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.

Alyssa Arredondo

Once I had the idea to sell lashes my very first move was trying to find a vendor that had good quality lashes and in styles that I liked. I went through quite a few trial and errors until I finally found a vendor I was happy with. After that was trying to come up with a name, then finding the right website host, color scheme, logo, basically branding my business. My last steps were making sure I was doing everything the “right” way from a legal standpoint. I made sure to register my businesses as a DBA, get a separate checking account just for the business (I didn’t want to intermingle my personal vs business finances), and obtain a tax ID so that the IRS doesn’t try to come for me! Haha Read more>>

Allen and Mary Guerra

From Engaged to Married was born after Allen officiated their daughter’s wedding. Our daughter said “Dad, would you officiate our wedding. Allen prepared an amazing ceremony and everyone was crying tears of joy. It was that weekend when the idea of being a wedding officiate came about. Allen felt that this was something that he needed to do, but how. Allen’s entrepreneurial mind was set in motion. Read more>>

Michael Gordon

Being a tattoo artist was never something I thought about or thought I could do. However life has a way of pushing us in the needed directions. I’ve always been an artistic person and have drawn for a long time but it was my bad choices in life that actually led me to where I am today…some call it a silver lining story but I was convicted on non violent federal drug trafficking charges. While serving my sentence I refined my drawing skills and was pushed by a friend to try tattooing. Read more>>

Dolores Hirschmann

I was in a meeting with my boss and I was trying to negotiate my compensation, I was not happy in that job and he asked “What do you want” and I burst into tears! It wasn’t just that I was not happy with my job, I had NO IDEA what I wanted therefore I was stuck. That is what propelled me to go back to school to study coaching and then launched my business and new career. Read more>>

Bishop Dr. Samuel McGill III

Going from idea to execution is exactly what I did with launching All Nations Radio which is a Stellar Award Winning Gospel Internet Radio Station. The idea came to me as Internet Radio was just coming on the scene. I took that idea burned midnight oil researching what it would take to start and run a station just like it was a terrestrial station. Read more>>

Humberto Perez

I started my business while taking an automotive course at my local community college. While learning this trade, many peers talked about becoming business owners and opening up a shop someday. I thought that was a good idea as well and perhaps after becoming skilled, I could do the same thing. While going to school and learning the skills, I would occasionally pick up small jobs where I can either work at my customers house or at my own. Read more>>

Bianca Ash-Walker

Since I was six years old I wanted to be lawyer and I thought that was the direction my life was headed, but after taking the LSAT (which is the entrance exam into law school) twice and missing it by narrow margins to get into the schools I desired I decided to take a step back and ask for clarity. I decided to start working and seek wise counsel for advice while I tried to figure out what was next. So in addition to praying and asking God myself I sought the wisdom of my long time mentor, my Pastor. Read more>>

Brittany Jordan

I started my brand Knotty Kulture as an idea. It was originally a safe space I created to make art and fashion for myself and loved ones. This also consisted of events such as paint and sips and photoshoots where we could relax and/or feel confident. It mainly started as wearing a few items or showing the process of a painting that had drawn the attentions of others. I make wigs as well so that was a big thing too. Later, I began to showcase my products at different events and festivals. Read more>>

Nikki Wilson

Since graduating from New York University in 2001, I have been a school-based Occupational Therapist, responsible for helping the students I serve become as independent as possible within their school environments. Throughout the years, most of the kiddos I work with have had handwriting difficulties. With many of them, no matter what strategies I tried: tracing, hand-over-hand assistance, and/or repetition. their handwriting wouldn’t improve! Read more>>

James Brown, Jr

People are placed in your life for a reason and if we have the ability to be open, listen, and implement it can change the trajectory of our lives. When I was a National Account Executive, one of my clients asked me “do you do voiceovers, we just love your voice and you should get paid for it?” My response was “no, I’ve never heard of that.” She gave me a homework assignment to research and figure out how to get into the voiceover world. I mentioned it to a co-worker, she introduced me to an agent who introduced me to a coach to produce a demo. Read more>>

