Starting a business or creative project is scary for many reasons, but one that is often overlooked is the anxiety related to whether this is really “the one.” To some, this isn’t a valid consideration while to others this is the only consideration. Some argue that what you work on, along with who you work with are the two most pivotal decisions you’ll make and so we’ve asked folks to tell us about how they came up with their ideas and how they knew this idea was the one.

Victoria Hawkins

When someone is inspired to create a business, it is often because they have found an incredible passion for a specific field or industry— however, that passion rarely comes with instructions, direction, or clarity. Between Friends Consulting was born from the experiences of two entrepreneurs of a start-up coffee shop, Between Friends Coffee. Read more>>

Hannah Mcdermott

The concept for my swimwear designs came about during a 6-month travel period right after I quit my job. I had an idea for a sustainable swimwear line but didn’t want to create something simply for the sake of creating it. I knew that I needed to get specific and think about how my products could serve a greater purpose. I wanted to seek some fresh inspiration and get back in touch with my creative side after being in a sales role for a few years. Read more>>

Mayorca Young

After interning with the Houston Texans in their marketing department and returning to school to get my master’s degree, I was eager to start my digital marketing agency to help businesses of all sizes grow their online presence and increase revenue. With so many emerging entrepreneurs, I knew that Facebook Advertising would be in high demand because it’s the fastest way to get more exposure for your brand and can help you get in front of competitors who aren’t investing in paid media. Read more>>

Gina Pacheco

About 4 years ago my husband and I were talking about collaborating on a small passion project/business venture. I really have always wanted to learn photography because I love taking pictures! So, we decided we’d start with photography and really delve into purchasing and learning our camera by attending monthly trainings. When we were coming up with a name I really loved the idea of have a two part business name and my husband asked “like this and that?” and I kid you not, I got chills! Read more>>

Becky Migas

I started my career in the entertainment and concert industry at the age of 20 while interning at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH, so that I could own a car in college. I worked at the front desk and answered phones during events. I eventually worked my way into becoming an intern and taking on more and more responsibility within the marketing department. While working at the arena and going to college, I also took on a second internship and part-time job at a concert venue. Read more>>

Bailey Moore

I came up with the idea of B-Moore-U Publishing when I wrote my first children’s book. I was 9 years old and I wanted to publish my book but could not find anyone to assist me, so I decided to start my own publishing company to help young authors like myself. Read more>>

Devin Faulkner

During my freshman year of college, I sat in my dorm room thinking of ways that I could use my platform to commemorate Black History Month. While reflecting on what that month stood for, I was instantly reminded of prominent leaders, accomplishments, and the amazing stories that Black people have to tell. I started researching historic facts about my history and culture. While doing this research, I came to the realization that ‘Black History’ will never stop being made! Therefore, we will ALWAYS hear and learn about Black history. The moment I had come to that realization, the name “Black History University” came to me. Read more>>

HollyAnne Knight

String & Story was actually a rebrand of a small Etsy shop I started as a newlywed. As we looked ahead at what the company could become, there was a lot I didn’t know yet. However, it was clear that I would be doing fiber arts, & I was passionate about creating a sense of community in my customers where we could share our stories and truly get to know each other. Hence, String & Story. The company has evolved a lot since that first rebrand, but I’m really pleased that the name has aged well. Read more>>

Jeff St John and Alexis Campanis

To us, the name, Industry of Hues speaks to our collective passion for design, community and collaboration. We are a thriving industry of colorful, diverse, creative humans. With Alexis and myself as design leads, our studio’s foundational principle is based on developing tight-knit teams of passionate professionals with varied expertise. We pride ourselves on curating this signature group of talent for specific project goals, scale of work, timelines, and budgets. Read more>>

Victoria Liu

BYPPO. It is a combination of 2 words – baby hippo. I was watching a football game when the original idea of my business came about. I thought about how many people were sitting at the stadium, hungry for food like hungry hippos, and upset at the long concession lines. Read more>>

Edgar Matias

BEK stands for the first chief royal sculptor during the reign of Pharaoh Akhenaten. It was always admirable the way those sculptors came up with such perfect pieces that last forever. Robots nowadays can replicate pieces 1000 times with the exact level of details, making art accessible to most of the people. Read more>>

