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.
Dee Gupta
Ever since I was 4 years old, I knew I was going to be a chef or a baker. I was born and raised in India. Growing up, my parents couldn’t even afford an oven due to lots of financial setbacks they went through. I used to bake in makeshift ovens such as big metal pots on the stove or sometimes manipulated with wires. I did a mighty well job. There weren’t any baking schools either while I was growing up, so I had to figure out the recipes by reading magazines, given through friends and family, and by trial and error. Read more>>
Cj Dube
From a young age, food and beverage was my passion. I remember the feeling of love and family via my food and it was a sensation that I never wanted to let go of. When I was 18, I left for my first semester at Johnson & Wales University. During my time there, I was always wondered when my ‘leap of faith’ moment was coming. I had very little cooking experience to that point, so I was doing my best to soak in all the knowledge from professors, friends and from chefs at my early stage kitchen jobs. Read more>>
Paul Forster
My grandfather threw me in a dumpster when I was Five years old. That’s when the addiction took. Al Hunter was a junker , picker , thrifter , flipper. Whatever the term you prefer , he was that. We would dumpster dive, estate sale, hit the thrift trail and so forth. The dopamine hit of finding “treasure” was unparalleled. I became an addict. At the age of 13 when eBay launched, it just poured gasoline on that addiction. It opened a world to buy and sell treasures all across the country. As I got older I got heavily into playing music which propelled me into being obsessed with vintage clothing. Read more>>
Ali Rice
The idea for Wreck’d Collective came to me during a girls’ trip to Breckenridge in October 2022. We were exploring the town and stumbled upon a local shop that sold bleached flannels and jackets. I was immediately drawn to the concept and ended up purchasing one. As someone with a background in fashion design—having earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Design, with a focus on Fashion Design: Product Development and Merchandising, from the University of Cincinnati’s renowned DAAP program—I had always dreamed of creating my own fashion brand. The concept of sustainable fashion resonated with me on a deep level and sparked an idea that I just couldn’t shake. Read more>>
Courtney Milam
About year ago, I jumped into the digital marketing space to try and make an income as a busy homeschooling mom of 2. I had tried many different “side hustles” over the previous years, but nothing seemed to work for me. Still, I had a deep desire to move my family forward financially & learn high income skills to run a full online business. When I heard about MRR courses at the time – it seemed to be exactly what I needed. Learning how to fun a full automated business plus having something to sell right away…. I couldn’t get started quick enough. Read more>>
Bradlee Berry
My family and I moved to Newport Beach, California after running High-End Country Clubs in La Quinta, California. My wife and I noticed that Orange County lacked a successful Racquet Sports Company to teach tennis and pickleball to all levels of play. In 2021 we launched OC Racquet Sports and the rest is history. We lead over 50 classes of week in tennis and pickleball and our clinics are designed for players of all ages and skill levels, from beginners to advanced competitors. Led by our experienced and passionate coaches, our clinics offer a unique opportunity to improve your technique, strategy, and overall performance on the court. With a focus on small group instruction, you’ll receive personalized attention and feedback to help you reach your tennis or pickleball goals. Read more>>
Darius Alexander
I started out by immersing myself in the culture of parties and raves, captivated by the vibrant atmosphere and the people ive met. Five years ago, at a festival, I were having a great time with my best friend, and while listening to Lady Gaga’s “Disco Heaven,” I had a spark of inspiration. That moment led to the idea of creating a disco-themed party in Philadelphia, which we named “Disco Heaven.” The first “Disco Heaven” event took place three years ago in June and was a huge success, selling out quickly. This accomplishment propelled me into producing more nightlife events and shows, which in turn helped me gain recognition in the city. As your reputation grew, I began assisting with larger events and gigs for notable clients like the W Hotel and Adult Swim. This experience eventually inspired me to start my own event business, DAC Productions, which I aspire to grow into an artist agency. Read more>>
Kate News
The idea to become a professional makeup artist came about, unfortunately, during COVID-19. After graduating with a BFA from Tyler School of Art at Temple University in Philadelphia I found myself switching jobs quite often. I was working in retail, I was waitressing, and I was doing social media management wherever I could find freelance work. For years I felt directionless and idiotic for going to school for something as trivial as painting – why didn’t I go for something that actually paid and gave benefits? I was always self shaming for not having any idea what I wanted to do with my life when it seemed all my peers were thriving in their office jobs and going to corporate happy hours with their middle aged coworkers. Read more>>
