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.

AIRIAM CAPESTANY

I was born and raised in Cuba, the son of a humble family and indoctrinated by a communist-socialist policy implanted in my country for more than 60 years, I arrived in the United States at the age of 23 with 0 English and looking for the American dream after having crossed through 8 countries in one of the most dangerous journeys that Latinos make to get here. once located in the St Pete area my first wishes were to continue my studies as a dentist that I had left in Cuba but the life in this country showed me that alone without a family it was practically impossible to continue my studies and the cost of living at the same time. Read more>>

Tiffany Napper

For years – and I mean nearly 5 of them – I had deflected the notion that I could be a business coach. It was a notion shared by two of my very own coaches, but I just didn’t think I wanted to do that or that I had the knowledge required. I was still learning how to streamline my own PR + Branding agency. I wasn’t ready to teach anyone anything! Fast forward to March 2020 – a date I think we all know too well as the marker for the Covid-19 shut down across the world. I was a founding member of a co-working space for women in Nashville, TN, and the owner asked me to lead an online workshop as a way to keep the community feeling united while we were all stuck at home. Read more>> 

Ashley Rogers

I began taking a dive into financial literacy after a terrible divorce. I realized that I had to get a grip on only my finances as a newly single mother but also my credit. I needed to really understand the connection that money had with the world, my credit file and my future investments. As I began to embark on this journey, I was scammed by a credit repair company. After digging myself out of the hole from investing thousands of dollars, I vowed to be a resource for others like myself and do it an affordable cost by building a reputable and trustworthy brand at a cost that would not break the bank. Read more>>

Lauren Triplett

When I finished my MBA in 2017, I knew that I wanted to transition to a marketing career, but I also knew that I needed more experience. Someone suggested that I help non-profits with marketing. I went to volunteer.org, and found an organization in Leimert Park that was looking for marketing help. The next month, I was working with them helping them expand their digital & traditional marketing strategies. Read more>>

Kyri Hamilton, PhD

The year was 2009. I resided in Georgia. My life, as I knew it, was drastically changing and there was literally nothing I could do to stop my world from disintegrating before me. Nineteen years of my life, abandoned! Clinging tightly to my two children, Courtney and Jordan, spiraling with each passing day on a merry-go-round of crippling chaos. Life had its way of turning expectations into painful memories. Yet, the tribulations propelled my decision to seek an opportunity to encourage others. Read more>>

Rachel Scott

As a middle school science teacher, I had the privilege of being one of the adults that the eighth-grade school girls I taught seemed to enjoy being around. I distinctly remember a small group of girls that would eat lunch in my room every day. They’d eat, hang out and just talk openly about their lives and whatever was on their minds or happening at the time. Every now and again, they’d ask my opinion about different experiences–everything from their relationships to challenges in their families, to studying for exams. With each conversation, they got more and more comfortable sharing and listening. Read more>>

Sarah Gartzman

I have worked in the food service industry for the past 20 years – and graduated from culinary school with a diploma in Pastry Arts 15 years ago. Working with food is all I’ve ever known and the only job I’ve ever been passionate about. My husband and I started our careers and education in Boulder and Denver, Colorado and stumbled upon this tiny mountain town about 2.5 hours from our home in the city. We fell in love with Salida and it became our dream to live and work here and be apart of this community. Read more>>

Janna Pruiett

Unveiled by Janna Alane started off as compilation of ideas that sprouted into a beautiful dream come to fruition. Unveiled by Janna Alane is my brand. It includes my brand apparel, social media posts such as inspirational videos and quotes, and my blog, Unveiling Janna Alane. The brand began when my blog, Unveiling Janna Alane, was created on May 23, 2017. I’ve always had a passion for writing. I consider myself to be pretty shy, even though others may disagree, and writing my was outlet. It allowed me to fully express myself when I used to get bullied and provided the opportunity for me to share my thoughts and opinions when I lacked the courage to verbally share them out-loud. Read more>>

Denisela Thicklin

Always keeping it real and transparent is one of my core values, so I will do so now. I started this company originally as a way to make money. I thought I had job security working in the education industry, but I quickly learned differently after being called into an early morning meeting just to be locked out of my work laptop. Read more>>

Tiera Coleman

I’m currently 7-months postpartum and had children 10+ years apart. I had taken maternity leave for about 6 months. During my pregnancy, I had shifted my nail business from being in my home, to being back in a public setting for a bit. I had been praying for ways to elevate my work, to make it so that I was making more of a positive impact. But also, not spread myself too thin. I had to start with work on myself, changing my diet & mindset to name a few things. As I started gearing back to go to work, my godmother had been coming to my home to help me out with my girls. Read more>>

