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.
Kat Agner
I have been a singer for the majority of my life. It has been something I could always fall back on or could pick up a gig when money was tight. I noticed early on that I was always pretty strong in negotiating contracts/pay for my band and that it may have come a little easier for me than my fellow musician friends. I spent most of my 20s/30s working in business management and real estate but it always left me feeling depleted and without passion. It seemed like I was always expanding someone else’s dream and idea and never following my own. So when I was let go from my “big” development job during the pandemic, I decided it was time to make a change. I took an Executive Director position at a local non profit venue called LKLD Live. I was hooked. We were putting on 3 shows a week, giving a platform for musicians from all walks of life, in every genre. I knew that I was on the right path. Read more>>
Rita Avellar
The idea for Avellar LLC really came from a combination of my own life experiences and a deep desire to blend creativity into business. After years working in various industries—fashion, content creation, and health coaching—I realized that my heart was in storytelling, creativity, and helping others use these tools to thrive, both personally and professionally. Site For Your Biz Agency was born out of a practical need I encountered: many small businesses struggle with creating an online presence that truly reflects their unique value. I wanted to solve this problem by providing affordable, creative website solutions that bring these businesses to life online. Read more>>
Somayeh Faal
In my experience, idea generation depends on two key factors: spending time practicing and studying a subject. Initially, I believed that creating an idea for an artwork required something exceptional and unique. However, I later realized that everyday topics and my experiences can intrigue viewers. By taking the time to explore and study, I turned the stories of my life into paintings. I discovered that ideas that come from brainstorming may seem simple at first, but they can develop and strengthen over time. When I devoted years to working on a specific subject, I would naturally come up with new perspectives and ideas about it. Over time, this process led to the creation of new, strong ideas. Read more>>
Anisha Holla
Foodify is a first-of-its-kind matchmaking platform for small restaurants and local food influencers in their city. As a Dallas food influencer myself, I personally witnessed the impact social media can have on these small restaurants. One of my most rewarding moments was getting a call on the phone from the owner of a local pie shop in tears, because my video about her pie shop went viral and completely sold her pies out. And in 30 years of being open, they had never been sold out before.It’s times like those that made me realize the power of social media to literally change the lives of restaurant owners. Restaurants need visibility, and one of the most effective ways to get it in today’s age is social media. After seeing the impact my page was having on local businesses, I really wanted to build a platform where restaurants–even without knowing anything about social media–could get connected with influencers in their city, who could bring them the attention they deserve. Read more>>
Eddie Hsia
“Mixed By Eddie” started as a vision to combine my passion for bartending with a desire to bring a unique twist to the experience of cocktails. I wanted to craft not just drinks, but moments—adding a bit of entertainment and flair to the art of mixology. My journey began by experimenting with flavors, ingredients, and presentation. As I perfected my cocktails, I realized that what sets them apart is how they look just as much as how they taste. Each drink became a blend of visual creativity and taste, designed to captivate and delight. I knew I wanted my business to reflect this, offering a service that combines top-tier cocktails with a show-stopping experience for my clients. From the first sip to the last drop, “Mixed By Eddie” is all about elevating the cocktail experience and making every event unforgettable. Read more>>
Janicca Covington
As you see I do many things. I believe that when God gives you a gift/talent that we are to be good stewards over them. I believe I have the gift of service. In all of my businesses I service people, my community and I absolutely love it. I’ve been doing hair since I was about 12 years old. I would braid my siblings, cousins and friends hair. And I just liked doing it. In college, I would do it as a side job. Once I got married and moved to PA, I learned I needed a license to even do braids in my home. So I went to school and received a specialized license in Natural Hair and Hair Braiding. I have always loved children and working with children. I received my BA in Psychology and completed a year of Masters of Social work before getting married and not finishing. But my desire was to work with children and families. After the loss of my firstborn child to a stillbirth, I had the desire to become a birth doula. That was in 2012. And it wasn’t until 2020, during Covid was when I began that journey to becoming a birth doula. I received my official certification in April of this year, 2024. Read more>>
Jamie Batiste