Amari Thomas

To be honest, deciding the name for “Don’t Touch My Curls” was a lot more difficult than our customers and supporters may think. When choosing a name for my brand, I knew that when someone heard the name I wanted them to automatically think of natural hair. I also wanted the name to be catchy and have a fun spin to it for multiple uses. Our original brand idea included hair care packages with products from well-known hair care brands, a package specific for curls or a “Curls Package”. Read more>>

Rachel Rhodes

The name of my brand is literally the best representation of me. I was born July 7th which is the 7th month of the year and the 7th day. My last name is Rhodes . So you add that together and boom Seventh Rhodes! My brand name is literally my favorite part of having my own business I always get compliments on it. Read more>>

Hannah Rodriguez

The phrase ‘vim and vigor’ has always had a significant meaning to me. It means strength and energy. I created this business at the start of COVID in 2020. I was trying to make a change in my life and had this new found motivation to start something new. A new venture! And that is how the name Vim + Venture came to be. The strength to build something new and scary and for the adventure to be ever-changing, new and exciting. Read more>>

Isabella Maldonado

Mainly, hello everyone. I want to tell you a little about my leap into the uncertain that helped me re-encounter myself. Since I was 14 years old, I have always wanted to write several books, and with this desire and dream, I started this new publishing adventure, so to speak. When I was 15 years old, I realized that one of my passions was writing; I managed to discover that through her, I could express myself as I am and could free myself. Read more>>

Crystal Wimbrey

I’m the oldest child of three siblings, all raised in an occasional church-going home. Our family didn’t attend Sunday church service every week however our parents firmly believed in the proverb “Train Up a Child in the way they should go”. Although our mother enrolled my sister and I in public schools from Kindergarten to senior high, she chose a different route for my brother who is 13 years younger than me. Read more>>

Kandice Cole

In early 2020, I found myself struggling to balance parenting, business, and my personal life with the uncertainty of the pandemic looming. I re-committed to my self-care and creativity practices as a way to cope and feel better. I noticed how much everyone around me was struggling to manage stress and deal with “zoom fatigue.” I wondered how I could help others to find their own creative self-care practices to ease the overwhelm we were collectively feeling. Read more>>

Michele Packard

I left working in the Telecom industry to stay home and care for my three children. No regrets on that! When my twins were graduating, I realized I had more time on my hands and wanted to pursue something for me. My family has always called me “AESOP”, in that they state I tend to overemphasize any story and don’t let the truth get in the way :). So, that’s how I came up with my first thriller, conspiracy series. I took events from my personal life and intwined them with real-life and historical events to produce a fun, edgy, thriller series. Read more>>

Kimberly Davis

The name Lillie Peas was crafted after the passing of my late mother Lillie Pearl. In October 2021 we lost her Alzheimer’s Disease and Congestive Heart Failure. As I previously had a named Catering business I wanted to relaunch and create another concept where I could always honor her, her memory and her legacy. I wanted to make sure that the world knew her name and would never forget, hence the name “Lillie Peas”. My mother was an amazing cook, and there was just nothing better than being at her kitchen table eating the delicious homemade food she prepared. Lillie Peas sets out to serve each and every dish with love and soul just like my mama would. Read more>>

Sergio & Naomi Rios

River & Oak was actually not our original name! We were originally SNR Designs (Sergio Naomi Rios Designs). SNR was a temporary name until we could decide on what we wanted longterm. Seguin, Texas is the place we call home. It is the place we married and bought our first home. It is where my son lost his first tooth and started school. Read more>>

RONEKA (NIKKI) TURNER

Well, we are a black owned business. And the name “Kulture” means a lot. When I came up with the name “Kultured Essentials”, I thought about the different origins and their meanings. The African Origin means “Arts and customs of a given region, the Dominican origin means ” A Gift from God”, and the American Origin means “Beautiful, Loving, Unique Daughter.” And the Essential part came from providing the necessary items that men and women need. And the other part to Kultured Essentials is “Kultured Krack”. The Krack part came from the Hard Candy Fruit business, Read more>>

