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.

Gilberto Mauriello

I was born and raised in Italy, in the small town of Montesarchio, right behind the Amalfi Coast. As a child, I grew up in the family owned oil mill, with the smell of the olives being crushed into liquid gold and on the Amalfi Coast, with the terrific views, colors and of course, the sea! I came up with the idea of ​​bringing the authentic flavors and health benefits of our fantastic product, and not only that, directly to your tables, one bottle at a time. In fact, in addition to the “Monocultivar” oil (made from a single source), I wanted to combine one of the greatest and most important traditions of the Amalfi Coast (called in Italy simply COSTIERA, and hence the name of the brand) and that is ceramics. Read more>>

Brittney Garcia-dumas

I came up with the idea for The Arlington Shop because I am born and raised here. I wanted something both visitors and residents alike could love. Read more>>

Abhishil Kumar

Our story begins in the beautiful country of Bali, Indonesia, where we fell in love with the culture and the coffee. The unforgettable coffee experience we had there sparked a goal: to share the diverse and rich flavors of coffees from different regions of the world with as many people as possible, without the need for a long flight. That’s when Bean Burst was born—to bring a little happiness to the lives of our customers through the taste of exceptional coffee. I was trying to make specialty coffee more accessible. It’s fresh coffee made easy. Read more>>

Alex Teselsky

We constructed a copper and stone bar in our log home’s basement in 2016. We wanted to hang an appropriate piece of art behind it and I thought a silhouette of the Great Lakes using the leftover copper would be perfect. Not wanting to reinvent the wheel, we searched but were unable to find any find any tutorials on the internet, or any evidence that a company or an individual who had ever done anything like it. So we invented our own process. After almost a month of failed attempts, we finally came up with something that we were happy with and posted it on Facebook so our friends and family that were following our bar construction could see our unique creation. Within a day or two, we received over 50 orders for similar pieces. Within 6 months, we were so overwhelmed with orders that my wife Becky and I needed to decide if we wanted to continue with our established careers or become full time artists. We decided to jump in with both feet and within a year, we were wholesaling our art to over 40 shops and throughout the state along with our online retail outlet. Other than our children, Alex, Peter and Annie, we don’t hire any additional help so as to keep our 42 step, 10 day process a secret. Read more>>

Brad Moore

I spent almost 14 years in the Army as an Interrogator and Counterintelligence Special Agent. During that time, I was able to serve our country in Afghanistan. attached to a Special Forces unit. After retiring from the Army, my wife and I found ourselves in a position where we needed to hire a private investigator for assistance in a matter. The private investigator didn’t do the best job and it left me thinking that I could start my own private investigative agency. It clicked for me that I already had many of the skills required to be a private investigator from my time in the Army. I wanted to help people and more specifically, give veterans another avenue to use the skills they learned while in the service once they got out. One of the main issues for veterans is finding a purpose once they are no longer in the military. Being a private investigator allows them to continue to help and serve people in an impactful way. Read more>>

Isabel Perez

I have the interés to open business finally after few years coming true Read more>>

Venessa Wood

Ag Women Connect was an idea that I was connecting and building for 30 years based upon my network and listening to the needs of women in agriculture. Once God told me what to do and how to provide a solution, I didn’t doubt his shout, and I immediately took action and created the company! I felt this would work because of my faith and constant prayer for God to show me my purpose in life other than being a mom and wife. I prayed for this opportunity for 15 years. There was not a platform in the world that shined the light on women’s stories in agriculture, gave them recognition, and a physical place for them to connect with other like minds. Our unique approach to reach women in agriculture is through podcasts, community, chapter meetings, media, and national events! I once heard the phrase, “Build the mission and the people will come”, that’s exactly what happened! Read more>>

