Going from idea to execution isn’t easy. Part of the difficulty is that often there is no playbook to follow and while we can’t offer a playbook either, we wanted to create a space where aspiring entrepreneurs could read the stories of how some very smart, very thoughtful entrepreneurs form the community got started.

Michael Marlowe

There is a temptation when starting any kind of business or creative project, to focus on perfecting the product, idea, song, book, etc. Often fresh business owners or developing creatives view their project or business like their “baby” and are obsessed with perfecting every detail of it. Writers can do the same, toiling for ages trying to work out every intricacy of a story before writing it down. This couldn’t be a more wrong approach to beginning anything. Read more>>

Danielle Pickens

After the birth of my first (of 3) children, I knew that something about the way I worked was no longer going to work for me. I left my home before my newborn got up and came home to only complete bath, books, and bedtime. That wasn’t the kind of parent I wanted to be. Read more>>

Indya Scott

I decided to move forward with launching my business during Covid. I was working full time and I was currently enrolled in college. While being a mother and working full time I didn’t know how I would do it all, but something told me to just go for it. Read more>>

Tyler Grimes

Launch day for me, as I recall, was February 25th, 2021. I was working as a ski instructor up at Crested Butte, having left Denver the year prior after switching, moving to the city, then being thrown amuck by Covid-19. It was tumultuous. Read more>>

Brooke Simmons

I always have been blessed with that creative ‘bug’ throughout adolescence and adulthood. Planning and coordinator anything from a simple birthday party, a yearly family ‘SURVIVOR’ themed extravaganza with challenges & prices, to elegant weddings and bridal showers. Read more>>

Stephanie Walfield

The idea of owning a mobile boutique was something that I’ve had in my brain for the last ten years but I never thought I would actually do it. I had random Pinterest boards with examples and ideas over the years but couldn’t really find much content online at the time. Read more>>

Amy Chandler

Taking my elderberry wellness line from idea to execution was far more detailed then I imagined it to be. I mean, how hard can it be to sell some syrups and teas right? Read more>>

Antwan Jones Jones

Ideas are just ideas until you take the steps to make it a reality. Sometimes along the journey there are pit stops, but it’s up to us to continue the race towards our reality and goals! As a hobby I have always loved cooking, trying new ingredients and entertaining family and friends. Read more>>

Yolanda Covington

I started my early career working at the Board of Education with autistic children and our teaching style was a hands on approach. I became very intrigued with wanting to perfect my own craft of handmade products. As one career started to phase out, the next began to flourish. Read more>>

Jess Bystricky

I have always aspired to be an entrepreneur. Shortly after I graduated from esthetician school, I started working on my business. The beginning steps of launching a business are never exciting. With the help of my dad, I set up my business with the state, as well as opened business accounts. Read more>>

Rafi Hannouche

Rafi Hannouche’s journey to launching Tequila Gran Diamante began with his friends’ struggling tequila brand. After seeing their struggle for two years, he was inspired to step in and take over the leadership of the brand. As a Tequila aficionado himself, he brought a business and marketing mentality to the company, which boosted the label and restructured the company, seeking out experts. Read more>>

Georgia Fowkes

I knew I always wanted to start my own company; I just never knew what that looked like or honestly what it would even fully be. I realized after so many years of chasing so many different ideas and passions yet being told I could only choose one, that, actually, I could do all of them under one umbrella if I create that umbrella myself. Read more>>

Jonathan McClain

While the story of the Bluffwoods Renaissance Festival may be a bit unusual in the terms of starting a business, perhaps there may be tidbits of useful information for others. Read more>>

Shivani Sodawala

I remember it was on the 2020 Thanksgiving trip, that I had the idea for My Tutor-To-Go. I loved teaching and even wanted to be a teacher growing up, just like my mom and my grandmother. I ended up becoming an Engineer, but since 2016, after moving to the United States, I was a tutor on a private website. Read more>>

Kim Engler Denae Marshall

We have had many discussions of starting our own podcast but we put it off for awhile. True crime was a topic we had always talked about and had an interest in. We knew there would be a lot we needed to do to prepare, but the biggest obstacle was deciding what we would do to set us apart from many other talented true crime podcasts. Read more>>

Devena Pelzer

After booking a luxury picnic while on vacation, my husband Michael and I wanted to give it a try. I am passionate about home decor, fashion, and decorating and the luxury picnic business just seemed like the right fit for me to pursue my passion. We prayed, researched, brainstormed, started buying inventory, and over the course of a few months Top Notch Picnics NC was birthed. Read more>> 

Anya Kim

I’ve actually just opened my little private studio, it all honestly happened so quickly and took forever at the same time! After looking at the place, my husband and I decided to take it on and start working on it probably within days! We had to do some construction work in there and all the paperwork part for my business license. Read more>>

Jatona Patton

I always wanted a Intimate Space to cater to people looking for the perfect space to host their intimate gatherings! I begin looking for the perfect space, not to big, but a perfect size. I found my perfect space which was a 1,000 sq ft building suite that consist of 3 individuals suites (originally a hearing aid office). Read more>>

Scharrell Jackson

Moving from Corporate America to entrepreneurship as an International Keynote Speaker and Leadership Coach is a combination of choosing to walk in my purpose and use my business acumen and experience to guide other high-performing leaders. Read more>>

Mizani Peaks

With the support of the closest people to me I was able to bring my business to life. Around my 20th birthday, I shared my ideas for my clothing line within my circle. Shortly after I gained a few followers to @starplayerclo on IG & received support from my circle It left me with no room for procrastination and showed me that my support was there. Read more>>

Naudia Ingram

I started my first business around the age of 16-17 years old. I worked at McDonalds as my first job and I saw early on that the workforce was simply not going to work for me. I invested into a new business with my checks and eventually started to focus on that more than giving my time to a job that didn’t really care much for me especially with me being so young and in high school. Read more>>

Robert Adams

Myself and Patrick Bentley started this out of necessity in the beginning. We wrestled on the independent level in the south. Eventually we went to NWA Wildside and was only there maybe a few months before it was sold and it evolved into NWA Anarchy. Read more>>

Lori Ann Friedman

My love of jewelry began at an early age. My mother was a collector of vintage and antique jewelry and often she would take me with her on appointments. Her influence and passion inspired me to create my first capsule collection using intricately detailed antique ivory pieces that I repurposed. Read more>>

Winfred Burns

How did I start? I started my money and financial coaching business on accident. I worked at a large bank that encouraged us to help in our community, an organization reached out to me looking for someone to coach their clientele on financial literacy. Read more>>

Brandon James Thompson

When I started in the professional world, I was selling copiers right out of college. This position introduced me to the world of corporate culture in America. I’m the type of person who seeks to better myself and grow in my professional and personal life. I wanted to be not only the very best copier salesman but also a leader in the company. Read more>>

Veronica Tharmalingam

I always accessorized with something Indian when I went out, Be it a jewelry piece/ shoes /jacket etc. And people would always ask me where I got it from. So one day my husband said may be you should start a brand. That was how the idea was born. I wanted to create a brand that was made in India which would shine the spot light on the amazing workmanship of Indian artisans. Read more>>