I turned a breakup into a business and never looked back. After a painful breakup, my world felt like it was falling apart. Shortly after, my family and I suffered the unexpected loss of my brother. That’s when I truly understood the meaning of heartbreak. It wasn’t just about relationships anymore; it was about the profound losses in life that shape who we are. In those moments of pain and reflection, I knew I needed to create something that would help others turn their own heartbreak into strength. That’s how Rejected Hearts Club came to life. I was aware that I wanted to make something significant, something that served as a reminder to people, particularly women, that they have the ability to transform their pain into strength. Jewelry, in my perspective, served as the ideal means to convey that idea due to its personal and symbolic nature. You keep it near your heart, and it can symbolize both identity and personal creativity. My jewelry is not just for aesthetics; it is a way to honor resilience, love, and inner strength. Read more>>
Sara Anfuso
I always told myself from a young age that I never wanted to work a desk job and sit in a cubicle (if possible, of course). After I graduated from University of San Diego, I suddenly found myself in a desk job. And then another. And another. It got to a point where my mental and physical declined to a point where I decided to take a “two month” leave to focus on myself and just get outside and walk — something that I’ve always loved. It’s what recenters me. The day after I quit my job, I told my now-husband, “Hey, let’s do something crazy today and walk to our favorite tea shop.” He agreed to this 14-mile journey and we embarked on our trek the following day. I posted an Instagram reel about our day out and I guess that long distance walking is a niche that was untapped? The video took off like wildfire and people were so curious about the whys, hows, and wheres. Read more>>
Minu Cash
At age 45 I uncovered a family secret that turned my life upside down. From then on, I knew I had a story to tell. That’s when I started the journey of bringing my life story to paper. In June 2024, I launched my memoir, The Painted Pink Dress. Read more>>
Maria Govoni
I have been teaching in Montessori for the past 15 years, I also attended a Montessori school from ages 2-10, so I guess you could say the Montessori Method is in my bones! I truly believe it has shaped the person I am today. After recieving my Montessori credentials in the 3-6 year age group, I began teaching on the seacost of Massachusetts, and quickly fell in love with early education, and the importance of those early years in childhood. Children are truly sponges at this age, and have such a strong desire for independence, which is why Montessori just makes so much sense. After working at a private school in MA for 4 years, I moved to Austin to help open Austin’s first public Montessori charter school on the East Side. It was here I unfortunately experienced the hardships of teaching, and witnessed lots of teacher turnover. Read more>>
Ashley Blaesing
For years we had been in a mastermind program for marketing agencies. One of the many things they preached was to pick a niche. Having not been through that process, we thought we had made the best decision for us, which was the solar industry. At the time, that industry was booming, and there was a lot of opportunity through our research of companies that needed better branding, websites, etc. We had a good deal of success and helped many clients improve their branding and online marketing, but we weren’t fulfilled and as time went on, had a more and more difficult time with a service market fit. The industry was able to purchase leads and reach out to leads directly so we were met with “why would I need a website” over and over again. Both Debra and I (Ashley) had started out as graphic designers – so have deep values rooted in design. It was hard for us to work with clients who didn’t share those same values. Read more>>
Sharon Farnell
I have been a Graphic Designer for over 17 years, and have worked for small businesses and marketing firms. Here’s how I went from Graphic Designer to Business Owner and successful Recipe Blogger. When I was laid off after years in the Graphic Design business in 2019, I decided I no longer wanted to work as just another number for a business whom found me disposable, and decided to not only embark on becoming a freelance for hire Graphic Designer on my own, but I also decided to finally start to build my own recipe blog. I had toyed with the idea of starting my own recipe blog for years, but had never had the energy or time working my long stressful hours and commuting back and fourth to work. With the help of my best friend and my design and photography experience, as well as my love of cooking, I finally launched my recipe blog (jawnsicooked.com) in the fall of 2019. While it took me years to get the blog off the ground, I started to learn more and more, and make headway, and in 2020, I was accepted to the ad network She Media, and began to monetize the blog. Read more>>
Vijai Chandra
Starting US Health Testing really came from seeing how clunky and slow drug testing services were. Everywhere I looked, it seemed like the process was stuck in the past, and I thought, “We can definitely do better than this.” The plan was to make getting a drug test as easy as shopping online. I wanted to take all the hassle out of it by linking up with top labs like Labcorp and Quest Diagnostics. I felt this pull not just because there was a business opportunity, but because it mattered to people’s lives and communities. Making drug testing straightforward and fast seemed like a no-brainer—it would help companies and individuals not waste time and get on with what they needed to do. When we started getting feedback, it was clear we were onto something. People loved the simplicity and speed. It confirmed that we weren’t just filling a gap but were making a real difference. This felt like we were not only changing the game but also doing something meaningful. That’s what got me pumped and ready to push this as far as it could go. Read more>>
Reggie Holmes