Rebecca Olson

Well, the idea came when I was in college graduating with my masters in clinical art therapy and mental health counseling. Naturally, that’s everybody’s dream in college is to open up their own practice and be successful. Through the years, it’s just been this continuously built-up idea. It started with my Etsy account, and making a logo. I really love the beach or any body of water, so it’s a wave and what would typically be a sunset. Sunflowers are my top 2 favorite flowers, so that is the sun with the painters pallet in the background. Prior to moving out of New York I was working at a psych hospital, running therapeutic groups and providing individual therapy. I love running groups! It wasn’t until I moved to NC that I thought about turning this into a little business. I really feel that whether the therapeutic aspect is addressed or not, the art making gives a sense of healing in itself and it’s fun. Aside from running monthly groups, Creative Healing With Rebecca also has events so plan your next event with me and elevate any corporate team building exercise, birthday party, or girls night! Read more>>

Tucan Sam

Streetwear….One of the first in our city of Philadelphia to produce Large volume of Graphic T-shirts w/ reality images & hip hop phrases in 2001.. similar to Meem’s (Today).. In 2002..Glocawear was in wholesaling to over 50 stores..including Ny, Atl, Ca & others….. Now we have a retail shop also the #1 Internet Radio Station in Philly. We been printing tshirt ever since.. Including Silk screening, Embroidery, Digital Designs, Read more>>

Ella D’souza, Greta Quintini

We came up with the idea for our agency Shalla NYC when we found comfort in helping our friends. After being in LA for a couple of years and meeting so many people we had learned the industry secrets from our past jobs and decided to use them to help others! Some of our close friends were starting their careers as Influencers and didn’t know where to start. By helping them answer some emails and read contracts we organically started to be the people to come to when our friends wanted help in the influencer industry. It was a natural progression to us starting to do it more professionally and finding new people outside of our network that we could help. We loved seeing the results and success of campaign’s and projects we worked on. Read more>>

Amber Ivey

The idea for AiDigiTales, and my first book “AI… Meets… AI,” came to me in such an unexpected way. I was thinking about my nieces and nephew and how technology is so involved in their lives from searching the internet with Alexa and watching educational content on YouTube. It made me wonder: “What’s going to shape their world as they grow up?” It didn’t take long to land on AI. It’s everywhere, and it’s only going to become more important. But when I looked around, I realized that none of the books or shows teaching kids about AI had kids like the littles in my life in mind – kids who might not see themselves reflected in tech roles. Read more>>

Norma Rojas

I have starting creating content at the beginning for myself to make fun of my life as an immigrant since it’s so hard to get adapted into the culture. Read more>>

Candice Miles

The idea for my business came from one of the wildest, most emotional seasons of my life. I had just broken up with my boyfriend earlier that year, and it felt like everything was shifting. So, like many women do after a breakup, I had my Angela Bassett Waiting to Exhale moment and decided to get my hair chopped off into a Halle Berry 90’s cut—letting go of the old me in more ways than one. A few months before, I bought a business journal, and something inside me said to write down the date I would quit my job: March 31, 2023. I didn’t know why, but I wrote it anyway. Then, later that year, I was streaming Transformation Church and Mike Todd said, “Some of y’all aren’t gonna be working that same job by the end of Q1 next year.” I froze. It was like he was reading straight out of my journal! Read more>>

Terry Bortin And America Corrales

The idea for Hamburguesas y Cervezas really came to life at our own kitchen table. For years, we’d share meals with family and friends, made from recipes passed down from America’s mother, dishes that felt like home. Our home was always filled with the aroma of sizzling spices and laughter, and it was in these small, beautiful moments that the idea began to take root. We knew these flavors were too good to keep to ourselves, and after seeing the response to America’s Taco Shop, we realized there was a hunger in the community for authentic Mexican flavors, shared in a way that felt familiar and welcoming. Read more>>

Candy Isabel

The idea for Khamai Strategies came to me during a time of reflection and frustration. I had spent over a decade working in the nonprofit sector, and while I saw firsthand the good these organizations were trying to achieve, I also noticed a major disconnect. The voices of the communities they were trying to serve were often missing from the decision-making process. I kept seeing organizations with great intentions making decisions based on assumptions rather than the real needs of the people they wanted to help. Read more>>