Pamela Garber
I always loved walking to run errands. Since childhood to today, meeting the business owners and visiting their real life ventures was always the best Off Broadway play. Throughout 2002-the end of 2018, NYC streets offered comfortably accessible connections – meeting this guy while walking along Lexington Ave who turned out to be on the board of an organization I learned about in grand school, meeting a fellow therapist while in line at a neighborhood diner who would up giving me a lead for office space, and getting my make up done just for stepping into Tom Ford to kill time. Read more>>
Maria Santana
My story is rooted back to my childhood. Coming from a domestic violence home to becoming a teen mom had created core values and beliefs about myself that were untrue. Navigating life as a Latina single mom of 2 boys were often challenging, I often felt as though the adversities I faced I would never overcome, the financial physical and mental strain was overwhelming. I eventually finished cosmetology school and started doing her in the salon when I turned 25. I eventually learned I could hustle behind the chair and provide for my family, food, clothing, and things the kids needed. For a long time, I struggled emotionally and still do to this day. Read more>>
Jacob Christian
My journey into blacksmithing began with a simple yet ambitious project: digging a hole in my backyard to build my own forge. I buried a pipe in the dirt to create airflow and repurposed old oak pallets as fuel. At just 16 years old, I crafted my first knife from a railroad spike. Since then, I’ve dedicated myself to learning and perfecting my craft. Growing up with a passion for hunting, I became well-acquainted with knives—understanding their use, sharpening, and maintenance. By making my own knives, I gained the ability to control every detail and customize them to meet specific needs. The world of knives is vast, with an endless array of steels, each offering its own unique characteristics. Read more>>
Valentina Belisario
It all began with me, Valentina Belisario, a woman who was always drawn to the different. Since I was little, I noticed that in every store, in every corner, I found the same: the same styles, the same colors, the same accessories. But inside me, there was a spark that drove me to seek more, to be more. I had always loved big earrings, but I couldn’t find anything that truly represented my style. It was then, almost by chance, that I discovered clay, a material that would lead me to create what we now know as APÖ. Read more>>
Kyle Mastropole
Starting my own business was always a burning desire, but figuring out how to turn that dream into reality was a challenge I wrestled with for some time. Despite having experience and education that outranked many personal trainers in the area, I was concerned about the old saying, “it’s not what you know, but who you know.” As an East Coast transplant trying to establish myself on the West Coast, I was in unfamiliar territory without a local network. Read more>>
Olivia Zhang
Growing up, my after-school teacher with whom I spent every afternoon when my mom was working late—and my grandfather—a teacher himself—were my two closest confidants. They shaped my values from an early age. After my grandfather was diagnosed with cancer, I started selling artwork to my classmates and on social media to raise money for his treatment. When I hear my teacher was diagnosed with breast cancer, I doubled my efforts. I only raised a few hundred dollars, but at the time, I felt like I was doing the most I could to make a difference. Read more>>
Brooklynn Quirola
The idea for Summerset Events started way back when I was a kid. I’ve always loved weddings, and I used to plan pretend ones just for fun. At eight years old, I had a sketchbook filled with cake ideas and dream vendors. I’d spend hours watching “My Fair Wedding with David Tutera”, taking notes like I was getting ready to plan the biggest day ever. That show sparked something in me, and I knew one day I wanted to bring that same magic to life. Eventually I went to college and ended up in the marketing and corporate world, however my passion for weddings never went away. Then Covid hit, and as we all started to reconnect with what truly mattered, I realized it was time to take a leap of faith. The world was in a weird place, but it gave me the push I needed to pursue what I’d loved all along—weddings and events. Read more>>
Allie Tate
