One of the challenges we’ve seen to true equality of opportunity is that schools and books often can’t (or choose not) offer access to one of the most equalizing resources – first hand stories of how successful entrepreneurs made their ideas a reality. If you grew up in a family or community that had many successful entrepreneurs you may have been lucky to hear many conversations and stories about starting and executing on an idea, but there are millions of people across the country who haven’t had the same advantage and so our hope here is to create a space where those stories can be told in a more public forum for the benefit of any and every aspiring entrepreneur.

Alexa Michele

I have been singing my entire life, but it wasn’t until 2015 when I was attending the University of Georgia that I could write my first real song. This was a new way to express myself in music! I quickly became passionate about creating my own melodies and lyrics. Read more>>

Chanel Dillard

On thanksgiving day I took a shot at my auntie house and right then and there I knew I wanted to do lashes. My mother was heavily trying to get me to do hair and stuff because thats what she did in high school. But anyways that same day I told my mother and she kinda blew it off but I guess she kept it in my because it was something I really wanted to do. Read more>>

Jeremiah Lemons

Choose Joy Food Group started with two friends realizing they have passions that align with one another. November of 2016, myself and Cameron Everson, my friend and business partner put together a brunch for our friends right after Thanksgiving that year. It was a huge hit amongst everyone who came to share their time with us. Like any other event, we planned our menu, the decor, and flow of the “event.” Read more>>

Jeff Cerise

When I started this journey, I was selling a hand-made functional beverage called Switchel (that no-one has ever heard of) at Craft Fairs and Makers Markets. Sales and demand quickly outpaced expectations and the other products we were selling and I knew from past experience that the first thing I needed to do was focus on this new product, and find a suitable co-packer. I immersed myself in books on the subject and scheduled meetings with people who’ve done this before. Read more>>

Cherissa Kell

I had the idea for Neotein in 2019, we were living in Japan at the time, my boys, who are Irish twins, were under two, and I was training 30+ hrs a week in triathlon and traveling, often solo, with my kids. I really needed a better protein drink than what was on the market. After extensive research to find what I needed, I decided to make it! Read more>>

Corbin O’Reilly

Once my business partner Taylor and I had the idea to start Tap Truck, we took immediate action. I am the type of guy who just doesn’t hesitate once I have a good idea. Yes of course I had to do some research on how we could develop our beverage systems in the back of a vintage vehicle. But we wasted no time in experimenting and developing our first Tap Truck! Read more>>

Trusha Chandan

The unique and serendipitous manner in which I met my co-founders and embarked on our start-up journey unfolds against the backdrop of the debut of COVID-19. While participating in a study abroad program at INSEAD Business School in Singapore, a place renowned for its robust entrepreneurial spirit, I was compelled to return to India several weeks early due to the burgeoning pandemic. Read more>>

Alexander F.L. Newberry

My background is private tuition. When I started I had no training or experience, so I was led by what I felt the student needed. Around 2012 I had a student with severe pressure sensitivity. She was later diagnosed as ASD, but at the time no one realised and I was desperately looking for ways to keep her happy and engaged during class. Read more>>

Blair Henderson

This all started with a realization. The idea for CannaWize Co was sparked to fulfill a personal need of mine. It was really a journey that took me from seeking relief, to becoming an advocate, and then a business owner. . Read more>>

Yanet Pájaro

the story of my life is marked by several stages, which have allowed me to become who I am today. Read more>>

Dorothy ‘The Reality Coach’ Patterson

– I became frustrated with trying to convey my vision and not being understood – Started tinkering with Canva (Free version) Read more>>

Sevin Cakal

During my university years, I had the privilege of gaining my first entrepreneurial experience alongside a close friend. This experience not only broadened my horizons but also sparked the idea that perhaps my true calling lay in entrepreneurship, rather than pursuing my primary profession of engineering. Over the years, a persistent notion continued to gnaw at me – the desire to establish my own business and engage with customers directly, in person. Read more>>

Zion Sosa

Every idea starts with a spark somewhere and a love or passion for something. In my case, it was a new found love for Latin jazz, salsa, etc. I studied jazz performance at Northern Kentucky University. One of the classes I took was a Latin jazz combo. This was my first introduction to this music and I immediately fell in love. Not so far after this began I looked for music around town to go see. Read more>>

Brett Harris

It all started by being a creator myself. At nineteen years old, I wrote a book with my twin brother that we were able to get published; it went on to sell well over half a million copies. So I had a lot of young writers asking me how I did this. For a long time, I was coaching them for free. Read more>>

Ines Johnson

My Nonprofit Organization BeYOUtiful Minds was an idea that I had for about 6 years to Assist Minority Women owned businesses First changing the Narrative on how African American Women treat one another in life and Business Read more>>

Dylan Hornof

Growing up in the suburbs of Illinois, I wasn’t around many entrepreneurs. No one in my town really took risks, many people I knew played it small. Read more>>

Heather Lewandowski

You may have seen my story a few years ago. Home baker, slaving away making cookies and all the things a baker would bake to make sure you’re happy. But what happened? It just wasn’t sustainable, especially with my prior injuries. Read more>>

Lauren Dreher

The idea: I wanted to be a professional speaker to share my story. Like so many, my first thought was, “am I crazy?” I was strategic about who I first voiced this to. It needed to be someone who was also creative but could also tell me the roadblocks. Read more>>

Danielle Weaver

I always had an entrepreneurial mindset, but never seemed to have the idea that I could really get behind and invest in for myself. As a kid, I was playing ‘business owner’ by making and selling bracelets with my friends, selling supplies at the school concession stand, dreaming up celebrity PR and marketing businesses. I flexed creative muscles by getting into sewing and crafting and designing clothes. Read more>>

Brooklyn Jones

The idea of a business, like any other, begins in your thoughts. My photography business began as an idle dream which I turned into a reality. I understood exactly what I wanted to achieve before it became a reality. When I saw the dream, it was just an affirmation that what I wanted was going to for sure happen. Read more>>

Jessica Kearney

After earning my BS in Elementary Education (Go App!) I soon entered the classroom as a 1st grade teacher and fell in love with learning all over again. Years of teaching led to growing my own family and then shifting my work title to “stay at home mom”. As my children entered preschool I really began seeing the benefits of Sensory Play. Read more>>

Roderick Jackson

My photography career and my studio are far apart in age. I started photography a little after starting college in 2006. I just recently opened Cleveland Sky Studios in 2020. My photography started because a friend asked me to take event photos at his DJ’n event since I was tagging along, using his camera with almost no experience, I haven’t stopped shooting since then, that was in 2009. Read more>>

Whitney Johnson

I actually started baking on a whim. I was going through postpartum after having my very first child. I would sit on the couch and binge watch TV and eat Mainly Sweets. My mind wasn’t what I wanted it to be and I just couldnt get out of it ,watching TV was one of the only distractions I had. Read more>>

Jeanette Dozier

I became a Makeup Artist by accident. I was always a tomboy and wasn’t into girly things; I just needed a good pair of jeans and some tennis shoes. I wasn’t aware of how I looked to others and I don’t think I cared, with the exception of the hyper pigmentation on my cheeks, chin and neck. Read more>>

Alyssa Morton

Well, I’ve always had an interest in baking and I made things here and there for friends and family members. They were always telling me that I should sell my products. I was constantly watching videos online and on social media of other bakers and trying to keep up with all of the trends. Read more>>