Aaron C. Butler

The idea for BookButler Publishing Company really began with a simple summer project that blossomed into something much larger and more impactful than I ever anticipated. As a father, I wanted to encourage creativity in my daughters, Nalani and Leila, especially during their summer breaks. That particular summer, when they were in the 5th and 6th grades, I gave them a challenge: create something imaginative. What started as a fun, educational project turned into the foundation of our business—they decided to write a story, which later became their first published book. Read more>>

Lucy Rivera

My journey into entrepreneurship was truly a process of discovery. I’ve always known that I wanted to make a meaningful impact in people’s lives, but working in a corporate environment was never my calling. It just didn’t align with the future I envisioned for myself. So, I started by offering tarot readings and a range of spiritual products aimed at helping others on their personal growth journeys. As I deepened my own understanding of holistic health, healing, and natural living, my business began to evolve. Read more>>

Kiara Outley

I’m an up and coming artist. My approach is unique because I don’t make music to match was trending I go off the vibe of whatever I’m feeling. It makes me truly proud and excited whenever I finish a project and here the beautiful art I created! Read more>>

Reiko & Allen Lindskoog

How Reiko and I (Allen) came up with this business idea of opening an Airbnb in a scenic, sleepy farming village in the region of Yamanashi, two hours train ride from Tokyo, Japan is really a story of love. Love of two people whose lives six years prior were in shambles much like the 100-year-old kominka (old-style Japanese home) we would eventually end up buying, reforming and turning into an Airbnb. Reiko and I met six years ago at a time when both of our marriages were ending. It was a difficult time and yet through all the turmoil, the moment we first met the seed was planted. Little did we know it would be the beginning of something very special. Read more>>

Emily Paine

When I left teaching, I took a Curriculum Writing position at a small private preschool. I very quickly took on managing the business side of the school, creating newsletters, Calendars, a Website, Email Marketing, and Curriculum for four age groups. Unfortunately, the school made some poor decisions and bought residential land in hopes of turning the house into a preschool and building a church. They could not do it in the time frame they had hoped and had sold their building. Everyone got laid off, children were left without a school, and it was more than a year before they reopened. Read more>>

Rose “cissy” Foster

When I got sober on 01/01/21, I was really just going for Dry January. But as time passed, I really decided alcohol was not letting me achieve my best life and decided to just say goodbye to alcohol. I stumbled on non alcohol spirit replacements one day just scrolling Amazon. Ordered a few bottles and began my search for drink recipes. The main thing I realized was that almost every recipe I could find was filled with sugar. I am a diabetic and do not eat sugar. And my options were so limited. The logical move for me was to begin making my own zero sugar options. Read more>>

Mara Palermo

The idea for my business came to me during a time of personal and professional transformation. At the time, I owned a salon and worked as a beauty therapist, and I noticed something interesting: nearly every one of my clients would end up talking about their relationships during their appointments. As I listened to their stories, I realized we were all going through similar struggles—myself included. Read more>>

Emily Clawson

For as long as I can remember, I would put my shower hair on the shower wall. It seemed just to be instinct; I did it for years and years and didn’t think anything of it. One day, while showering, I had a thought come into my head… why isn’t there a place to put our shower hair other than down the drain or on the wall? This thought would not get out of my head! It stewed in my mind for 5-6 months. Each time I would wash my hair, ideas of this hair catcher concept flooded my mind. Finally I decided to fully jump into solving this problem and chasing my idea. In late 2020, I started my journey. Read more>>

Abhishek Wakharkar

Introducing Bookeaz.com, born out of the hustle and bustle of Dallas! In a city where time is gold, standing in line at beauty salons, barbershops, nail salons, and massage parlors isn’t an option. Bookeaz.com was created to save you precious time and eliminate frustration by bringing top-notch service professionals directly to you. Whether you’re a busy professional or someone seeking convenience, we’ve got you covered. Read more>>

Lili Alessa

I began DJing during the first lockdown, just before New Year’s 2021. At the time, I had an established career with a major tech company, and my life revolved around it. When the lockdown hit—a chaotic time for everyone—we were looking for a way to celebrate New Year’s, which is an important holiday for Slavic people. As luck would have it, a friend of a friend had a space for rent, and there was also a small DJ controller available at the house. Without overthinking it, I decided to throw a party for members of our community who weren’t afraid to gather. Read more>>

