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.

Ariana Bennardo

My process is reminiscent of weather….some days a storm, erratically hopping between projects and pieces; sometimes a calm sunny day where I take my time absorbed in the process of one work. Constant experimentation, research and exploration are what I believe form the evolution of my style. I’ve had the luck of working multiple jobs, across a range of creative fields: working in film, painting large scale murals, designing spaces, performing, graphic design and working in pretty much any traditional (and lots of non-traditional) mediums. Everything in life builds on past experience and this mindset has given me opportunities I never before imagined I’d be able to execute. Read more>>

Sherrelle Clausell

I started creating my spice line in 2011 but was unable to fully launch my business until 2023. I had so much to figure out. I perfected my recipes. I needed assistance with branding and creating a logo. The face of Clausell’s was very important to me. I researched, planned and strategized to create a shelf ready brand. I enrolled in the Black & Brown Opportunities for Profit program that assists female entrepreneurs to build, grow and scale profitable businesses. With their support, I was able to get closer to my goal and launch my brand “Delightful & Tasty Multi-use seasoning” and I am working on expanding my empire. Read more>>

Delisha Brown

At the age of twelve I had my first public speaking opportunity. I was extremely nervous but since this was in another country, the pause for the translator actually helped my nerves. However, because of that it also made me feel like this was a lot longer. Ensuring to cover the outline my mentors helped me prepare I quickly concluded and sat down. People came to me afterwards saying they enjoyed what I said and that made me feel a little better but still quite nervous about the entire speaking part. After that I begin to speak a few times a year at youth events and internationally. Read more>>

Isaiah White

In the sixth grade, I began my photography journey at the local visual arts school. I never really considered using my skills to start a business and become a photographer in the beginning. When I was in middle school, I only took photography because I had a passing interest in photography and because my friends were also enrolled in that class. This was my mindset throughout 7th and 8th grade. As I approached my ninth-grade year (during covid), I was about to sit down and think about the following steps in my life and figure out what I wanted to accomplish as I grew older. After weighing the pros and cons of film versus photography, I chose the latter. During this time, I was a member of the track and cross-country teams, which is where I began capturing photographs. Read more>>

Michel Polania Sanchez

Ever since my father Jimmy Polania launched La Flor Michoacana Ice Cream Shop in Charlottesville, VA back in 2015, I was always hungry to get into the business some way some how. I had moved here to Denver shortly after the opening of his shop and little did I know it would take about 5.5 years for me to turn a dream into reality. Throughout the years as my father’s business was growing, he was always adamant about me moving back to Virginia to invest in the concept. I seriously considered moving back twice because I didn’t see a real possibility of creating my own concept out here even though that was what I had always desired. Read more>>

Levi Rodgers

Our story starts with three friends walking in parallel paths within the creative and marketing world: a designer (Cuau Romero), a marketer (Jack Weakly), and a media director (me, Levi Rodgers). Each of us had various experiences creating and strategizing for different companies, and I noticed a common theme with each successful project or campaign: emotional engagement. When emotionally engaging an audience was prioritized, goals were met, and people became inspired and loyal to the brands. It was beautiful and fulfilling for everyone involved. Read more>>

Xenia Chen

I started off my career working in finance, where I wore tights almost every single day for work. However, I found it difficult to find a brand that I really loved – something that was well-designed, comfortable, and also affordable. Every time I brought up this topic with my female coworkers, I would get the same frustrated, visceral reaction from them. I knew that there was something here to be solved. At the age of 25, with $10,000 of my own savings, I decided to start working on this business idea at nights and on weekends. My mission was to improve the age-old wardrobe staple and everything about it – the product, how we buy, etc. Read more>>

