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.

Candice White

I’ve always been a very vocal person, I stand up for what I believe in, and I speak up for others as well. Let’s just say my mouth could get me into trouble and out of trouble at the same time. Read more>>

Kimberly Terasa

In 2022, I had a realization that photography and videography were more than just hobbies for me. They were my passion, my way of expressing creativity, and my means to connect with people and capture their special moments. Read more>>

Danielle Velez

The Half Cookie was a dream turned reality that I began building the foundation for back in 2017 without even realizing it! In 2017 while still in the midst of my fitness career (by this time I had transitioned from personal training to management) I started to sell cookies as a hobby. Read more>>

Excel Ansong

My product based business, We Are Crown’d, started with me as its first client. In the summer of 2013 I was diagnosed with lupus and was told that the condition would compromise the appearance of my hair and skin. Read more>>

Te’Ara Arman

To be honest, I started off doing social and corporate event planning and although it was successful and a part of my passion, it was not a part of my Purpose. You see, one of my biggest blessings is realizing that God gave me the Purpose of guiding others to theirs. Read more>>

Laura Wood

Since we last spoke we’ve officially launched our digital tickets! It’s been an exciting journey turning our initial idea into a reality. We soft-launched this holiday season with two charities, but our next goal is to expand our catalog based on category. Read more>>

Sean Alan Stone

I was miserable at my job. And had been miserable at many jobs for too many year, so I just jumped. I jumped into the thing that I actually wanted to do and had natural talent at and could do for the rest of my life. Read more>>

Vince Lendacki

Downtown Charleston, S.C. is a gorgeous blend of history, culture, and architecture. A beautiful city with beautiful weather where people love walking the streets. Read more>>

Emily Salberg

Once my co-founder Bryn Carter-Brown and I had solidified that “heck yes” we were going to build a referral platform for women + their businesses + their communities, we had to ask ourselves… now what? Read more>>

Kelsey Banfield

Coaching is a large industry and starting a coaching business is not a new idea. However, everyone starts their own business differently and it’s important to acknowledge this. Read more>>

Hannah Gräfin von Waldersee

My friends and loved ones had been telling me ever since I worked at Buckingham Palace that I should start a wedding planning business. I had no idea where to start. Read more>>

Jesse Whitmer

I’ve been baking cheesecakes for the past 5 years simply for personal enjoyment. Ive always loved cheesecake, just didn’t love the high prices for quality which had me on a mission to start making them for myself, friends & family. Read more>>

Isimemen Aladejobi

As a child of first-generation immigrants, my parents always wanted me to be a doctor. I studied diligently, however, when I was in college I failed Organic Chemistry and that was my wake-up call that I was destined for something else. Read more>>

Rachel Burnstein

My first stained glass mirror was inspired by this highly shiny pink metallic wavy clock from the 90’s that I bought at the flea market. It never worked but i hung it up in my studio because i loved it. Read more>>

Kelli Caldwell

This encapsulates the idea from execution, taking a risk, first client and scale up but I think those all jive together nicely. Read more>>

Ash Shetty

My journey into the realm of justice and reunification was deeply influenced by my personal background and professional experiences. Having built a successful business across multiple countries, I was well-acquainted with the intricacies of international operations and the potential for impactful philanthropy. Read more>>

Anthony Mangieri

For nearly 30 years, I’ve made pizza in my restaurant Una Pizza Napoletana and to this day, I’m still always fine tuning and tweaking the recipe to make each pizza incrementally better than the last. Read more>>

Cary Kelly

I consider myself a serial entrepreneur. I had an executive coaching business for 10 years and was itching for something new and different. Cooking, and stories about food, was a passion in my personal life; I felt a pull to focus a business on that. Read more>>

Syd Barrowman.

My gallery, 5Hundred21 Art Lounge all started with a small idea of a “friend gallery”‘ with my best friend. This little idea of friends sharing personal art with friends snowballed into the community based experimental art lounge that it is today. Read more>>

Alto Daniels

What you have chosen to do, is this something you know how to do? Is this something you are good at? Do you have the means to get it done? Do you truly have the skill set to make it happen? Read more>>

Luiggy Gomez

Speaking things into existence doesn’t happen without doing the work for it. When I first thought of creating my own business I had to ponder the name and what the business was going to be. From all the experiences I’ve had in my life I decided to create a lifestyle brand called “Uptowns Finest”. Read more>>

Dana Vargo

Having an idea is easy, but giving it life is not for the faint of heart. I am lucky to have good mind for business, a work ethic to go the distance and the understanding that failure is not an option. Read more>>

Norman Merrifield

The journey from idea to execution parallels the intricate process of crafting a chart-topping hit that moves the crowd. At 808Education, we orchestrate executive ideas into harmonious melodies in the form of professional learning that resonates with their brand, beliefs, and bottom line, akin to composing a hip-hop classic. Read more>>

Michelle Gowan

Necessity is the mother of invention. I was a classroom teacher for thirty years. When I retired, they kept right on having school. Read more>>

Keva Smith

Growing up in The LeMoyne Gardens in the 90’s was always an adventure for me. Long walks and runs, brick walls, tall trees and green boxes to climb and more dirt than grass to wrestle in. If anyone got hurt, I’d try to help. Read more>>

Reginald Patterson

Rich & Friendly Inc. was born in my first college apartment after taking a photography course when I was 20 years old. I was determined to become a huge fashion designer before everyone began to have their clothing line and market their business on Instagram. Read more>>

Timothy Moore

I always felt like an entrepreneur and deep inside I wanted to start a business but nothing really motivated or inspired me to start until my dad passed away. The ideas I did have I usually went to someone else to find validation but usually ended up giving up on the ideas. Read more>>

Nikki Ausdemore

After working in a corporate environment for a couple of years I decided it was not the best environment for me. I started looking for an exit strategy and came across an online training for bookkeeping. Read more>>

Rogers Healy

A few years ago, I had the itch to do something that really allowed me to use my superpower, which is making connections. hroughout my career as a business owner, owning one of the largest independently owned real estate brokerages in the country, I learned what goes into having a successful business, who it takes, and how to get there. Read more>>

Jennifer Mercedes

I’ve always loved all things beauty especially skincare but it never even crossed my mind that I could actually choose it as a career path. After HS, I went straight to college to study psychology and followed a career in social work. It was great but I something was missing. Read more>>