Susan Appel

The Indy Learning Team (TILT) was born from my personal struggle with literacy, which spans three generations in my family. My grandfather, my daughter, and I are all dyslexic. Though separated by decades, we experienced similar challenges. My grandfather grew up in rural Indiana and dropped out of school at age 10 because he couldn’t read. At the time, his dyslexia was not understood, and he was labeled “stupid.” He remained functionally illiterate his entire life, carrying that shame despite building a successful business with my grandmother. He handled the manual labor, while she managed the contracts, but his success never eased the burden of illiteracy. Read more>>

Molly Sider

When I was approaching the age of forty, I panicked that I wasn’t where I thought I’d be at that age. I searched for information and representation from people older than me living outside the “box” or making big changes (finding love, changing careers, etc.) later in life. At that time, there wasn’t much out there, but I knew I couldn’t be the only person feeling the way I was. So, I decided to start my podcast. It’s called I Am This Age; Proof you’re never too old, it’s never too late, so just go do that thing you’re always talking about. In it, I interview people who have made significant life changes after forty. We talk about their change story but primarily address the complex thoughts, feelings, and emotions when considering change, going through change, and how to navigate through those. The podcast has inspired me to learn about ageism and I even had the chance to interview some big anti-ageism thought leaders. Read more>>

Patrick Kibbie

I created Voodoo Theatre Company three years ago after a successful career as a corporate writer. For 15 years I wrote about everything from what was new and trending in the Salt Lake City community, to vitamins and health products. It was after 15 years that my father was diagnosed and passed away from pancreatic cancer. This event shook me to my core, and left me questioning the choices I’d made throughout my life. When I was in college I studied two subjects theatre and journalism. When it came time to decide between the two, I made the difficult decision to follow a career in journalism, thinking that a life with a regular paycheck and insurance would be much easier than struggling in a life of theatre. But I kept theatre in my life, using my weekends and evenings to direct and act in productions across the Utah Valley. Read more>>

Jill Anderson

Becoming a professional makeup artist was not always my dream career. I always wanted to be in the medical field until I started college, and realized it was not for me. After that, I knew I didn’t want a boring 9-5 job. I wanted something that allowed me to be creative and work at my own pace. I was introduced to the beauty world by my best friend, who is a cosmetologist. I worked as a makeup assistant in school while getting my aesthetics license. Though I have always had a passion for makeup, it didn’t always occur to me to make a career out of it. Once I entered the beauty field I knew I was where I needed to be. After I became licensed for aesthetics, I started doing freelance makeup on the weekends and during any free time I had. I truly have such a rewarding job, and I couldn’t be more thankful for the opportunities I’ve been given. This industry is so supportive and empowering, I have met so many people and made so many new friendships, I know I made the right choice. If you’ve ever had a dream, chase it, you won’t regret the outcome! Read more>>

Tala Qaraeen

My professional background is in marketing and branding, with 15 years of experience working for multinational ad agencies and managing international brands. I’ve developed a strong understanding of how to create and grow brands. I’ve lived in four countries and have always enjoyed traveling the world. In the last 5 years, I discovered my passion for specialty coffee, and I began café hopping to explore different beans. I became deeply interested in the journey a coffee bean takes to produce a perfectly balanced cup. I pursued this passion by studying and earning a certification from the Specialty Coffee Association in Dubai. After five years of coffee tours in places like Kenya, Dubai, Toronto, China, Indonesia, Mexico, and Europe, I gathered the best practices I encountered along the way and combined them to create Wet Coffee. Read more>>

