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.
Julianne Vallera
In 2019 I published an article arguing that casting white, cis, able-bodied people as minorities and those from marginalized groups needs to be treated as an unemployment problem instead of solely a social justice issue. After the article was discovered I got to work at San Diego Film Week and other local film festivals. Read More>>
J’Nelle Holland
I have cold feet. When my feet are cold in bed, I can’t relax and go to sleep. I used to use a hot water bottle until one day I discovered a pillow from England that was filled with cherry stones. When warmed in the microwave, it delivered moist, penetrating heat, which truly amazed me, and warmed my icy cold feet. Read More>>
Sabree Cotton
I didn’t start either business with a perfect plan. I started with a need. The spa came first. I was already the person people trusted for wellness advice and self-care guidance. Once I realized that trust could turn into a business, I got practical fast. I researched licensing, insurance, pricing, and services. Read More>
Tanya Kaiser
Renaissance Box began as an idea that first emerged during my MFA, when I was teaching art at a university defined by science and engineering. My classrooms were filled with students who approached creativity through experimentation and analysis, and witnessing how naturally they combined technical thinking with artistic inquiry made a strong impression on me. Read More>>
Kylee McGrane-Zarnoch
A Moment of Magic didn’t start as a nonprofit idea. It started as a question I couldn’t shake: Why does joy feel optional in places where it’s needed most? For three years, I watched my grandparents navigate long-term hospital care. I saw how clinical environments, even with the best intentions, can unintentionally ware at a person’s spirit. Read More>>
Tommy Earsing
Buffalo’s Best NKY A Brand. A Staple. A Great Family Business. The Best Wings South of Buffalo. Growing up in Buffalo, NY, our family was surrounded by the restaurant world. Dad was working long hours in the kitchen, Mom was serving tables, and destiny sort of took it from there. My grandfather, Tom, owned a place once known as The Jolly Roger—a true Buffalo landmark. Read More>>
Marc Isaacs
On the morning of July 23, 2004, I walked into the 24-hour Houston news channel where I worked, unaware that everything was about to change. The TVs around the newsroom showed a message about our station’s immediate closing. The night before, until nearly 2 AM, I had shot and reported on story that hadn’t even aired yet. That is how sudden the station’s shutdown was. Read More>>
Netta Fei
Out of a seven-year inner wilderness sparked by a crumbling marriage, my idea–my mission–was born: to help women remember who they are and be their True Self. It began in that wilderness, in solitude. Read More>>
Curtis Turney Rentas
Honestly, everything I’ve built started long before I ever filed paperwork or drafted a mission statement. My story starts where hope and hustle live side by side in Far Rockaway, Queens. A community that taught me resilience before I even knew what the word meant. And then came Delaware State University, the place that molded that resilience into leadership, into creativity, and into purpose. Read More>>
Olga Ivanidi
The Fashion 4 Ukraine NYFW show started because something important was missing at NYFW in 2024. There was no real platform where Ukrainian designers and models could show what they’re capable of – and I wanted to change that. I also wanted this project to have a purpose, to support a Ukrainian charity I could truly stand behind. Read More>>
Eme Aqua
The origin of Eme’s Baked Goods wasn’t a formal business plan. It began in my kitchen as a mom trying to solve a real problem for my family. My children struggled with food allergies, and I became determined to recreate the treats they loved in a clean, gluten free, safe way. Read More>>
Jessie Burner
How I started Studio 757. It all started back in high school. I was the drummer in a heavy metal band called Bloodroot, and like every young musician, we were at the mercy of recording studios. Read More>>
Derrick Collins
For me, the idea didn’t start as a business plan—it started as a responsibility. I was mentoring young people long before I ever thought about forming an organization. Every day I was watching kids struggle with behavior, trauma, school, identity, and direction, and I kept feeling this pull to do more than just help one kid at a time. Read More>>
TheeHeiress Leslie
Most people’s dreams become nightmares when they fail to execute them. It’s one thing to have a dream or dreams and another to make the dream plan or vision plain and bring it to reality. As a serial entrepreneur I have had the pleasure of seeing my ideas come to life. Read More>>
Von T
TDO Von-T started his journey as a multi-talented artist (rapper, DJ, actor) and activist, gaining viral fame around 2019 with his unique styles and helmet, leading to ‘Operation Musical Freedom’ to fight injustice against service members, while building his brand. Read More>>
Brittany Steffensen
Guys! When I say I’m a horse girl through and through, I mean it. Horses have always been in my life and, more deeply, in my soul. So my story starts. I’ve always been a learner. I LOVE learning. I say that if I could go to school as a full-time job, I would! That’s not a career, however, so I did the next best thing. I combined my love for learning and teaching with my passion for horses, and started my company, Open Air Equine. Read More>>
Francesca Vuillemin
When I started my business I wrote down 4 pillars representing my UVP (unique Value proposition) which in my case were the following; 1. Astrological Services2. Sustainability/philanthropy Read More>>
Denise McKinney
Rooted Curiosities started with a feeling and a small little idea. I remember the evening the idea came to me vividly. I was sitting on my couch, nursing my son, binging Grey’s Anatomy, and I had started to scan the room eas admiring my spider plant with all of her spider plant babies hanging down. I felt a mix of emotions and said to my husband, Read More>>
Tamiko Drummond
“It started with a business on the brink of closing—and ended with a waiting list.” A coworker’s transcription business was fading fast. I offered to help her rethink her messaging, refresh her presence, and speak directly to the clients she actually wanted. The turnaround was fast—and undeniable. Before Lotus even had a name, I had a line of people saying, “Whatever you did for her—can you do that for me?” Read More>>