Read more>>

Michele Stone

When I started Seez in 1995, it wasn’t because I wanted to create “just another agency.” In fact, that was the opposite of what I wanted. I had spent years watching companies struggle with a gap I knew our experienced team could help close: the disconnect between business strategy and brand execution. Read more>>

Zerik Scales

The Story of The Design Bar The idea for The Design Bar didn’t come to me all at once, it is the cumulation of years observing the way people interact with spaces and my experience in the design and building industry. My career has always been about more than just construction. Read more>>

Mariana McWilliams

I’ve always gone to farmers or vendors markets which I’ve found fun. Seeing all the items people sell and interacting with people with different cultural background have always been an interest of mine. So of course I told my parents I wanted to start my own business. Read more>>

Jeanette Aguilar Harris

As an actor, I have always been fascinated by all the other aspects of film making. When on set, I love just watching all the crew members working so hard at their individual jobs, working together to create an amazing film. Everyone on set is important and I just love the collaboration that is necessary to make a film come to life. Read more>>

Nicole Bakker

I’ve always thought about the idea of having my own business, but it was always just a thought. In 2016 I became a board certified music therapist, and since then have worked in a variety of settings with many different populations. I also became a licensed music educator in Colorado and taught in Denver Public Schools for 3 years. Read more>>

Laura Fay

The idea for Spectracolor was born out of a mix of heartbreak, reinvention, and a deep need to create something joyful. After leaving the brewery world I had built with my former partner, I found myself back at the starting line—still craving community, still obsessed with flavor and craft, but wanting to do it on my own terms. Read more>>

Fiona Johnson

I first started working in the Maritime Industry in 2009 – I knew nothing of the industry until I started working at Wright Maritime Group. Suffice to say, it changed my career path completely. My background at the time was in business Management. It’s one of those knowledge/skill sets that can easily cross over into any employment sector. Read more>>

Miriam Hamilton

I’m Miriam Hamilton, founder of Elizabeth Hamilton Designs, a dinnerware company created to elevate everyday. I’m also a mom of three little ones, which means I know firsthand how busy, messy, and beautiful daily life can be. For nearly 15 years, I hosted with a secondhand set my husband and I were gifted as newlyweds, never especially proud of my tablescapes. Read more>>

Medina

Ever since the birth of my first born, I always felt that my calling was in women’s health. The support I received made me want to also give to other women during pregnancy and birth. I was not sure how I was going there but this feeling took me on a journey of finding my way into Doula work. Read more>>

Melody Gomez

I had a problem, and I fixed it. As a woman who wears makeup, the end of the day was always the most challenging for me, washing off my makeup. I used to downright skip it after a long day as an attorney and just wash my face int he shower in the morning. Read more>>

Rachel Wilson

I came up with the idea for this business based on a need in our small, yet growing town. As a young girl, I loved performing every genre of dance- ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, tap, and pom- you name it. Read more>>

Ariana Lugo

The idea of working with drones came to me in 2019 after reading an article about the future of technology in drones. At the time, I was just beginning my teaching career, instructing middle school students in business courses. Read more>>

Pamela Hurley

It started on the lake. Picture early mornings on Lake Austin — lake like glass, the sun reflecting off the water, boards in the racks, and oversized hoodies pulled over damp swimsuits. That’s where the idea was born. Read more>>

Justin Bracken

I came up with the idea of Simply Dyed while on medical leave. Living with my now wife and her family, I was very desperate to find an outlet for so many emotions. At the time I was going through a really hard time mentally and didn’t know how to handle the stress of what life was throwing my way. Read more>>

Ashley Brown

Our journey began with a handful of life happens moments! Myself and my business partner, David and I are both in the entertainment industry. I was a performer based out of New York City and David is an audio engineer mixing Broadway shows. Read more>>

Ruth Noemi Lugo

My love for graphic design began when I was only 12 years old. I would spend hours exploring Photoshop and creating everything from event invitations and holiday cards for my friends to website banners, photo collages, typography projects, and other cool designs. Read more>>

Lisa Sohl Anne Wood

Growing up on a dairy farm in Nebraska, I learned the meaning of hard work and good food! The joy of baking has always been in my heart but when I was young it wasn’t necessarily seen as a profession. So I earned an art degree and went on to working in the graphic design field… while holding onto my little bakery dream. Read more>>

Greg Hain

After many different jobs, an overall career skill set as a Creative Designer, and several small entrepreneurial ventures I found myself constantly trying to figure out what it was that I was going to do. I felt like there were so many potential options. I felt like I was meant to create something big. I regularly asked myself, “What am I meant to do?” Read more>>

Yndiana Montes Fogelquist

Everybody Loves Maako is a 15-minute documentary about a classical violinist from Tokyo, Japan, who earned her master’s degree in Appalachian Studies at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. In the process, she learns to be an old-time music fiddler, mostly while she is secluded in her Boone cottage during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more>>