T Walker

When I first had the idea for gallery curation I had just moved back to my moms house in Jacksonville, NC from Wilmington, DE. In Wilmington I experienced art in another level. Downtown Wilmington had an untapped arts district that I’d explore and Philly was right up the highway where I’d explore a lot more. I had also been dating a phenomenal creative and saw the potentials of her work and the freedom it could create business wise. All of this traveled back to NC with me. I had friends who had beautiful work just sitting in their rooms because there was no where in Jacksonville to display or even an appreciation for the arts. I decided that I’d bring it to life. My brother and I started an organization S.O.U.L. Society, a non profit for uplifting community, specifically the youth through the arts. Our first experience we created was “The Peace Festival” to combat gun violence and rise of crime in our hometown. Read more>>

Aileen Casillas

I had started Florian at home, thinking it would just stay small scale until my kids graduated high school in a few years then I could think of opening an actual shop. As life would have it, within 6 months of starting the business it graduated to an actual brick & mortar. When I started the business at home, I knew a website and social media presence were important. I immediately came up with the name Florian, secured a couple of domain names and social media identities, obtained the proper federal identification numbers. opened a business checking account, signed up for QuickBooks, and researched wholesalers. In just 6 months time,the demand for my floral arrangements was more than a small garage could handle. This propelled me to look for a physical location. Read more>>

Chun Swae

Starting my business may have been a cake walk compared to how most business owners would say they’ve started their business. Up until I officially launched my business, I knew for a long time that I wanted to own a business. Something fairly easy to run, that everyone isn’t doing and also something that is recession/pandemic proof. After seeing a friend on instagram constantly selling a course for his business, I decided to hop onboard for a few reasons. I wanted to support my friend in his business because it was thriving! From what I saw he was working with everyone in the industry and making money. Read more>>

Itzel Gidwani

Before I started my business, I knew I wanted to create jewelry, but I never really took any action towards my ideas. I always liked jewelry and started getting more piercings when I turned 15 (2015), and around that time I started to accessorize more. As the years passed, I started buying jewelry from various small businesses, mainly on Depop and Instagram, and really enjoyed how these shops created items matching their brand identities and all had different aesthetics and styles they expressed. Even with this love I had for collecting jewelry, I still never took the first step towards actually creating anything myself, until the COVID-19 pandemic first hit. Between 2020 and 2021 I never went out so I picked up a few hobbies, one of which was creating jewelry. Read more>>

Andrew Velázquez

I am born and raised from Los Angeles, California and naturally was immersed with the entertainment industry and arts. I have been a cosmetologist and educator in the fashion and beauty industry for over 23 years now. Six years ago I was a contestant on a beauty reality completion show called “American Beauty Star”. I was tested on so many levels, not only with the shows episode challenge’s but within my own psyche and craft. We were quarantined and had no access to our devices or communication with our loved ones. I did yoga, meditated, and began to journal and draw for peace of mind. At the end of the three week production I did make it to the finals and although I did not get the winning title, I walked away with knowledge, growth and a memoir. Read more>>

Lila Jimenez

I never thought I would open my own business. When I graduated from UGA in 2019, I began the job search for an entry level designer role in a studio or agency. I knew from school that I really loved branding- creating a whole kit of graphics that businesses could use to tell their story. But I loved Athens and didn’t want to move or drive to Atlanta, and it seemed like opportunities in Athens just didn’t exist. I worked a few local design jobs and started doing branding work for friends and family. From there I started to get some freelance work. That freelance work led to a full time job at as a brand designer at one of the only design studios in Athens! Read more>>

Misty Lehmann

I Started working in the hair salon as a receptionist. I did that for 6 years. As time passed I realized how much I loved the industry and the joy I witnessed everyday. It was my calling.I went to night school while working the salon during the day. Even as a little girl, I would be at my Orchestra concert. I used to play the violin and my dad would comment on what a social butterfly I was. He was Military and thought that is what I needed to do. It’s funny looking back now thinking I am exactly where I was called to be. I love people and love serving whether it’s my clients, my team, or students when I’m facilitating for L’OREAL. I bought a small salon a year before Covid happened and was excited to begin my journey. Read more>>

Ani Akpan

When I started my production services company, it was more of an evolution of the foundation I had laid earlier in my creative journey during my teenage years in NYC. Like anyone else, I wittingly named my service ‘Ani Akpan Multimedia’ as I began rendering (usually for free) creative services to friends and family around town. Here’s what changed — I didn’t end up going to a top film school. I had a great look at NYU, but ultimately ended up going to a liberal arts college in Pennsylvania. In terms of video production skills, I was a big fish in a small pond. Read more>>