My business is called Enthuse Creative. To enthuse means to fill with joy and happiness. The irony lies in the fact that my journey to entrepreneurship started with two experiences that definitely did not fill me with joy or happiness. These situations would create in me a desire to venture out on my own. The first was a layoff I experienced in 2009. In the midst of the Great Recession, I was let go from my full-time design position at a university. I was devastated, and I had difficulty finding a role similar to what I was doing before. This was my first “adult” job and I got a rude awakening as to how things work when there is a market downturn. For a few years, I struggled to find a creative role that was similar to my previous job. Read more>>
Alejandra Garcia-ponce
The idea for the Latina Social Club DFW came to me last year after a small experiment on the Geneva app led to something bigger than I had anticipated. In 2022, I created The Latina Social Club DFW group on the app, and within a few months, the membership grew to over 100. At first, I was hesitant and got cold feet, unsure if I should take it to Instagram. But by March 2024, I decided to go for it, realizing that there was something special happening. While I had seen and participated in several networking spaces for Latina professionals in Dallas, I noticed they were often focused on career growth and business opportunities. At the same time, there were plenty of social groups for women in Dallas, but none specifically for Latinas. These spaces were invaluable for professional connections, but I felt something was missing—a space where we could just be. A place where we could connect on a personal level, build real friendships, and form a sense of community beyond the pressures of our careers. It was a gap that needed to be filled. Read more>>
Melissa Rosenthal
My journey to building Outlever was truly the culmination of my entire career. From being one of the earliest employees at BuzzFeed to helping launch Cheddar, my goal has always been to create compelling content that brands want to align with and that gives them a distinct voice. Transitioning from media to B2B SaaS, I saw firsthand how challenging it is for companies to reach their core customers at scale, efficiently. Outlever was born out of a desire to solve this problem. Our mission is to help companies become authorities in their space by creating content that matters—both to them and their customers—at scale. Given my experience, I felt uniquely positioned to tackle this challenge. There was no other path for me; this was the natural next step in my career. Read more>>
Enedawry Santana
When I first started making content, I knew I’d need a housing to represent my brands identity. My company is called Dinero Primero Studios, which in English translates to “Money First Studio”. This decision to create a movement someone would want to be a part of instead of putting my own name on everything has helped separate myself from others who also create content. The name has a certain ring to it, but what we really pride ourselves on is being able to provide the most value to our clients to remind them that we take their time and investment in us seriously. Read more>>
Ari Kim
The text contains numerous clues that guide my creative process. By analyzing it carefully, I can determine how to approach the production. So analyzing the text and organizing those with my language is my process for next steps. Once I extract these insights, I typically start with artwork that reflects the mood and emotion of the piece. These visuals help me navigate the needs of the production and facilitate communication with the director and other designers. I’ve found that these images also inspire other collaborators, enhancing their creativity and helping them contribute to the production. Communication is key in my work. Establishing a shared vision is essential, and while words are our primary tool, images often help convey our goals more effectively. They have the power to evoke emotions and shape narratives, making them invaluable in our collaborative process. These whole process is the beginning of what I and we need to encounter with the first step of the production. Read more>>
Yancey Carapico
I had sold my previous/first pizza business less than 2 years before opening up my new spot. I had been searching all over the region for a new location with a friend/partner to do a pizza/bar concept. We never were able to find the right place. My friend had a storefront in downtown Berlin, MD that he wasn’t utilizing to its maximum potential. He had been asking me to get in there and make pizzas, side by side with his people making sushi. I just wanted to get back to making pizzas so badly that I took the offer and it became a shared space. Pizza on one side and sushi on the other. I went to visit a friend for a week in Costa Rica. I took an empty notebook and came up with the entire business plan while sitting in the jungle in his backyard in my downtime. Since it was to be a shared space I thought I needed a business name that wasn’t too far off from my friends sushi business name. His was called the Rusty Anchor. Read more>>
Matt Gerlach
The idea for my business wasn’t born out of a boardroom, but from personal experience—deeply personal experience. I had been outwardly successful, scaling multiple businesses to 7, 8, and 9 figures, but beneath that success, I was battling intense anxiety, burnout, and unresolved trauma from my childhood. It wasn’t something I could simply ‘push through’ anymore. I had reached a point where I knew that no amount of external success could compensate for the internal chaos I was experiencing. This realization wasn’t a sudden epiphany, but more of a slow awakening that I needed to do something different, not just for myself, but for others like me. Read more>>
