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.

Alice Chen

Being the obsessive dog mom that I am, I bought dog bandanas and leashes from so many places, but it was hard to find a brand that fits my vibe or the size of my dogs. So I decided to start my own dog accessories company. The first few months was probably the hardest because it involved so much research, from business formation paperwork to product research. Once the administrative tasks were out of the way, was when things started to be more exciting with marketing and branding. Read more>>

Leah Kinsella

Wow! I first thought of The Pregnancy Oracle Deck while I was pregnant with my first child. It was during the global pandemic and we were all home. I was meditating a ton and I enjoy using oracle decks. So, when I searched for one specific to pregnancy and didn’t find one. I decided to try and create my own. The initial idea was fast. I actually wrote the guide book and came up with the images in an hour. Read more>>

Yaminah Cummings

Before I left the corporate world, I was living in Los Angeles where I worked for a company called SHEIN in Event Marketing. The pandemic hit and I made a transition to move back home to Arkansas to be closer to my fiance and my family but I had kept the job for a while and I was just working remote. But it was on the drive home that encouraged me to start my business. Read more>>

Brittany Elliott

I started making furniture about 9 years ago when I was looking around my house, which looked like a Rock N Roll museum, but all of the wooden furniture was rather ordinary and drab. As I sat on my black velvet couch, I looked up at my giant Black Sabbath poster on the ceiling, then back down at my giant boring wood table- and an idea sparked. Read more>>

Dean Mccurry

I called my Kids Catholic School Bingo(Mary Immaculate) and after that night, the committee asked me to do their Auction. I increased the School’s goal by 300% and my career was set as I loved raising $$ for charitable organizations. I passed the Texas State Auctioneer Test and received my license. Read more>>

Shanice Jenkins

Coaching is something that God honestly brought to me. I remember this idea came to me when I was about 15 years old. All of my friends were talking about what college they were going to when they grew up but all I could recall is the vision God showed me. I would be speaking to other women and helping them launch businesses and grow in faith. Read more>>

Kristina Sterling

of education it really stemmed from the fact that I was going to these conferences and I was presenting and sharing knowledge that I thought was baseline and it was just not. I was like I want to be in a position to share this knowledge which will help our students but also get paid for it. Read more>>

Taylor Marie

I love numbers and processes! At a very young age while working with my dad , is when I learned the importance of processes! It’s almost like having your daily routine locked in! You know the outcome based on certain steps you take throughout the day, and by the end of the day I find myself asking “What did you do today that’s INCOME PRODUCING?” Read more>>

Jordan Drew

As with many creative businesses, this started out as a passion. I would always shoot photos and videos of my friends skateboarding and take along my camera when we went backpacking. It was a very innocent and natural start for me, and the seed was planted by complete stranger’s comments regarding my work. It gave me the confidence and little jump start I needed to make more content. That’s when the idea of a career with a camera in my hands began. Read more>>

Emma Doss

With my current brand “Lady And the Pepper ™”, it really just started with the simple idea to create a product during the pandemic. Along with everyone else, I was witnessing a renaissance-like explosion of new Black-owned products being brought to market almost every day and consumers were purchasing them like crazy. Read more>>

Kevin Ford

I was taught how to bake homemade sweets in my early 20’s by my mother and my grandmother. As my grandmother was a pastor, she often had meetings and members fellowship at our home and we would cook and bake all sorts of great things to eat. Read more>>

Annaleisa Veasey

I was a couple years into a portrait business I started while in college. I was deeply curious about the wedding industry and honestly expected myself to not enjoy it or potentially be overwhelmed because it is a very high pressure type of photography. Read more>>

Tabitha Alexander-Ball

While working in the retail industry after graduating women would approach me inquiring about my outfits seeking fashion advice and tips on how to coordinate colors, patterns and most importantly what complimented that particular women’s shape and size that will make her feel comfortable, confident and Glow. Read more>>

Rob Eppolito

I got my start in video in 2008 in the real estate field because virtual tours needed to be more than just a slide show. I’ produced over 100 tours, but I was looking for something more, I wanted to tap into my creativity. And so in 2012 I decided to branch out into other types of videos, mainly helping local Houston businesses convey their message. Read more>>

Alexis Butler-Williams

Starting a business today would seem like the normal thing to do, but starting a successful business is the hardest thing to do. It all starts with having an idea and putting it into action by believing it can be all that you’ve hoped for. I had a strong desire to step away from my stable career as an Insurance Agent and tap into a world of uncertainty and pressures to execute and deliver by starting my business as a Virtual Assistant. Read more>>

Alvina Lam

When moving to Miami, I was switching jobs and had the opportunity to take a month off the corporate grind. One day by the pool, I decided to make my idea become a reality. I came up with the idea of starting a clothing company dedicated to a personalized wrap fit when I lived in NY managing inventory for Gap Corporate but never put pen to paper. Read more>>

Lisa Chapman

My business started as an idea to have an office and offer angel card readings and Reiki. I did the relevant training for both. However, during this time, I lived in Florida and discovered you had to have a Massage license to offer Reiki, so it all got put on the back burner. We decided to move from Florida and chose Colorado, then another curveball came my way when I was involved in a fairly bad car accident. Read more>>

Sydne Tillman

The road to entrepreneurship isn’t always paved with gold, and sometimes, the “yellow brick road” has poop on it. Whenever I start a business, or help a client, I keep my methodology the same. When I initially have an idea, I “start with my Googles.” I search to see if the business name is available with the state, and all of the social media platforms. I like to verify that the idea and brand is not being used already. Read more>>

Daphine Jack

How did you actually start – what was the process of going from idea to execution – walk us through some of the main steps that allowed you to launch your business? Read more>>

Surond Maeweathers

It all started as a vision. I began to pray concerning what I heard in the spirit. I journaled what I visualized. Doing my research, particularly in the Dallas area. I was living in South Florida at the time. I had no idea God was preparing me for a future in North Dallas, TX. I had just graduated with a degree in Business Administration Management and just got settled in South Florida. In December of 2016, I visited Dallas, TX for the Christmas holiday, and had an amazing time with family and friends. Read more>>