Anthony Smith-Chaigneau

I often reflect on the myriad of ideas and projects that float around in my creative and chaotic mind, akin to that of an artist. I am after all an artist. Upon doing some research, I came across the concept of hypomania, which resonates with the cycle of starting projects with enthusiasm and moving on when the initial excitement fades. There is a notion of bi-polar disorder attached to this concept; however, this is not me – I just love new projects and the excitement they bring. Read more>>

Andrew Arrospide

Myself and my co-founders Dan Sobsey and Dan Londono, all shared our formative years in Hoboken, NJ. After completing high school at St. Peter’s Prep in Jersey City, located nearby, we each took divergent paths to pursue separate careers in the corporate world. However, our common aspiration to enact a meaningful impact on the world reunited us in Hoboken, where we conceived what would eventually transform into Alfalfa. Read more>>

Nikoji Smith

I have always practiced self affirmations through journaling and vision boards. I was first introduced to vision boards and affirmations by my mom during high school. I would go through my Seventeen magazines and cut out letters, to reflect what I wanted to get in each class and numbers to reflect the GPA I was aiming for. I would glue all of these things a large poster board and tape it to my closet door. Every morning that was the first thing I would look at. The first time, I did this I was amazed that by the end of the semester I achieved all of the goals I set on my vision board. Read more>>

Haley Carbajal

There are 2 things that separate those who keep an idea – an idea – and those who actually start the execution process. 1) Belief in Self and your Mission. When you believe in yourself, when you place the bets on you – your ability to adapt, to learn, to overcome, to find the gift in every challenge – that is when you find success. That is when you start to begin enjoying the journey. You must have faith in your ability to overcome and be great. Read more>>

Jessica Walker

The start of my business came about when I was laid off in 2013. I was a mail handler assistant at the United States Postal Service. That night I laid in bed trying to figure out my next move. Braiding has always been a skill I possessed but only used the talent to produce extra income in addition to my postal salary. Losing one source of income meant I had to turn the side gig into something bigger. I didn’t start braiding yet… instead I purchased large amounts of hair extensions and sold them for a reasonable price. I created digital ads, designed business cards, conducted photo shoots, and constantly posted photos and videos of the hair. Read more>>

Shannon Jorgensen

Photography as an art form was something I was drawn to early on in high school. I took a class and learned all about the mechanics of the camera as well as dark room processing. I loved it all! However, I never knew what a career path would look like in photography as I was entering college and trying to figure out my major, so I decided to go the business route. This would prove to be a good choice as it gave me a great foundation. But, fast forward 10 years, I found myself in a corporate finance job feeling unfulfilled and terrified about what the next 30 years would look like sticking it out there. Read more>>

Nikki Arnise

Starting Nique Kouture definitely started out as just an idea. I used to want to be a fashion designer but at the time that seemed like something that wasn’t in the cards for me. I like to style outfits and dress nice; people would always ask me where I got my clothes from, so I started looking at it like “why am I sending these big businesses money when I can tap into that business myself.” I did the research myself, I didn’t have someone holding my hand and walking me through the process. Nique Kouture was really built from the ground up, I obtained my EIN and sales permit, registered Nique Kouture as an LLC, and looked for the vendors myself. Read more>>

Rowdy

Rowdy Kids is a Chicago streetwear brand created in 2017 with its first ever photo shoot taking place in Milwaukee. The brand started by being self funded by the creator known as Rowdy. “ Our first photo shoot we had a camera man, 1 model, 4 shirts and a simple white back drop”. Read more>>