Nicholas Wright
The journey of starting my business has been anything but conventional. Unlike most entrepreneurs, the concept for my business evolved in stages, with multiple pivots before finally solidifying into what it is today. Reflecting on that journey, I realize how each step, no matter how small or big of a step it was, ultimately brought me closer to my vision. It all started during the pandemic— or as I called it “house arrest.” At the time, I was working as a Pharmacy Technician at Kroger Pharmacy when one of the pharmacists I worked with had just become pregnant with twins. After years of trying, and following a heartbreaking miscarriage. Finding out about the news of her pregnancy was monumental. Immediately I knew I wanted to do something special for her and her twins. Something that they could keep forever. So, I ended up making a three-piece canvas drawing for her twin’s nursery, and a baby Winnie the Pooh and friends painting for their playroom. No one knew I was an artist, it wasn’t something that I just flaunted around. I always kept to myself and did in my free time, but to my surprise, my coworkers and even patients that had seen the paintings I made were blown away, and people began asking me to create custom pieces for them. Read more>>
Joyette Master
Empower Z.E.E. began from my personal journey as a mother raising two children with special needs. When my son was diagnosed with autism, I found myself overwhelmed, constantly searching for resources and answers. It was a lonely and difficult path, and I quickly realized many other parents were likely feeling the same way. Empower Z.E.E. was born out of that struggle. I wanted to create a community where parents like us could find support, share resources, and connect with others facing similar challenges. This wasn’t just about solving problems; it was about offering something more—a sense of belonging. What got me most excited was the vision of empowering parents, providing not only the practical tools they needed but also emotional and mental support. I knew this would work because I experienced firsthand the need for it. Empower Z.E.E. isn’t just another resource hub—it’s a place where families can feel understood, uplifted, and connected. It’s about helping each other thrive, and that’s what drives this endeavor forward. Read more>>
Jenny De Leon
I got the idea for Repeatabl when I was a traveling business consultant. I would get up at 2 or 3 am on Monday morning so I could make my 5 am flight to get to the client site by 1 pm. I would get home (if I was lucky) around midnight or 1 am on Thursday night. I would be home for 3 days and then back on the road again. As you can imagine, this was a pretty hectic lifestyle! My life at that time felt like an assembly line. I was doing the same thing each week and everything had to be timed perfectly to be able to get everything done. Read more>>
Katrina Best
For over a decade, I have thrived in leadership roles within the healthcare industry, a field I’ve dedicated more than 20 years to. Throughout this journey, one constant has remained: my innate ability to guide others in their career paths. Friends and colleagues would often seek me out for advice, asking, “Can you help me with my résumé?” or “Would you mind reviewing this cover letter for me?” Without hesitation, I always took the time to assist them, providing tailored advice and matching their résumés with job opportunities in our community. As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded, the stark realities of an economic downturn hit home. I witnessed firsthand the decline in employment and the profound impact it had on so many lives. It became clear to me that the need for effective job-seeking tools had never been greater. Every day, I reviewed résumés, interviewed candidates, and identified the struggles many faced in presenting their skills and experiences effectively. Read more>>
Keyla & Francis Salazar Rincon
Lolita Colitas was born after the pandemic, starting from the need to help many dog parents take care of their pets but from personalized attention and genuine love for the furry friend. Also based on our own experience with our baby dogs Luca & Rocco (rocco past way in January 😔)… we had to complain about them in a commercial daycare and our experience was not pleasant at all, we only received a single photo update of our babies on our trip which we could not enjoy 100%. That is why, at Lolita Colitas we focus on standing out for our attention and experience towards the pet parents where they receive photos and videos throughout the stay with us. As Keyla says “Lolita Colitas more than providing a service, it is an experience where the pet parents is enjoying a piña colada on a cruise through the Caribbean, knowing that his pet is being cared with a lot of love and fun.” Lolita Colitas is a Cozy Home with Loving sitter, is our logan business. Read more>>
Carina Herren
After working as Registered Nurse for many years, I realized that for so long that I was operating on autopilot mode. Don’t get me wrong, I love what I do, but I became very task-oriented, just waking up, rinse and repeat on most days. I felt like I was slowly losing myself day by day, as the job can be overwhelmingly stressful with not a lot of room for autonomy or creativity. And then 7 years ago, I remembered how I always loved writing, fashion and so many other things. That’s when my blog, TheAgelessMillennial was born. I’m kinda over the name at this point actually but hey I feel like I have grown so much from when I first started. I find that other people have resonated with my posts and I do enjoy connecting with people from all over the world. I always loved being a part of the creative process, I learned that early on when I did some modeling in my younger years. I love that in this day and age, people embrace the idea that anyone, especially women are allowed to be multifaceted and not just strereo typed in a box of what society expects you to be. I started with sharing posts here and there about fashion and beauty, to working with brands I only dreamed of. Read more>>
