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.

Jack Taylor

After years in the wedding photography and videography industry, I had the privilege of working with incredibly talented creatives and made it a priority to stay connected. Over time, I saw a gap in the market—couples with modest budgets often struggled to find high-quality wedding photography and videography. I wanted to change that because everyone deserves to have their wedding day beautifully captured. Read more>>

Kirsten Calhoun

I would say it all began in my childhood. My dad was a business owner, and he was someone I really looked up to. I knew I wanted to follow in his footsteps. One of my first jobs was in a women’s boutique, and I loved it! It was then that I first knew I wanted to one day have my own shop. I wasn’t ready at the time, but it was always something I had in the back of my mind. Read more>>

Jerry Gibson Jr

It was all gods work in 2018 I was working a job when I was approached by a co worker. He knew I had a musical background so he came to my office and played some of her music for me and I was impressed but i wasn’t back in the music game at that time. About a week later I met with his niece and the meeting was great so I went home and I simply asked god if it’s meant for me to get back in the industry make it possible for me to sign this particular artist . Long story short we came to an agreement I filed the paperwork and that was the beginning of my latest journey. Read more>>

Megan Comer

What if the dream you’ve carried since childhood never came to life? For me, that “what if” became the very thing I had to overcome to build something bigger than I ever imagined. As a young girl, I always dreamed of owning a business. I loved the idea of creating something from nothing, and fashion was always one of my many passions. I was the kid who wasn’t good at “the one thing you love”. Rather, I was good at many things, which made me feel illegitimate as everyone knew exactly what field they were going into as they grew up. I had many skills but no purpose behind doing them so it caused me to be lost without vision for the future. Read more>>

Kyndal Mcduffiie

My passion for photography began in middle school, and over the years, I discovered that sports photography was where I truly felt at home. During my undergraduate studies, I had the opportunity to work as a video manager for the North Carolina Central University football team. It was there that I recognized a gap in the team’s social media presence, both on and off the field. This sparked the idea to combine my love for photography with the need for more dynamic visual content. Read more>>

Andrea Covarrubias

Travel has been my passion since I can remember, and each year time passed, I knew that I wanted to work in that industry someway, somehow. Since my teenage years, I dreamed of traveling the world and going to all of the amazing places I would see on TV and read in magazines. I did travel to Florida during the summers (and knew how privileged I was) but I wanted more. My goal? Once I graduate and get a job, I will save enough money to travel. In my first few jobs, even though I didn’t have a splendid salary, I would take care of my finances very well so I could save a bit each month. I started traveling soon enough. I started local within the United States and later came my first few international trips. Read more>>

Ruben Resendiz Jr.

My idea was to start a band in Grand Rapids and to take it as far as I can in the music world. Music has always been my biggest passion and the most creative outlet for me. It’s helped me to express my feelings by sharing the experiences that have shaped me into who I am. So, I had written a few songs that I wanted to get recorded. I knew that I needed to get connected with the right people who were going to help me achieve that goal. I needed a band and a studio to record at. Read more>>

Chase Gamble

My wife and I love salsa. We’d go to restaurants and could determine a lot about the place based on how the salsa was. If it was fresh and homemade, the food was going to be out of this world. Occasionally, with get togethers I would make a small batch just to snack on, but those days were few and far between. My wife had her go-to store bought salsa that she always preferred. While she thought it was good, I didn’t. One day, being the confident and sarcastic person I am, I told her that it belonged in the trash and if she “wanted good salsa, to just say so.” Her words, “do you even know how to make salsa?” I’m not one to shy away from a challenge, and in an effort to still impress her on my culinary skills, (which are very minimal) Gringo’s Chingon was made. The other salsa was no longer bought, and in its place, ingredients filled the shelves. Read more>>

Spencer Hanson

The story of Suntide began during my time in college at Stanford University, but the foundation of our brand was set far before then. My twin brother Wyatt, and my sister Lyda, and I grew up surrounded by the innovation of Silicon Valley in Northern California. We always had an entrepreneurial spirit, and from a young age we were dedicated to making any creative idea we had a reality. Being in the college scene, we saw the rise of ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages firsthand, and everybody we knew enjoyed mimosas. While there were a variety of options available—seltzers, canned beers, etc.—there wasn’t anything quite like a mimosa in a can. The idea for Suntide came to us when we realized there was a gap in the market for a nationally recognized RTD mimosa, a beverage suited for all sorts of events from tailgates to backyard BBQs. This was our opportunity to create something unique together. Read more>>

Anita Salsita

I began my burlesque journey at Denver’s Clocktower by attending a burlesque school. What started as a bucket-list experience quickly turned into a true passion. After completing the program, I decided to start applying for local casting calls. My mindset was simple: If I got hired, maybe I could do this as a side hustle. Little did I know, burlesque would soon become a major part of my life. Read more>>