Jaliyah Nobles

For many years, I have always wanted to start my own business. The idea to launch my own cosmetics business repeatedly appeared to me in a dream. I visualized helping thousands of women feel comfortable and beautiful in their skin, while keeping their lips healthy at the same time. I knew Juiced by Jaliyah would be a worthwhile endeavor because I could feel it in my spirit; I was called to help other women. I immediately felt like I finally found my life’s purpose. I have also personally struggled with dry, chapped lips. Although the beauty market is said to be oversaturated, I knew that my business would be different. Read more>>

Glenice Glover

Working in a Federal Government job as a Senior Auditor for nearly 35 years, it was close to retirement time for me. At age 55, I began to ponder what I would do once I’d completed my government tenure. I literally prayed to God for an answer to the question what will I do with myself? I’m only 55 with tons of energy. I can’t just sit at home and do nothing for the second half of my life. What would you have me do? I heard the words “give back”. I got excited because I love serving and helping women and girls. I was contemplating starting a women’s ministry at our church where my husband pastors. Read more>>

Audrey Gil

Lemondrop was Inspired by my childhood bedtimes stories made up by my Grandmother, “Wawa” and my Mother about the “ranita” (little frog), I wrote and illustrated this book using water colors when I was in high school. To this day, it remains near and dear to my heart. This is a children’s story about finding love and acceptance for yourself no matter what you look like. As a Puerto Rican and Cuban girl, growing up I was shamed for being “brown” and teased for being “skinny.” It was my hope that one day I could read this to my daughter and she would learn to overcome people’s ignorance and love herself just the way that she is. As acceptance of self and others are at a high in America and across the world, this message is still relevant to our youth today and for many days to come. Read more>>

Mariee Wright

Size in Style is a plus size online (for now) boutique that will not only sell clothes and accessories but also inspire, love and appreciate the curvy women. My venture was launch in June 2021 and because I am a plus size Joi women myself it makes my product not only relatable but empowering. It’s easy to see the perfect body on social media, television, and around us, then try to buy what we see and it’s not accommodated for our shape or comfort. However, thats the problem i saw and wanted to fix or build a bridge for. Size in Style is more than clothes its teaching curvy girls and women that it’s okay be a big girl and still be cute, trendy and confident. Read more>>

Mitchell Rigie

For 15 years, I was a founding partner of SmartStorming, a consulting and training company that taught innovative companies like Google, Under Armour, Captial One, Spotify, and NBCUniversal how to think and solve challenges more creatively. When the Covid pandemic shutdown occurred, our live in-person training business shut down as well for over a year. During the long, dark period of lockdown here in New York City, I felt a strong calling to help the creative community connect, stay inspired, and use this gift of time to develop and fortify themselves — to keep moving forward on whatever creative project, career or business plan they were working on. Read more>>

Drew Davis

Over the last decade I have battled the ugly side effects of multiple autoimmune diseases and the unknown of a rare illness. In April of 2020 I experienced life threatening complications with my autoimmune disease, I was told by doctors that my lifestyle had to completely change. One of those lifestyle changes was to stay away from alcohol all together which was harder than I anticipated. The struggle with giving up alcohol is that it has been a part of my life since I can remember, and I truly enjoyed the social scene that is heavily influenced by drinking. So, I decided to take my pain and turn into my passion…. Read more>>

Shayla Ansah

In 2019 I was searching for jewelry for my daughter, Madison. At that time she was turning 13yrs old and I wanted something that would not only be an heirloom but also something that would represent and embrace the beauty of her. I was planning to start a charm bracelet for her and as I searched for more ethinic options, I quickly saw that there were not many companies highlighting the beauty of Black and African cultures. When looking at one company in particular (that is well known for charm bracelets), I noticed there were not any charms that resembled or represented my daughter. Read more>>

Tanaine Jenkins

In 2019 I lost everything. I lost my relationship, I totaled my car, I lost my job and I almost died…in that order. Outwardly, I went about my life like nothing was wrong when my world was crashing down around me. I suppressed all of these feelings but a year later, they bubbled to the surface, I was in a dark place, and I was spiraling…fast. Read more>>