Kailyn Bondoni
Coming up with new ideas is like catching butterflies with a net. It’s fishing in my brain for ideas and looking at what I’ve caught to see what would pair well together for dinner. It’s cherry-picking past experiences, personal emotional journeys, and a joke I made at brunch one time and merging them together in a story. To me, that’s writing. This is to say, my story ideas come from a myriad of places, but most recently, as I look over my portfolio, I’ve come to realize all of my scripts take place in the Midwest, so I’ll start there. I’m from Michigan, and if there were a list of things to know about me, that might be the thing I’d want placed first. So usually, I start with a character, representing myself to whatever extent, living somewhere in the Midwest, and learning to grow up. Growing up can happen at any age. I find that to be the heart of my writing–life can come at you at any time, no matter how young or old you are. There’s something deeply human about learning and failing and getting back up and trying again. Without giving too much away (another way of saying I haven’t registered it yet, whoops), one of my scripts is about a post-grad who is on the precipice of adulthood–exploring the world and its opportunities. The character refuses to take that leap for fear of failure, fear of change, and fear of leaving all she knows. Examining these fears and moving them into plot creates the kind of work I feel expresses what I’d like to contribute to art as a whole. Read more>>
Elizabeth Savage
I started this organization because I was once a victim of domestic violence. I was abuse by my now ex-husband. I want this organization to give victims hope to be able to break away from the abuser and stand on their own two feet and be heard. Our programs we offer helps them to break their silence and break away. Serving the shelters I seen the lack of help for the youth so I created a program that would help them not to repeat the cycle. We named it Born with A Purpose. This helps them to deal with the emotions and not grow up to be broken adults. We offer workshops to help them deal with what they are going through and talk about it in a safe place. I hope is to decrease the percent of a repeating cycle. Read more>>
Debbie Adams
I’m an Author and I only started being an Author about 3 years ago. I follow God and listen to Him and He had spoken to my heart about sharing my testimony of faith. He told me I needed to write a book and like a rebellious child I kept saying I can’t do that because I have no idea where to even start. God kept telling me for two weeks He wanted me to write a book and share my testimony and finally, I said “OK Lord, you want me to write a book, well you need to show me how since I’ve only read books and never written one.” He sure opened doors after that. I had an acquaintance in California, and she was having a retreat on the basics of writing a book and she had asked me to think about coming to her retreat. She had no idea that God had been speaking to me about writing a book. I signed up for her retreat and when she sent out the invites with the cost of the 3-day retreat, I said “Oh Lord, I can’t afford that.” Read more>>
Fernanda Ross
I am Argentine, born and raised in Misiones, a province of Argentina that borders Brazil and Paraguay. Growing up, I was immersed in a world of doughs and delicacies, thanks to my mother who is a pastry chef. Although I never dedicated myself to cooking, as my career took a completely different path—being a model and fashion designer with my own line of dresses, bikinis, and lingerie—in 2020, I started dating a handsome Californian. A year ago, I moved to sunny southern California to live with him. The one thing that immediately caught my attention here… people didn’t know about chipa, a delicious cheese bread that is very popular in Misiones, Argentina. In my home country, chipa is a part of everyday life; you can find it in stores on nearly every corner, and it’s common to see street vendors offering it. Read more>>
Street Ready Llc
The idea for our business came to us one evening in Newark, NJ, in the spring of 2022, shortly after a train shooting in NYC. We were reflecting on the state of the world and realized that, despite advancements in technology and medicine, danger still exists in our daily lives. We thought, “Imagine if everyone knew some of the skills we do, like practical first aid and self-defense.” That idea sparked the creation of our business. We developed a curriculum to teach these essential skills to inner-city residents in New Jersey through training programs. With this concept in hand, our co-founder Yvan, a medical student at Rutgers, used his connections to pitch “Street Ready” as a summer project, and that’s how we got started. Read more>>
Cassandra Spearman
I started Tea Snob because I have PCOS, a hormonal disorder, and after being on three different medications without success, I wanted a natural alternative. That’s when I discovered the power of loose leaf herbal tea. I began blending teas to help with stress, anxiety, fatigue, brain fog, inflammation, hormone balance, fertility, etc. Each blend represents what I needed on my wellness journey. I knew I was onto something when I got my first menstrual cycle after a 2-year hiatus. There is something about the body and its ability to heal itself. However, we have to nourish it with the right nutrients. Read more>>