Beau Weaver And Stephanie Cardarelli

It was nearing the end of 2022 and we had just experienced a heart wrenching loss, the loss of what was supposed to be our second child and our sweet baby boy, Luca James. We only had four months to go before we welcomed him into our arms and into our world. But devastatingly, we never made it that far. A loss like this does something to the insides. It stirs up a fire of sorts that pushes you to go out on a limb and do something that feels wild and risky and yes, through the eyes of some, hella crazy. It pushes you to be bold and do something you might never have done otherwise because the fragility of life has hit you head on like a bag of bricks. You realize quickly that comfort zones are actually quite dangerous, and that there’s actually nothing comfortable about them. They provide us with the false notion that we have “plenty of time” to make things happen, to chase that dream or to start that business. They also keep us trapped in a state of fear and lack, like perhaps, we won’t be provided for or even worse, we might fail. And guess what? They’re wrong. Read more>>

Gabriela Veloz

It all started with one realization: my positive attitude had been the driving force behind every success in my life. From selling hot dogs at 14 to pay for my flight to the U.S., to navigating living in a new country, having career roadblocks and turning setbacks into opportunities, my mindset made all the difference. I knew I had a story to tell—one that could inspire others to change their attitude to embrace change, take initiative, and have fun along the way. Read more>>

Diana & Natalia Mejia

The story of Tiny Mighty Events began at the height of the pandemic, during a visit to my aunt and uncle in northern Florida. Like many seeking a change of scenery, I found myself scrolling through Instagram, where inspiration struck in an unexpected form: a beautifully remodeled Shasta trailer turned mobile bar run by two entrepreneurial women. The concept resonated deeply, blending hospitality and event planning with vintage charm. I knew I had stumbled upon something special. Read more>>

Darryl Johnson

I moved to Tampa in 2017 and I began working at a training facility, but I always knew I wanted to create my own. The opportunity came in a DM from the USF men’s basketball strength and conditioning coach offering space to rent out if I ever wanted to train clients. At the time, I didn’t act on it. Life was still moving forward, but I wasn’t yet ready to make that leap. Then, on September 18th, 2018, I was let go from my job. It was a gut punch, but also a wake-up call. A close friend sat me down, and we had a heart-to-heart about ambition, risk, and the opportunity that was staring me in the face. I remember he told me, ”You’ve got the qualities to go out and get it,” and It was exactly the push I needed. Read more>>

Tiffany Ahuna

My co-workers & I would joke about starting a business for years. We would brainstorm ideas all day long! At the time we were working in sales & servicing business owners.

A couple years later, I realized that I would never be able to live the life I wanted as an employee. That’s when I became determined to be a business owner. I had no clue what kind of business to start or where to begin, so I started with a list of what I knew I wanted in my first business. For example, starting off solo. I wanted to take a break from management. I was burnt out from motivating & holding others accountable for getting their work done. I only wanted to be responsible for my activity. I wanted to help people & make a difference. I wanted my overhead to be low, the freedom to work from anywhere & I wanted an opportunity to generate unlimited income. Read more>>

Evan Gonzales

I had been working in retail and marketing but always had a passion for creative expression. I wanted to apply my skills in a way that allowed me to be closer to the music scene. In September 2023, I went to Las Vegas to see Travis Scott perform at the iHeartRadio Awards. It was my first time seeing my favorite artist from the very front row, and I captured photos and videos on my iPhone. Even though they weren’t my best work, they remain some of my favorite shots because of the memory. That moment changed everything—I realized this was what I wanted to do. Read more>>

Selena & Matthew Lawrence

It all started with the dream that our children could grow up on a farm. In 2021 we were living in a densely populated community . We had 2 kids at the time and planned to have another. The farming lifestyle with fresh air, room to grow, and privacy was a but a dream Matt and myself urned for. In January 2022 we started to brainstorm, how this could possibly happen. We wanted to farm, but what? How could we afford enough land to farm full time and make a living. Land is extremely expensive here on Vancouver Island, Canada. The idea was formed to do a greenhouse and grow year round. Through online research, youtube mostly, we discovered the sustainability of hydroponic farming. Read more>>

Cassandra Johnson

Starting both my Esthetics business and continuing our Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breeding program has been a journey of faith, passion, and perseverance. Each began with a deep love—one for skincare and helping people feel beautiful, and the other for raising high-quality, well-loved Cavaliers. But turning those passions into thriving businesses took intentional steps, research, and a lot of hard work. Read more>>