Derecha Cannon

I started out making natural body products for myself and immediate family, which then lead to a few extended family members. It all came from my experience as a registered nurse in many different specialties. One thing I honed in on while working as nurse, was the apparent lack of preventative education provided to people with illness. I disliked the idea that we could treat people for ailments, but there was a huge lack in providing general wellness education for the public. I became very interested in health from what we consume, to what products we use. Read more>>

Adam Weedy

British comedians Peter Cook and Dudley Moore were getting “big” in England and they start using a recording studio to bs with each other without the restraints of mainstream media. They take on alter ego’s called Derek and Clive…creating a backstory for themselves as toilet cleaners at the British Trade Centre. They use stream of consciousness to attack topics, and don’t stop until one of them makes the other laugh. Basically, it’s a way to blow off steam. You can hear them drinking…obviously getting wasted. The tapes aren’t meant to be released, but I get a bootleg copy that’s floating around Japan, where I’m teaching English at the time. It’s so vulgar that you can’t believe Dudley Moore’s associated with it. Read more>>

James Shirley

So in 2014, I moved back to Houston after spending 7 years in Atlanta, GA. I continued my IT career, but I just was not fulfilled at the end of the day. While living in Atlanta, I would do wine demos at grocery stores on the weekends and discovered I was extremely good at it! I wanted to work on something in my life that gave me more meaning and purpose. I started looking into making my way into the wine industry in Houston, so I started doing private wine tastings and consulting on the weekends for direct consumers. My girlfriend at the time, and now my beautiful wife, suggested that I go into business for myself. Read more>>

John Galfano

I sort of fell into this business by chance. It was a hobby that turned into a full-time job. In my early 40’s, I got into fitness and I lost close to 40 lbs, and nothing in my closet fit anymore. Since I had to buy a whole new wardrobe, I wanted to make sure that I was buying smart. I wasn’t a kid anymore, but I also wasn’t an old man. I wanted to make sure that I was buying wardrobe items that allowed me to remain who I was, but also age-appropriate, relevant and cool. Because if you boil it all down, as men, we just want to look cool. Read more>>

Hajra Khan

Like many children, I loved baking with my mother. As I grew up, and later throughout my university studies, making a cake or brownies was how I relaxed during my time off. After finishing law school and working for sometime, I took a break from my legal profession after the birth of my second and third child. As a stay at home mother, I had many opportunities to bake for myself and others and loved trying new techniques and expanding my cake decorating skills. I knew I wanted to return to law once my children had started school, but at the time, I was just enjoying baking up a storm! Read more>>

James Council

When I was a kid my mother use to purchase VHS tapes from yard sales and the Flea Market. She knew I loved watching all kinds of movies and it drove my love of creativity in writing as well as storytelling. I use to ride the bus in the morning thinking of story lines and saying one day I’m going to be a great movie director and create visuals for the world to see. When I turn 18 years old, a month after I graduated from high school I join the military because I grew up in a home where we were less fortunate and we struggled a lot financially. I join the military not having any financial education because they didn’t teach me in school and it was never taught at home. Read more>>

Golden Girls

The idea of turning Golden Girls into an operating business blossomed in 2018 after we hosted our first event “Live to be Golden”. This idea came into fruition from one of our friends who proposed we throw a charity event to bring people together and help those in need. This pitch was met with enthusiasm since we all had a love for the Dallas community and giving back. After the success of that event, we realized we had a calling and an opportunity to grow the business. Read more>>

Male Atkins

I started my company from a vision when I walked on some land while I was traveling I looked around and didn’t see a lot of African-Americans or Hispanics owning land so I decided to start a company that give people the opportunity to own in America. I started doing research back from 1900 until now How land with stolen from people of color and Native Americans. Read more>>

Danielle Naselli

I was never someone that was “good” with money. I have lifelong ADHD and with that came lots of emotional and impulsive spending. Growing up, I was never taught how to manage my money through schooling. I didn’t really talk with my parents about it or my peers because of the stigma that talking about money is taboo. So at age 28 I found myself with $12K in credit card debt, no savings, no money management skills, and no plan for my future. Read more>>

Lindsay Brown

On December 31, 2020 I finally got a positive pregnancy test!! I was a woman not only suffering from PCOS but also dealing with an abusive partner. Before the clock strike 12pm and the new year rolled in my abusive partner came home drunk and high and beat me beyond belief including putting a knife to my neck in front of his only 8yr old daughter! At that point I was done with it all and felt only way out was death! I felt as if God didn’t love me enough to help me and allowed my abuser to do the things he would do. Read more>>