Portt’s story begins on February 26, 2020, with the three words no one wants to hear: “You have cancer.” Chemotherapy followed. During treatment, I grew frustrated by the lack of modern products available for women undergoing chemotherapy. I craved products that were both functional but still felt like something I would have worn pre-diagnosis. I wanted high-quality products that were meant to have a life after finishing chemotherapy. As a sewist, I decided to stitch up a shirt for myself that looked like a regular shirt but opened on the shoulder of my port to allow for easy, comfortable access. After completing treatment, I continued to think about the garment I made and wondered if other people also had the same frustrations that I felt during chemo. As I started to share my idea with others, I found so many women expressing how much they had wished something like Portt existed when they were navigating chemo. Read more>>
Mandy Fierens
My main business, Drift Alchemy, began as a jewelry studio in the back of a camper. I was in love with metalsmithing and created a small brand while living on the road. When covid hit and traveling didn’t feel as safe, I moved my home on wheels to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. A small local business, The Mustard Seed, encouraged me to use their loft as a small studio/shop space just as things were opening up again. I did this and Drift really began to evolve. Going from just jewelry, Drift began to become more of a wellness brand. From Journals and self care books, to tarot cards and crystals, we have something for anyone going through a healing journey. After Covid, that felt more important than ever, what a difficult time for us all. Read more>>
Ashlen Mccracken
I knew that I want to create a platform to assist with the ever-growing threat in the digital world. I have degrees in national security and financial crimes investigations so the idea of preventing fraud and protecting those who can’t is near and dear to my heart. I have worked in this field full time for almost five years now and you can see the threat landscape changing. The trends changing. The shift from traditional identity theft or bank account fraud is diminishing. The rise of romance scams via the internet and email compromise is becoming more and more popular. This is something that isn’t going to go away any time soon and something we actually know very little about. Cyber criminals are becoming more sophisticated, and we need to be able to keep up. This is something that isn’t going away. We all know someone who knows someone that something like this happened to. Read more>>
Jon Matthews
I practiced law for seven years. I was legal director of the ACLU of Connecticut. I loved public interest work. But it wasn’t my passion. Art was my passion–filmmaking in particular. So I turned 30 and decided to make a change. I applied to one film school, my dream school, NYU. And I was lucky enough to get in. Then, I thought how am I going to pay for this? I already had debt from law school. The next day I got a letter in the mail saying I had a full tuition scholarship. So, I guess it was meant to be. Read more>>
Oshi Sanyal
We had just baught our new home and I was already toggling with the idea of creating an art space for myself since I was already a selling artist and loved donating art for charitable fund raisers.The formal dining area of our home seemed a perfect corner since it was just by our entrance and didn’t interfere with the rest of the house .With kids in elementary didn’t even need that extra space other than our breakfast nook for our meals ! It was then that I thought of opening up an art space for kids too who would like to paint with me an idea I couldn’t put to execution while we were in our rented apartment that way I’d be able to get my children involved too to attain an extra skill and satiate my love for working with kids creatively . Read more>>
Samantha Siedlecki
Hello! I am Samantha Siedlecki and my inspiration for Paradise Shells by Samantha came to me through my absolute love for the beach, and my Paradise — Jupiter, Florida. This is where I often think about how to live an inspired life with cerebral palsy, and how I can help others with challenges to do the same. My dream is to build a jewelry & lifestyle brand where people with and without challenges can work together to enjoy more satisfying levels of income and connectedness. As a person with a physical challenge, I can tell you that many with challenges experience a social and economic plateau once they have completed their formal education. Paradise Shells will continue to bring captivating beach inspired designs to our customers, but most importantly, we will do it by building a team with and without challenges, who work together to make Paradise Shells a model for other businesses in the future. Read more>>
Todd Verdell Jr