Chelsea Muniz

Our group came together the end of 2017 and became a nonprofit in 2019. Originally, I was doing work with DV survivors and a friend had the idea for the name La Chula Crew, so we combined forces. I had been putting together Women’s care packages and raising funds for Rachel’s Women’s Center in downtown SD. My friend and I got to talking about the work I was doing and she wanted to get involved. Her husband always called us “Chulas” when we or her and other friends got together and that’s where the name La Chula Crew came from. Read more>>

Dr. Torian K. Salary

Starting is always the hardest part. It’s hard because it requires you to begin something that you haven’t done before. It’s hard because it comes with risks, questions, concerns, and reservations. Our comfort zone is comfortable because that is what feels good to us. Starting something new means you have to sometimes step out of that comfort zone. When I made the decision to start writing a book, taking life coaching classes, and studying to become a Minister, it was hard. It was scary. However, I knew the outcome could change people’s lives for the better. Read more>>

Veronica Mentor

After weeks of finding a way to streamline the candle-making process so that even a child could do it, I was ready to host my first class. I practiced every single day for weeks to make sure I could teach a class without looking at measurements or reading my notes. I honestly had the logo before I had any solid business plans because I knew this was going to be special. I first began researching businesses like mine in the area (if any) and what made mine different. How were those businesses attracting customers and what did their audience look like? Read more>>

Derrick Diaz

The idea started back in 2018, two years before graduating from college. I was honestly super broke and had so many tuition, insurance, and rent expenses, so I really didn’t want to get behind on it. Over the next few months I purchased a small machine and started door knocking in neighborhoods and closing any job I could possibly get. The goal was to get my name out there, secure repeat clients, and over the years increase the price knowing that the quality of my service has also improved. I started with getting basic business insurance, a small truck, and some determination. Read more>>

Torry Terry

Well my Stepfather Willie Golden was one of the Original Gangsters from Old Miami in the late 80’s and early 90’s. He was ready to tell his story, so we got together and first turned it into a book. The only problem we encountered was that neither one of us knew how to start the process for the book. So we reached out to some publishing companies to see if they could help us. For about two weeks of searching for a company that would fit our budget, we came to the conclusion to do it ourselves. Read more>>

Diaundrea Sherill

First thing, first: Grandma was a Chef. Now, I know most famed Chefs’ or Instructors won’t agree with that statement -but let me explain. What does it really take to be a Chef? Besides actually knowing how to cook and knowing how flavors pair, -planning and portioning. Now, of course everyone’s grandma cooks differently whether it be Southern Food, Mexican Food, Indian Food or Cuban Food, nevertheless the food was amazing. I come from a fairly large family, there could be expected to be at minimum of 30 family members over for Sunday Dinner -at one time. All of the meals were cooked by grandma and me, sometime. Read more>>

Corey Hackett

Going from Idea to Execution If you’re like me, it takes a lot of work to get an idea off the ground. It’s easy to imagine yourself being successful, but actually taking that energy and putting it into action isn’t always so easy. My name is Corey Hackett and I believe when you look and feel good, you do good. Read more>>

Vee Escarment

I started working in the nonprofit housing counseling sector in 2013 as a Housing Counselor helping people to save their homes through Florida’s Hardest Hit program and the Principal Reduction Program. I worked very well with the clients and many of my family and friends would ask me, “Have I thought about starting my own business in this field?” .In 2019 I stepped out in faith and launched Generational Wealth through Homeownership Inc a 501c3 nonprofit housing counseling agency. Read more>>

Tony & Leila Savage

I was carrying a heavy and awkward table to set up at my 6th vendor event in 2 weeks. After making multiple trips to my car to grab the information brochures, display items, and swag, I heard Tony and the kids call my name. They had come out to support me as I recruited and marketed a company that I had been employed with for years. That same company had massive layoffs a few years later, and my position was no longer funded. Read more>>

Sandra Holman-Watts

The idea of a “Chicago style” smokey jazz room in the backstreets of Denver was the vision of a prominent Doctor in the Denver area Joel Karlin. His vision came alive in 1998 on 1553 Platte Street Denver , on the 2nd floor of an office building. The venue was originally a black box theatre, creaky, stale and very under ground. The room was quickly renovated into a 50 seat, intimate live music listening room. Read more>>