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.

Stephanie Granado

From the time I was young to now, I have always been an avid reader and I think that is where my fascination with words and storytelling was first ignited. Throughout my education, I didn’t even know that a career in writing existed beyond becoming an author or a screenwriter. It wasn’t until college that I learned about advertising and was introduced to copywriting. Read more>>

Patrice Squirewell

I can always remember having creative calling from a very young age. Whether it was poetry, drawing/calligraphy, or dance. Art was always a part of my life, but not something that I necessarily leaned into. I attended undergrad at Winston-Salem State University and I moved to the Atlanta area shortly after for grad school at Life University. Upon receiving my master’s degree – it was time to begin my career. Read more>>

Jessie Veselka

Back in 2016 my youngest brother was diagnosed with a rare form of adrenal cancer. When this happened I just started reading and learning so much about what Is being put into our food and ingredients being used in our products we are putting on our skin. To be honest I was after finding a cure for him. During this time of research for me we took my brother on a vacation to Hawaii. We tried to check off some bucket list because nobody knew how much time we had, even though we felt like we had all the time in the world. Read more>>

Shelly Lammon

In 2012, while pouring another cup of overrated coffee in the break room of a local IT company, someone told Mike, “You know, you can roast your own coffee.” When a person who is already a homebrewing and culinary enthusiast hears that, it’s on! Read more>>

Erin Floyd

When my husband and I had our first born in Los Angeles, there was an abundance of New Parent & Me support groups that provided community and guidance through our early days of parenthood. I had a virtual group and an in-person group that met in the park every week. My husband had a group that met at a bar every other week, and we had a weekend group that we could go to together. Read more>>

Karla Alvarez

I started my business after volunteering to co-ordinate and cohost a small business summit for our local NCNW section (National Council of Negro Women) in 2019. Pulling together this event was a lot of work. We had a very small committee of four women determined to make a difference. None of us were event planners. WE all had very time-consuming day jobs, needy families and our budget was miniscule. But we were focused. Read more>>

Alivia Kirby

I’ve been running since I was 13 years old. At first running was a way for me to lose weight but it shortly turned into more of a passion and it’s still a passion today. I do online running coaching for people who may not know how to create their own running plans to prepare for a race. A lot of people are unaware of how to create a running program that will slowly help them progress and get faster and that’s why I started online coaching. Read more>>

Royal Dissension

Royal Dissension was an idea that came out of love for art and necessity. I was having trouble finding a suitable career for myself, so I made one. When it came to careers I faced a few extra challenges. Myself, I am a disabled Afro-Indigenous woman living in Canada. That existence comes with a great deal of social challenges. Essentially Royal Dissension is the artistic representation of my own unique conflict. Read more>>

Kim Stahlheber

In 2010, at 21 years old – my business found me. I was given the opportunity to become a salon co-owner after working in a salon for only 6 months. I was a hairstylist, who was just starting out and had passed my board exam only 18 months prior. Countless hours were spent at the salon; at times with zero guests the entire day. Days were long and time passed slow and I was often discouraged, but I needed to be there to build. Read more>>

Thomas Meyers

My brother actually came up with the idea of designing apparel for customers that attended his church in England. He sent me some samples and I started selling them in my church in New Mexico. Over some time. we formed a small business called “50 Good Men” and we created a website, business cards and we would sell our merchandise at Christian events in Georgia, Kentucky and Tennessee. Read more>>

Julia Lewis

There has always been a lack of inclusion and diversity with the marketing industry. In every room I walked in I was alone in my blackness and not being understood/seen. I knew that there were other women in marketing who shared a similar experience/feeling. Black Women In Marketing started as an internship program. Read more>>

Sita Lewis

On my journey to President & Founder of Mama Sita’s Miracle Butter Cream, as a Black small business owner, I faced hurdles and pitfalls along the way. After years as an award-winning TV producer, I found myself at the end of my rope. My marriage of ten years had come to an end, my father suddenly died, I was unemployed and on the brink of losing my home. Read more>>

Daija Odum

As a women who loves cosmetics and women empowerment, I wanted to create not only a brand but a platform that gave women an outlet to express themselves. I created my brand to help women understand that cosmetics are never a need they only “Enhance the beauty you already possess”. My love for makeup started when I was younger. Read more>>

Courtlyn Jones

My idea for The Design Database came to me out of the blue. It wasn’t a plan I had for years or even months before I started building it. I always thought I would grow up to be an artist or graphic designer so I studied and practiced art for most of my life; probably since I was about two years old. I started in Fine Arts, painting, and drawing during my childhood, then switched to graphic design in high school and majored in it at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Unfortunately, the creative industry is very toxic and competitive so I had a hard start breaking into graphic design full-time. Read more>>