Bernadette Torres

Happy Hour Pilates and Wellness came to be through a Happy Hour with friends. In 2019, I attended BASI Learn from the Leaders Conference in Newport Beach, CA. A few of my Pilates friends also attended the conference. One night we decided to go out and grab some food and drinks. It was at a big round table, with friends, at the Yard House in the Fashion Island Mall that we began to brainstorm about my new Pilates business name. Read more>>

Heather Nigro

Throughout my life people would ask me to describe myself, my response was always the same “I’m someone who has moxie.” Moxxii is a spin on the traditional spelling of the word “moxie”. The word fell out of favor in modern society for many years, and I would have to explain it to many people. By definition, it means to have courage, know-how, and determination. It became a nickname of mine in creative circles and just stuck over the years. Moxxii is an energetic force, spirit, and foundation for the way I live my life. Read more>>

Trap Healthy

TrapHealthy comes from being in a situation you want out of. And it’s more than just a brand name, it’s a lifestyle. My job was my first trap. A place I really did not want to be at but I had to do what I needed to get to the next level. The job sometimes comes with negative energy. You can’t match that and go up. This is where TrappinHealthy comes. You have to be the light in the dark. So now the world is my trap and everywhere I’m TrappinHealthy. Read more>>

Tommy Dunn

When I first started my company, as a party promotional/marketing company called Party Profiler. I started by investing in local parties as a promoter. I started hosting events such as comedy shows, Greek parties, celebrity club parties, and other social events. In the very beginning, I connected with a friend and we had a promotional company named Distinguished Gentleman Ent. Read more>>

Hannah Crump

My business name is Sapphire Heart Photography. Maybe 6 years ago imposter syndrome kicked in HARD. I wasn’t sure if taking this photography path was the path for me. At that point, photography had been my hobby for 10 years and I felt at a stand still. I needed to take a little break and clear my head, so I change my instagram handle to something unrelated to photography or my actual name and it then became more a personal account. I came up with @sapphireheartt. Sapphire is my birthstone, I LOVE my birthstone! So I felt it was fitting to use! “Heart” was actually “HeArt” at first. I like little hidden messages and it meant “my heart is in my art.” Read more>>

Tiffany

When I started my business, I knew that I wanted to honor my family in some way. Ivyona is a combination of names from members on both sides of my family. I come from a long line of creatives – on my maternal and paternal sides – and making certainly feels like it’s in my DNA. My family means the world to me and serves as the inspiration for all that I do; having them as part of my business name makes me feel like they are all joining me on this journey, which is really special. Read more>>

Andrew Barnes

Most architecture firms are designated by either a single person’s name, or a combination of letters which typically refer to the name(s) of the firm’s founder(s). We opted instead to use a name that speaks to our mindset about architecture and design. Oxford Languages has two primary definitions of agent: 1.) a person who acts on behalf of another person or group. 2.) a person or thing that takes an active role or produces a specified effect. Each definition is important to our identity in different ways. Read more>>

Rodney Scott

It’s suprising  surprising to many of our clients when they learn the business is actually named with my children in mind. I have an Elijah and a Jaedyn which is why Edje has a unique twist with a J rather than the traditional G spelling. I felt that was the perfect way to tie in a phase phrase that fit the business but also by incorporating family within it. I felt that my children knowing a business is named after them will give them inspiration to follow their dreams. Read more>>

Nadia Ramon

Dezynr begun as an idea. I knew I loved designing so I wanted a name similar but unique. I did a google search of the word “design” in all languages and found dezyn, which is Turkish. Even though I’ve never been to Turkey, I loved the way it looked. Since my initials are NR, I added the letter “R” and that’s how DEZYNR was born. Read more>>

Glynis Albright

I had no plans to become a part of the culinary industry outside of a hobby. My plans were to become a neurosurgeon. I was accepted to UCLA on full scholarship and wanted to be the first doctor in my family. Who would have known that God had a different plan. Throughout my undergraduate years, I was tired a lot. Read more>>

Amie Maciszewski

Sangeet is the Sanskrit word whose original meaning is “the performing arts”–inclusive of music, dance, theater, dramaturgy, stagecraft, costumes, everything. In present parlance, it usually refers to music specifically. But I have chosen to embrace the original. Sangeet Millennium grew out of The India Music Society, a non-profit organization that I co-founded in Albuquerque, NM, in the late 1980s and brought to Austin when I moved there in 1993. Read more>>