Shawn Dougherty

The inception of The Malibu Retreat is a story deeply rooted in family, creativity, and transformation. The journey began when our family moved from New Jersey to the serene Malibu Canyon in 1998. The property, originally serving as the office for Michele Clark Promotions, played a pivotal role in launching numerous artists into stardom. Over time, inspired by the natural beauty and peaceful atmosphere of our home, we saw an opportunity to share this unique environment with others. Read more>>

Jennifer Miller

After developing a sensitivity to alcohol, I wondered how I could keep my social life active without constantly having to justify not drinking. I realized there weren’t enough social events that didn’t revolve around alcohol. Then, almost like a sudden download, the idea hit me—a modern-day tea party. I couldn’t sleep that night, my mind was racing with possibilities, imagining an event that I would want to go to. Read more>>

Julian Lightner

A year before I opened, I did tons of research. I spent some time making sure that I had everything in place. Double checked that my customer service skills weren’t slipping and did a lot to strengthen my resolve in wanting to achieve such a goal like this. It’s a rough path to walk if you don’t have the right team/support system (i.e. family and friends) in place to help you back up when every time you feel knocked down. Read more>>

Elizabeth Irizarry

The Mezcal Social Club started as a spark of inspiration during a casual conversation over—you guessed it—mezcal. I’ve always been drawn to the cultural and artisanal heritage behind mezcal, but I noticed a gap in Miami when it came to bringing people together to truly experience and learn about it. I started asking myself: “What if we could create a space where mezcal enthusiasts and curious newcomers could connect, share, and appreciate this incredible spirit?” That’s where the idea was born. Read more>>

Good Roast

My wife and I locked eyes at a coffee shop in Orlando, it was love at first sip. Eventually we wedded and we decided to live abroad in Asia, where we reconnected with a family in Vietnam who, as fate would have it, were in the coffee business. We travel through Asia and, specifically, Vietnam to try all types of coffee you can think of. What we found was that Vietnamese coffee is very underrated and also the taste is so much better in Vietnam than in the US. The question then became ‘how can we bring this delicious Vietnamese coffee to the US?’. We put on our culinary-hat and went to work. We developed and tasted many selections to ensure the main ingredient, coffee, not only provide the smooth, bold, nutty, and slightly sweet taste but also it should meet the demand for the US consumer. Read more>>

Marcella Ellis

It all began as a natural evolution driven by supply and demand. Stylists and salons approached us, eager for training in advanced hair techniques to boost their income. In response, my team of four stylists and I embarked on a city-to-city tour, sharing our expertise.

Balancing the tour with our work at the salon was intense. Weekdays were spent doing hair, while weekends were packed with travel and training sessions. As media coverage highlighted our work, it became clear that I needed to scale the operation beyond myself and a small team to meet the growing demand. Read more>>

Sierra Johnson

ELA was just a thought I had one day, and I did not have any idea about how I was going to execute it. It was the year 2020, I just had major surgery, and the world was shut down due to COVID 19. I had some health issues, and I was trying to figure out a way to heal myself naturally. Initially, I wanted to be a yoga instructor and have a yoga studio, and I would partner with other professionals for different services such as massage and chiropractic. By the summertime, I was taking free workshop classes for entrepreneurship. I was talking to a close friend about what I wanted to do, she was already in school for Massage Therapy, and she said she thought I would be good fit and suggested that I schedule a tour at the school. Read more>>

Yimeng Zhang

Most of my work involves creating tangible products, from booklets and cosmetic packaging to large-scale pop-up installations. I’m constantly striving to 100% realize my crazy ideas. While having a great idea is essential, it’s only the starting point of my larger vision. Many of my ideas come in flashes of inspiration—sometimes within a day or two—but the real challenge lies in prototyping, refining, and modifying them repeatedly. The final product must be visually compelling, practical, and, most importantly, cost-effective. Read more>>

Morgan Grabarz

At a very young age I was blessed with the knowledge that I was going to become a fashion designer. I have a photo of myself at about 7 years old at summer camp proudly holding up a sign that I was going to become a “clotes desiner” because I didn’t know how to spell “clothes designer”. Since then I have spent every day in the pursuit of this goal. I learned how to sew, ultimately getting a bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology. After that I got my MBA from NYU Stern with a specialization in Fashion and Luxury. Both of my degrees played an immense role in preparing me for the creative as well as the business side of the fashion industry. Read more>>

Larisa Crockett

Having friends, relatives, and neighbors with children, I often notice how they seem to grow bored after school or on weekends, spending hours immersed in the virtual world of video games. They often show little interest in other activities—like going for a walk or playing outside—and many lack meaningful, real-world connections, communicating mostly through gadgets. This made me reflect on my own childhood. Read more>>