In 2019, I had the idea to start a fitness business, not just for myself but to become the first business owner in my family. I was in my last year working at the Haverford YMCA, a place that helped me in many ways and where I met a lot of people. I knew I wanted to start my own fitness business, but I also knew I would need to do a lot of research on the industry. As soon as I got off work, I immediately started looking up key things needed to run a successful business. I went back to the drawing board to give myself ideas for a business name. During this time, I was also in school pursuing my personal trainer certification, just to have leverage when I got clients. I spent days and nights coming up with a business name while feeding my brain the information I needed to understand the business. About three months into the new year, I finally came up with the name for my business, and that’s when “FITGORILLA LLC” was born. In this process, I did have a bit of help from a good friend I went to school with. He studied business marketing, and having help on how to market correctly to the right audience was definitely a game changer for my business. Read more>>
Katherine Játiva
I currently run two companies, both of which I built from the ground up: Kawallu Company and Infinite Blooms Wholesale. After earning my master’s degree in Barcelona, I returned to Ecuador with a clear goal in mind: to help people and showcase the exceptional quality of Ecuadorian products to the world. I always knew I wanted to start my own business, and I was determined to create something meaningful that would positively impact the people of Ecuador. During the pandemic, I became acutely aware of the long-term global challenges this problem would have, particularly for those in rural areas. I shared my idea with my husband, who is an Automotive Engineer with a creative spirit. He fully supported the vision and saw it as an opportunity to contribute his skills to a meaningful cause. And together, we founded Kawallu Company, an ethical brand dedicated to empowering Ecuadorian artisans by providing them with better income opportunities for their families and communities. Read more>>
Rabia Razzaq
Three years ago, I moved to the United States, a journey that marked the beginning of a transformative chapter in my life. Early on, I met Professor Don Carr, who introduced me to the world of entrepreneurship and the art of bringing ideas to life. His mentorship sparked a deep passion in me for creating meaningful solutions. A few months into my coursework, I had the incredible opportunity to meet Peyton, an Olympic athlete, during one of our class sessions. He was invited to speak about accessibility and inclusivity in design, topics that resonated with me on a profound level. Peyton and I quickly became close friends, and through our conversations, I gained insight into the unique challenges he faced, especially when it came to clothing. Read more>>
Sandy Spady
Imagine a room filled with people eager to learn, grow, and be inspired. At the center of it all is Sandy Spady, a woman whose presence is impossible to ignore. Sandy speaks from the head and heart with a voice that commands attention and a passion that resonates with everyone in the room. This is her world, where she thrives by helping others break through their fears, discover their unique talents, and step into their full potential. But how did Sandy get here? How did she become the powerhouse speaker, the influential leader, and the visionary entrepreneur she is today? It all began with a deep-rooted desire to make a difference, sparked by her journey and the incredible women she met. Sandy has always been someone who saw potential where others saw limitations. In her 35 years of experience across sales, media, PR, and nonprofit ventures, she encountered countless individuals who were stuck—stuck in their careers, stuck in their personal lives, and stuck in a mindset that kept them from truly thriving. Read more>>
Valerie & Kevin Cook
My husband and I’s dream was always to own a working cattle ranch. We had small 1 acre home before the ranch and had a couple chickens and some goats, but the desire to have more was always there. So, when my mother in law found this place, it was just a matter of how we needed to make it happen. My mother in law sold her small ranch and we sold our place and together we got the ranch. The ranch is nestled in the mountains of the Lost Sierra which is perfect because summers aren’t too hot and winters are too rough. But the ranch is also surrounded by wedding venues. These other venues each have a different qualities than the others and there wasn’t a ranch vibe one. We knew that cattle won’t pay the bills, but just fill our freezers so we decided to go down the route of a wedding venue since it seemed to be a successful business in the area. The first year all we did was clean up the space we wanted to use for weddings. Then it was on to marketing of bridal fairs and growing our online presence. We opened during Covid, which worked out in our favor since we were a large outdoor venue. Read more>>
Charles Banks
The idea for EION Beard Care was born out of personal experience and frustration. When I first started growing my beard, I was excited about the journey but quickly became disappointed by the products available on the market. I tried numerous brands, but none of them really checked all the boxes for me. They were either too harsh, filled with chemicals, or just didn’t deliver the results I was hoping for. My beard wasn’t as healthy as I wanted it to be, and I knew there had to be a better way. That’s when I decided to take matters into my own hands. I began researching natural ingredients that could nourish and promote healthy beard growth without all the unnecessary additives. The more I learned, the more passionate I became about creating something that wasn’t just another product on the shelf, but a solution that I and others like me could truly rely on. Read more>>