Sima Haddad

I’ve always loved baking. In January 2021, I decided to take my love of baking one step further after lots of persuasion from family and close friends. I then opened a small home business where I offer my pastries- Sima’s Challas. If you scroll through my Instagram page, you will see and understand the changes I have gone through in the first five months I started baking. I’ve made cakes, cookies, desserts, challahs, and loved every moment of it. I was busy all of the time and I had a lot of fun. Read more>>

Mehul Jhaveri

Devam’s story unfolds six generations ago in India. The Jhaveri family founded the company with the sole intention of working endlessly to acquire the world’s most prized gems. Once acquired, these beautiful stones are skillfully set into our exclusive designs to create flawless pieces of jewelry, fit for royalty. The surname Jhaveri is derived from the Arabic word Javahari, meaning jeweler. Creating stunning jewelry has always been in our blood. Over the years, our company has crafted one-of-a-kind pieces for many noble families across the Indian subcontinent. Read more>>

Allie Schaffer

After watching baking shows as a child, I knew I wanted to become a baker. I was given my first opportunity to make a wedding cake for my cousin. She gave me her ideas for her wedding cake. I practiced, baked several samples, took many pictures and finally came up with her perfect wedding cake. It was there at the wedding that the name of my business was born. It evolved from Cakes by Allie to Allie Cakes. Read more>>

Kaileigh Van Horne

It has been a lifelong dream of mine to be a gym owner and create a space to not only aid people towards being stronger but a space where people can be part of a community that will be there for them through life’s ups and downs. Fitness is so much deeper than the physical. It is so important for mental health and I am so happy to say that my dreams are coming true with the creation of The Athletic Club. Read more>>

Allison Klucaric Wright

I started making my own natural cleaning products in 2012 after the birth of my first child. He loved to be held and I would often wear him in a baby carrier while I would clean. I started to worry about the chemicals I was exposing him to while cleaning and I quickly realized most of the common household cleaners I had been using were full of highly toxic chemicals. Read more>>

Amanda Dunn

Social media has NEVER been something that has interested me, as a matter of fact I steered clear of social media until 2020 when I was encouraged to compete in the Ms Health & Fitness Magazine cover contest and a requirement of the contest was to develop a social media following via FaceBook and Instagram. At first, my following consisted of my family and friends and fellow competitors, and I was dedicated to keeping my social media private and my circle small; however, sometimes things evolve and circumstances change! Read more>>

Teresa Sawatsky

Coffee is an interesting thing! One of the most drunk liquids in the world, yet one of the most complex. Most know nothing about this magical liquid, except it’s amazing! My husband and I were on a holiday down south, quite a few years ago. We stayed at this cozy little cabin, in a small western town that had every characteristic we loved! Read more>>

Jena Findle & Adrian Holmes

We originally met while working as special education teachers. After becoming a mother, Jena stepped back from teaching, but continued to work with Adrian at weddings and events on the weekends at a Central Virginia winery. We quickly moved into the role of Venue Coordinators and also managed their in-house catering and bartending program. This is where we learned of our love for weddings. Read more>>

Jeremiah Chapman

I came up with the idea when I noticed Black news outlets and organizations hardly communicate and see each other as competitors. I wanted to centralize Black news and ways for folks to take action from said news so I figured the best way to do that was a mobile app. As an activist by trade I felt it important to have social justice and the greater good as our mainstay. Read more>>

In house Recordz

A dream…. back in the day we had a small group of friends who would get together and play around with beat making and rapping. eventually it became easier for us so as a group we decided to go on the road, sharing stages with pastor troy, Ying yang Twins, Trina, Trick Daddy and T Pain. As we got older life happen and the group ultimately had to split up. but the dream never went away for us we always knew we would be famous!!!!! Read more>>

Eric Zwartz

I’ve been entrepreneurial from a young age, whether it was selling frogs I’d caught in the pond or flipping old gaming systems for a profit; I was always up to something. As I got older and had — what I thought — were better ideas, I enlisted the help of friends and family in an ongoing effort to strike gold. Of course none of the ideas worked and in hindsight, they were all missing the same thing… purpose. Read more>>

Trinity Grau

My whole life has been about stories. I grew up in a family of proud immigrants, who each had their stories. Their loves, their losses, their paths to get to where we were today. When my father first lent me his old Canon Rebel T6i, I was drawn to capturing the tiny, magical moments that make up a full life well lived. When 2020 hit, my high school business of shooting senior portraits and family photos changed drastically. Read more>>