Te’Jal Cartwright

Growing up, I was always interested in having my own talk show. Now that I look back I think the 90’s was a heavy influence. Seeing Oprah, Maury, Rikki Lake, and Montell have conversations with people about things that mattered always opened my mind to new things as a child. This was before talk shows became maternity tests. When I was 25 I finally had the courage to start my own talk show called What’s the Biz with TJ. I was inspired by a short series that I created with my full-time job but WTB with TJ was about highlighting Black owned businesses in our community. I had been working to be intentional about where I spent my money and I absolutely loved this Black owned thrift store in my neighborhood. Read more>>

Tanira Smalls

The idea process for me was a bit more challenging than you may think starting off. The research part had to be carefully executed because it was not just about what ingredient(s) I used, I also had to do research on the grade of the ingredients and how they work together because that is a HUGE contributing factor to how good your products will work. This especially applies to my skincare products. Once researching the essential oils, their properties and grades I began to actually make samples and testers of each product and test them out for a period of 1-3 months. Read more>>

Tatiana Kovalskaia

The new project is always a new chapter in my life, an adventure, a deep dive into myself. In other words, I can customize any idea from any source, such as beautiful sunset, blooming flowers, or nature color combinations to add creativity to any concept. I should also consider how realistic my idea is and whether it is implemented correctly in the project. Thus, you will need to be aware of the designers’ capabilities. Inspiration can be anywhere. Read more>>

JD Nielsen

Honestly it all started with being very keyed in to the industry that we were in, and knowing its positives and negatives within such — then just making sure that our business that we were starting had a lot of what most other shops out there DIDNT have (so we were filling in most of the negative that existed in our industry right off the bat). This became clear when we started to hear something that we never thought we would hear (which is still something we hear to THIS DAY, over a decade later after starting), and that is when someone called us and we answered, they say “Whoa, you guys actually answered your phone. The last 10 people Ive called didnt”.  Read more>>

Anthony Delgado

The idea of my production company Obscure Cinema came to thought in 2018, my senior year of high school. As I navigated through school assignments and projects, a spark ignited within me to push beyond the realm of short films and dive deeper into the world of visual storytelling. The initial concept was just a flicker, the light coming on as some would say. With time and effort, it turned into a fully-fledged plan. Read more>>

Rachael Petter-LaManna

So our story started back in the summer of 2016 when my husband and I both matched on Tinder. We soon realized that we both shared the same love for the ocean and the desire to keep it around. Living in San Diego, we are lucky enough to be around the ocean all the time but also, unfortunately, see the sad side affects of humans not taking enough care of it. EVERY SINGLE DAY we find trash near or in our ocean, so we wanted to provide products that could help solve this issue. Read more>>

Hannah Anders

I have been a singer, songwriter, and recording artist since I was 15 years old. Music has always been my life’s passion and who I am to my core. I went on to study voice at the collegiate level, and after graduating with a my degree, went on to open my first vocal studio in Nashville where I could combine my skills as a singer and as an instructor. From there, I went on to open a second location in Los Angeles, where I had the privilege of working with many of the major studios, reality shows, and performing artists in the area. Read more>>

Cameron Sather

The first drumline I recorded was Coppell High School in 2018. A little prior to that I met back up with my own high school instructor Doug Bush, who became a percussion director at Coppell along with his wife Patricia Islas. Doug invited me out to make a video of their drumline show that year and every year since then I’ve been back. I’ve also gotten to visit Highland Park, Forney, McKinney North, and a few others. Since doing music in school I’ve loved being involved, and it’s awesome getting to relive drumline days through the performances. Luckily the growth has been mostly organic through word of mouth in the percussion world. Read more>>

O’Shea Woodhouse

I always had ideas as a child. My dreams were always prevalent in my life but my priority was making it out of the bad neighborhoods I grew up in and going to college to start a career that could free my mom from the struggle. Once I graduated high school I decided to dive into all my creative passions with the “all in mentality.” This meant I would study what made me happy such as Media, and I would use the time to craft my music, visual art, and fashion aspirations. This was the birth of my just jump in and share the vision, progress, and the process with the audience. No fear, even if it could be better, I would put my work out into the world. I learned that showing the process is more relatable than hiding behind a perfectionist perspective. This has shaped my idea to execution strategy. Read more>>