Mikayla Rose
My spiritual business Gift From Neptune was born from a deep desire to connect with others on their healing journey, sharing the wisdom I’ve gathered to contribute to the greater good of the collective. My relationship with spirituality began in a rather unconventional way. Growing up, religion was more about culture and community than doctrine in my household. My mom took me to church, but she always encouraged me to explore and form my own unique relationship with what most of us call God. This freedom led me on a path of exploring various spiritual systems, searching for what resonated most deeply with me. On my quest, I began to see a common thread running through all religions—a universal truth that transcended the differences in practice and belief. I found myself questioning how these different paths could all make sense, yet all seem to speak the same underlying truth. Read more>>
Jamella Smith
I officially launched my non-profit in June of 2024! Before starting my own non profit I was employed at a local non profit organization and coaching high school girls basketball and track at J.F. Webb. Although I felt like I loved what I was doing professionally, I ended up parting ways with the local non profit. For a few days, this left me feeling a little unsure. Unsure about my next move career wise. Unsure about my future… unsure about everything. I was in the midst of launching a new podcast during this period of time and I decided to take the purpose behind starting the podcast and turn that into a non profit organization. Although I was no longer employed at my old job, my heart’s desire was still doing non profit work. I didn’t know if it would work, I just knew I was following God’s lead. He’s never led me astray. Read more>>
Dr. Ariel Morel
The inspiration for starting my business is deeply rooted in my experiences as a first-generation American, growing up in an immigrant household where entrepreneurship was a way of life. My parents, who left the Dominican Republic in search of a better future, became owners of a small neighborhood grocery store. This store was more than just a business; it was the heart of our community and our family’s livelihood. My siblings and I grew up working there, balancing school with responsibilities like stocking shelves, managing inventory, providing customer service, and even operating heavy machinery to prepare food for customers. We were fully immersed in the day-to-day operations, learning the value of hard work and the challenges that come with running a small business. Read more>>
Lisa Small
Early in 2020, our dad was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer out of the blue. One day he was fine and the next he was admitted to the hospital for stroke symptoms caused by large brain mets. He passed away in November 2020 after a courageous fight leaving me questioning many things. In order to make sense of such a significant loss, and more importantly to uphold the legacy of a man who dedicated his entire life to elevating his community and prioritized family, I began to form the idea of Habitual Growth with my brother (Nate). We formulated a process – built from the decades of dedication, hard work and intentional action learned from our father – into the Habitual Growth process. From there, we connected with friends who were interested in personal and professional development and equally had a desire to leave a positive impact on the world, and began to trial the process each day through Essential Actions lists. Read more>>
Torri Burrell
I’ve always had an interest in baking. Ever since I was younger I would bake for family events but my passion for baking and cake decorating specifically, started during the pandemic. I started watching all different kinds of baking shows during the free time the lock down provided me with and decided I wanted to try to make a custom birthday cake. The first custom cakes I made was for my sister, then my niece, I made a two tier unicorn cake for my nieces 5th birthday just for fun. I decided to post a picture of the cake on instagram and I received so many positive comments on it, as well as at the birthday party. Read more>>
Bekah O’shea
When my family moved back to Montana to live on the ranch where my husband grew up, I envisioned starting a brand that told a story and wasn’t just fast fashion. I thought about beginning with quality leather belts, but had no experience in the field of leatherworking. My search began for unique colors and quality leather, but I couldn’t find anything that met my standards. That’s when I decided to visit a local leather store, where I ended up buying a side of leather, a strap cutter, and some dye. I’ll never forget walking in the door and telling my husband that I was gonna make them myself! I began my leatherworking journey crafting belts on my husband’s grandmother’s kitchen table. Read more>>