Casleah Herwaldt

Before the pandemic, I was working in healthcare part time and was trying to break into the wine industry. I was fascinated with wine so much that in between patients, I would be reading the wine bible and working on my wine focused instagram. As my instagram grew, I started partnering with different brands to help bring awareness to my audience. I kept picking up little side hustles in wine such as hosting in home wine tasting parties. Read more>>

Estefania De Regil

In 2016 I had the opportunity to experience my first luxury picnic in Central Park in New York. I remember loving absolutely everything about it, the weather, the scenery, the food, the pillows, all of it. My background is in luxury travel planning & hospitality. And I thought to myself, this is such a fun idea I would love to do this for a living. Read more>>

Crystal Fleming

My business is government contracting. I was working in the industry as the Vice President of Programs for my current mentoring company, TJFACT. The CEO asked me if i was interested in starting my own business. Side note- I knew that i always wanted to work for myself, but thought that it would be through another passion area of mine. Back to the story – when he asked, i didn’t hesitate to say Absolutely! Read more>>

Gabrielle Mazar

I have always had a passion for being an entrepreneur, but when I started my first gym in 2011 it wasn’t quite right. I found myself fitting into a mold that I didn’t want to be in and also a market that was already so saturated. After a year and a half I decided to part with that business and continue on my own, which I did for more than 7 years. It wasn’t until I joined a Pilates studio, Pilates Tempe, which I now own, that I realized there was a need for a few things. First, there was a need for a place with smaller classes and more attention. A place that felt like home, a community. Read more>>

Rosina Barker

Most all dog trainers are very “cookie cutter”. During this session, you will learn these behaviors, not taking into account that the behavior doesn’t fit the lifestyle of the owner or how that dog learns. I wanted to design a curriculum based on the needs of the dog and the goals of the owners. I could move at the speed that fits the dog and use the method that is right for them. Ensuring the success of the training that will last a lifetime. Read more>>

Dave Ebert

For the last 10 years, I’ve run an improv troupe in the Chicagoland area. Well Versed Comedy is a group of Christian comedians and performers that do comedy to bring people together. We’ve raised over $10K for charities through our shows. Read more>>

Liz Sobol

So, Crimson started out as an outlandish idea I had came up with one day while staying home sick from work. I was online shopping for clothes on my favorite boutique’s site, and thought to myself, “Hey it would be real cool if I had my own site!” Read more>>

Christeena Burks

Picture it. Richmond, Va 2017. For about a year, I owned a lipstick line. I was living in Richmond, Va at that time and I was very proud of the brand and products I created. Unfortunately, I had to shut down shop on the lipstick line because I needed to focus on my personal life and create a better space for me to sustain my lifestyle and run a business at the same time. It was a very tough decision to make and I didn’t really understand the feelings then, but I grieved the conclusion of my business for about a week. Read more>>

Scott and Vanessa Martindale

We founded Blended Kingdom Families in an effort to help other blended families who are going through difficult seasons. We had found ourselves in a season of litigation with my (Vanessa) ex-spouse and we were desperately searching for biblically-based resources to help our newly-blended family. We needed support and resources to help us get through it, but unfortunately, we couldn’t find any. Read more>>

Alejandra Isola

Skin Logistics was a name that didn’t come easy; like at all in the beginning for me. I actually had a whole different business name when I first started on my own a year ago. Even though I had a business name I just knew it just wasn’t for me and what I wanted to represent in the beauty industry. Here’s a little back story as how Skin Logistics was born. I am an aesthetician based out of Tucson, Arizona, I consider myself more as a Corrective Skin Care Specialist. Meaning I’m not all about the fluff in my treatment room. I strive to give you the results you’ve been struggling on your own, not only am I giving you your results, but I’m also restoring your skins health and boosting that confidence within yourself. Read more>>

 

Dionne Blackwell

The idea behind my starting a coaching business came after many years of working for government, in addition to being divinely inspired. My company Nirvana Retreats & Nirvana Lifestyle Development came out of my professional work within the areas of community economic development, urban planning and human capital development. I was given insight to help see their lives from a much different perspective than what we were given from society and our parents. I began to frame structural frameworks designed to help individuals see their life based upon what they created or designed for themselves. Read more>>

Sebastian Laborde

The idea behind L.E.G. Entertainment was to provide a 3-in-1 package that would eliminate everyday worries of hiring vendors for special events. Our company provides world class mixology, high tech and upbeat DJing, as well as timeless photography that captures the most memorable moments that will be cherished for a lifetime. Read more>>