Julia Gitis

In summer 2022, I walked past the print news rack in my San Francisco neighborhood and saw it collecting dust. I thought “Oh, this is sad. Someone should really modernize this and create a digital version.” The next day, I walked by and the news rack was gone! What happened? I started to research and talk to the people who were most impacted by the removal of print news racks across the city. Juan Gonzales, founder of bilingual paper El Tecolote and journalism department chair at City College, called the sudden removal of news racks “a tragic loss for the general public.” I felt even more sure that a digital version that better served the community was the right way to go. I created a cardboard prototype, partnered with a Youth Commissioner from the Bayview, and together we started Neighborhood Feedback Days. Read more>>

Ndagire Joanita Joshirah

After coming back from Oman, my health kept on deteriorating, I decided to raise my voice to tell the world about modern day slavery. One of the avenues I saw fit to use was arts, writing down scripts for skits, movies and songs to help tell the whole world about modern slavery and human trafficking. It became so easy for me the spread awareness because people could easily understand while they watched the plays, skits, documentaries and films. Art is one avenue that makes an explanation of a 24 page slide presentation in 5 minutes, even less. There is a saying at home that if you want to hide anything from an African, put it in writing, It’s then better to make the hidden mysteries visible to our people through visual art. Read more>>

Winn Schwartau

The Shower Visions That Began it All: 1988 and 2021 Repeat It was a dark and stormy night. Actually, it was a dreary and chilly day as I headed to take a hot early morning shower sometime after noon. At that time I was consulting with Hughes on a global multi-level security project for the UK’s Ministry of Defence, and I was focused on evaluating threats to meet customer needs and how to employ appropriate countermeasures. Back in the late 80s, the security FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt) of the day focused on spies, computer viruses and worms, and a wee bit of multi-level operating systems. Read more>>

 

Spencer Fried

Sam and I, both architects by training, started Remsen because we saw that the essential things our loved ones needed as they aged routinely failed them — not because they didn’t work, but because they didn’t bring any joy, pride or beauty. Instead of celebrating age, these objects tended to be sterile and cheap — medical devices, not designed objects. Remsen intends to shift perspectives on aging through the design of these everyday goods. We believe that as you age, you should want the things you need. Getting older shouldn’t mean changing who we are. Read more>>

Michelle Houston

The idea for To Be Honest came from a deeply personal journey. I decided to step away from alcohol when I realized how much it was impacting my mental health and fueling my anxiety. At first, it was just a break to reset, but as I started to feel more like myself—calmer, clearer, and more present—I knew this change was something I wanted to make permanent. The hardest part wasn’t giving up alcohol—it was the way it changed social moments that used to feel so effortless. I’d go to happy hours, dinner parties, or nights out with friends, and I’d feel like I was missing out. The non-alcoholic options available felt uninspired—either sugary, watered-down mocktails or bland, fizzy seltzers. I wanted something with real depth, flavor, and sophistication, something I could enjoy in a crafted cocktail that felt intentional and elevated. Read more>>

SAMN X

Growing up you’re not really taught to go after what you really want. Music is apart of all of us, we just didn’t know we could make it until we tried. At the root of it all, we just want to express ourselves, create worlds through sound, convey feelings that most people can’t put into words and spit that hot shit. We believe in ourselves because we believe in each other, if we can’t find inspiration we look to each other. We don’t try to be unique, we just do us and that’s the best part about doing what you love. Read more>>

Mave Rucker

The story behind KUMAA Branding is derived from a simple but profound realization: people and their businesses can be trapped in outdated branding and communication practices that no longer relate with today’s fast-paced, dynamic world. As someone who has spent over 20 years as a creative, working in the American corporate sector managing operations, projects, and business processes across multiple industries—technology, hospitality, entertainment, SaaS, banking, and real estate, etc.—I saw firsthand how traditional approaches stifled growth, creativity, and engagement. When you look in the mirror as a company or a personal “brand,” you want the reflecting image to provide your best and most truthful appearance. Read more>>

David Cruz

FRUITLOOTS was created when my good friend (and now Co-Founder) attempted to send gifts for Pride Month and found it incredibly difficult to find a singular place to shop LGBTQ+-owned businesses and give them as gifts. We found ourselves buying from multiple sites, then repacking, and then shipping. We needed this to be easier, more elevated, and more modern. Read more>>