Yvonne Gordon-moser
Of course! Here’s a more sensitive and thoughtful revision: In the Spring semester of 2015, as I was nearing the end of my master’s program in Art Therapy, our exit class was posed with a thought-provoking question by our professor: “What will you do with your degree, and how will you do it?” This question ignited a range of responses—thoughtful discussions, creative ideas, puzzled looks, and familiar clichés. One phrase stood out to me: “You don’t have to reinvent the wheel, just make it better.” It was during this reflective moment that the concept for my business model began to emerge. Read more>>
Malissa Patterson
Scrumptious Organic Care was founded seven years ago because I needed to find ways to heal my skin. However, if i think to “way back when”, I have always been tinkering in my mother’s kitchen as a teenager. Having experienced psoriasis and acne, I decided to research natural ways to curb dry and inflamed skin that sometimes cracked so badly that my fingers bled. Therefore, Scrumptious Organic Care has developed into a Body, Hair, Face and Feet natural line that aims to improve skin and hair confidence. I was encouraged to bring some of my products to a place of business and from then it was suggested that I register said business. From then on, I began creating more products. I also began researching and learning from recognised skin care industries. Read more>>
Daniel Grabenschroer
It all started in June of 2017. My brother, Justin, came to visit me after my first deployment in the U.S. Navy. That was the first time I ever got into second-hand clothing. He took me thrifting to buy things for my 500 square foot apartment. I never knew the treasures you could really find at a thrift store because truthfully, I was always embarrassed to have secondhand clothing and other items. Yet over time, it became something I am proud of. Over the next year and a half I started thrifting heavily and collecting the unique items I found. My 500 square foot apartment became overrun by vintage finds. In the beginning of 2019, I started a page on Instagram called the “thethriftdigger” and started selling on my Instagram and to all my navy buddies. Read more>>
Brandon Roellig
As an architect, one of the most meaningful moments is finding inspiration from a project. I’ve felt this moment walking through BIG’s Danish Maritime Museum in Helsingor, Denmark, touring the Seattle Central Library by Rem Koolhaus, and listening to Brian Mackay-Lyons talk about the weathering Messenger House in Nova Scotia. Experiencing thoughtful architecture is good for both the mind and body. DesignMap was born out of the idea that experiencing good architecture should be accessible to everyone. It’s fairly easy to book an architecture tour of a public building such as the Wyly Theater in Dallas, Texas or walk into Renzo Piano’s Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center in Athens, Greece. It’s more challenging to experience thoughtful residential architecture, like a desert retreat featured in Dwell Magazine or a bayside home in an architects’ portfolio. I wondered if we could do more than look at content of incredible architecture – what if we could experience a project ourselves, unlike any guided tour we’ve known before? Read more>>
Josh Kanterowitsch
I started Pacific Pro Roofing because I wanted to continue my dad’s legacy and help people in need, just like my dad did. Growing up, I saw how much pride he took in his work and how he went out of his way to help those who couldn’t afford a new roof. That left a big impression on me. The time I spent working with him made me love the craft, and my military experience taught me how to lead and solve problems. When I decided to start my own business, it was driven by a passion for building, a deep respect for my dad’s work, and a strong desire to make a positive impact on people’s lives. That’s what keeps me going and what makes this business meaningful to me. Read more>>
Cameron Van Fossen
Deeper Impact Consulting was born out of a confluence of deep professional experience, personal passion, and a recognition of unmet needs within the nonprofit and social equity sectors. The idea for the business started to form during my years of working in Senior Management roles across various organizations. I saw firsthand the challenges organizations face as they transition from start-up phases to growth stages, particularly in areas like crisis management, fundraising, and organizational culture. The idea for Deeper Impact Consulting wasn’t just about solving problems—it was about addressing them in a way that put people first. Having spent over a decade working with youth, LGBTQ+, family, and homeless-serving agencies, I realized that many organizations were struggling not only with their external impact but also with their internal dynamics. I knew that bringing a holistic approach to consulting—one that combines both human-centered and business-focused strategies—could make a profound difference. Read more>>