Adriano Ávila

I come from Belo Horizonte, the capital city of a state with many mountains and waterfalls. I graduated in Advertising in 1997 and owned a graphic design agency for 10 years. In 2007 I had the idea to combine my skills with my passion for football. Brazil is a country that breathes this sport. In 2011 I got an investor partner for the portal. It took me two years to prepare and grow my collection of research and illustrations that I had been developing since 1990, in addition to the database and stopmotion animations that I had produced about the main goals scored in World Cups. These animations are actually the origin of the name “Futbox” (“box football” in Portuguese). In my childhood, instead of playing button football, I would design uniforms and shields, cut them out and glue them on matchboxes to simulate players and goalkeepers. I still play with that to this day. Read more>>

Hannah Bangs

I like to believe that all ideas exist before we do, and that we are simply vessels for their creation. As a person, I have always been drawn to plants and people. I’ve had the ‘entrepreneurial spirit’ from a young age, running everything from lemonade stands, to leaf sweeping, to selling knitted scarves. Throughout my undergrad in Environmental Studies at UC Santa Cruz, I worked a variety of jobs including, but not limited to: Backpacking guide, Camp Counselor, Essential Oils Packager, Cookie baker, Nanny, and eventually barista. Read more>>

Chanté Ce” McDonald and Ciara “CeCe” Coleman

Meet Me At The Bar is very personal because it’s our truth, the brand is our story on how we created such a strong bond. We are living proof that new friendships can be formed over just one cocktail. We created Meet Me At The Bar as an activity with an effort to maintain bonds and create new ones. Start-up was easy. Reason being is because the vast majority of all social gatherings in the first half of 2020 was canceled or postponed. Due to the impact of COVID everything was at a standstill. We noticed we were “meeting at the bar” virtually more frequently because we couldn’t see each other physically. Read more>>

Nicole Ehrbar

I had been working in PR for the past 20+ years and for the latter part had the privilege of working with two global jewelry houses, both of which had beautiful home collections and sparked the interest to eventually transition into home. At the same time, I was looking for an opportunity where I could exert more of my entrepreneurial spirit. I had explored a number of directions and decided to go in the direction of retail because I wanted to partake in bringing some of the magic back to NYC post-pandemic and also work with local and global artisans. Read more>>

Sherwin Loyal

Going from idea to execution is a pretty straight forward process, but it does have its speed bumps. Its all about executing with a calculated plan. I’d say about 95% of entrepreneurs get caught somewhere in the middle of an idea and execution because they didnt plan for the unexpected— and ultimately end up quitting before they even begin. I believe there is a lack of true desire there. The key is, you must continue NO MATTER WHAT…and if youre truely hungry for success, you will ALWAYS continue. Even when you hit a dead end, you pivot—but never quit. I always say the opposite of success isnt failure— its quitting. Read more>>

Kristen Thomasino

My idea started because of how my body responded after unexpected events. Pain and suffering are something that I’ve been familiar with at various points in my life for extended periods. I had chronic migraines as a teen. It depended on several factors I could identify by utilizing my data scientist skills later in life and being observant. I had to figure it out because after I fell down 15 feet of stairs, I didn’t have a choice, my mobility declined for a period, and when you experience full body weakness with severe brain fog for an extended period with excruciating pain, you have to live differently to survive. I couldn’t sleep longer than 45 minutes at a point because my body would wake me to sensations of electrical shock throughout my body. Walking in the mornings to do my basics to carry on in life was challenging because of the nerve pain and stiffness I was experiencing. Read more>>

Cammy Lee

I will never forget the feeling I had while I sitting at my computer 5 years ago. With my 11-week-old son on my chest, I sat and Google searched things like, “make money from home that is not an MLM” and “how to make real money from home without selling”. I came across plenty of search results with lists of ideas that included playing internet games, taking surveys and being paid to post fake reviews on websites. I wasn’t inclined to do any of those things, but I strongly considered taking surveys out of sheer desperation. The thing is, I had been in the network marketing industry for 6 years at the time and I was absolutely miserable doing it. Read more>>