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.

Lauren Sisak

Sit. Stay. Stella. started as a way to escape from my reactive dog, Stella, if I am being perfectly honest. I wanted to dog sit “normal” dogs as a way to counter the hard days with a dog with behavioral challenges. Read more>>

Mellahn Douglas

Before I launched DFA Laboratories, I studied different types of brands, and not just clothing brands. I studied how certain companies moved, the decisions they made and how they influenced and created trends. My dad noticed this and told me I should start my own business. Read more>>

Patricia Anderson

For years, I had been assisting people with their events, managing everything from intimate gatherings of 25 people to massive assemblies of thousands. I found myself training volunteers in various roles such as hosts, runners, registration clerks, production staff, and administrators. Read more>>

Teresa Lasley

I started Instructional Gym, LLC out of my own experience with teacher burn out. A veteran educator for nearly 20 years has given me a wide range of experience and settings that have been both ideal and unfortunately toxic. Read more>>

Alejandro Ramirez

Absolutely, here’s my personal journey of starting Fligent, focusing on airplane acquisitions, remote flight departments, air safety, and our ongoing development of AI integration: Read more>>

Shay J’naye

All successful businesses once started as an idea or a dream. Execution and dedication takes the dream or idea to the next level. I started my brand Velvet Nights in my apartment back in 2020 during Covid. It was the perfect time to unleash my creativity and start my own business venture due to all the major retail stores closing down. Read more>>

Dawn Hall

In October 2023, Dawn Hall and a fellow businesswoman stood in an empty apartment lobby, envisioning a small Women’s Business Expo with around eight participants. Read more>>

Imani Peterkin

I have to give all the credit to God because without His guidance, none of this would have been possible. To be honest, entrepreneurship was never part of my plan. Read more>>

Lauren Klein

Before I started my own training business, I had been working in a large, successful training facility in different positions. I started out as a kennel tech, taking care of the dogs, monitoring play groups and of course, A LOT of cleaning. Read more>>

Amanda Maldonado

It all started during the COVID-19 pandemic, having to be stuck at home was taking a toll on my mental health. I exhausted all the movies and TV shows I could watch. I decided to dive deep into books. Read more>>

Seirra Hamilton

I’m a Professional Organizer, who launched my business, Nicely Placed Organizing, in October 2021. This started as an idea during the pandemic when I saw my cousin getting her closet organized by her best friend. Read more>>

Lumina Online Coaching

Going from idea to execution was a simple concept- We spoke about it, planned it, and we got to work. Going from talking about it to doing the work was… tedious. We had no idea how much would go into building a business until we were knee deep in building an exercise library and creating social media content. Read more>>

Will Lofton

I decided to become a trainer/coach in college after I realized I did not want to be a school teacher anymore. I had gone through school from K-College and I got physically sick from the thought of having to go to school everyday for work AFTER i had finally finished school as a student. Read more>>

Jessica Giovine

I was working as an Art Director in licensing cosmetics in NYC over 6+ years ago. Feeling burned out, I was trying to find stress relieving ideas for commuting and creative plans for the future. Read more>>

Sharon Haynes

I felt that Houstonians had an insatiable appetite for Tex-Mex food. We eat it morning, noon and night! So when I considered opening a small restaurant in Midtown Houston on one of the city’s most eclectic blocks, a taqueria with a funky twist seemed the perfect fit. Read more>>

Cara Hayes

For as long as I can remember, I yearned to discover my calling, that one thing I should dedicate my time and energy to. I often met people who seemed to have it all figured out, but for me, it always felt just out of reach. Read more>>

Lytia Brock

One of the best ideas I had was publishing my first book Making the Most of Life’s Lemons. I remember being so nervous. I always thought my first book would be on motherhood.  Read more>>

Denise Wilson

I was coming up on 15 years of owning and operating my own home daycare. I had chosen that career as a way to be with my children, while still working and providing an income for our family. Read more>>

Cassandra Claude

Starting the Artistic Freedom Mentorship Program (AFM) was a journey deeply rooted in my own experiences and passion for helping artists reach their full potential. The idea was simple in essence, but not immediately easy to execute. Read more>>

Hunter Rohlfs

During my senior year at Pace University, a spark ignited within me. My project studio professor, like a fairy godfather with an evil grin, said a phrase that crystallized a vision I was never able to put into words before: Read more>>

Kenyatta Harrison

The Bead Slayer LLC was started when, I needed to replace a beaded bracelet that my husband purchased. At the time I wore beaded bracelets and he wanted one, so I ordered him one but it was the wrong size therefore I tried to figure out how to fix it…and I did, I figured it out. Read more>>