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.
Mike Fox
Ideas always formulate and percolate, but it takes physical and mental action to put them into motion. That’s what we did back on 2012 when we started Splash Designworks. We already knew the idea, the end game, the road – we just needed the launching pad to getting things moving. 1. We agreed on the name of the business. 2. We moved forward to get the license. 3. We began designing promotional creatives. 4. We joined local business related organizations and chambers. 5. We began the hustle and grind; and still doing it. Read more>>
Debe Loeber
I first started my sourdough baking journey in 2020. A friend gave me some starter and I started looking into the process. At first I was overwhelmed as there is so much information out there and often times the information was very different. After a few months of investigation, I finally just chose one baker and started to follow their process. There were a lot of flops as I was learning but each time I would learn something that would help me the next time. During my investigaton, I discovered that gluten intolerant people can often eat long-fermented sourdough because it breaks down the gluten structure making it easier to digest. Three of my four grandchildren were gluten intolerant so I wanted to try baking for them. I was so excited when they could enjoy my baked bread. Have you even tasted the gluten free bread in the stores…it’s awful. So, I continued my research and found you can make almost anything with sourdough. So, I expanded to rolls, sandwich bread, english muffins, tortillas, muffins, cookies, etc. Read more>>
Jacqueline Crider
The Idea Phase: I’ve always known I had a book in me. It was just a matter of *when*. My love for reading and writing has been a constant in my life, but the tipping point came as I worked with clients throughout my career and specifically when I started PBJ Mortgage. I saw the same pain points, the same confusion, the same overwhelm over and over again. The mortgage process felt intimidating for so many people, and I realized there was an opportunity to simplify it in a way that hadn’t been done before. That’s why we had come up with the entire idea of PBJ Mortgage where we would make mortgage simple, as simple as making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Read more>>
Avani Fernander
I was a front desk agent at The Radisson Hotel in Nassau, Bahamas. I would see countless couples walking past all dressed and headed to their ceremony and was mesmerized. Then one day, I said to a colleague, I can only imagine what goes on behind the scenes to make these celebrations happen. Well, a few days later I spoke with the manager for weddings and events and told her that if ever a role opened up, whatever it was, I wanted to join the team. I was curious as to how it all came together. Read more>>
Suzanne Dewhurst
Have you ever had a crazy passion for something but never did anything about it simply because you didn’t know where to start? That seems to be true for many entrepreneurs. I was always the friend who had tons of travel tips, constantly planning trips, doing tons of travel-related research, and ultimately documenting those vacations on social media. When people started asking me for advice and reaching out for travel-related help, that’s when I knew maybe I had created a reputation without even trying. That got my wheels turning about the possibility of turning my hobby into a platform to store practical, relatable advice and inspiring dream vacations. During the pandemic, I was unhappy at my current full-time job and wanted a way to spend more time doing something that filled my cup. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to try as I was constantly thinking, “If I could do anything, what would I do?” I knew I’d still need a full-time job, but maybe there was a way to create a side business. After a couple of years of talking about it with friends, I finally decided to take the plunge and figure out how to execute it in the fall of 2023. Read more>>
Liz Sonnenberg
I was never a good student. I attended a private catholic high school and was kicked out my sophomore year. Then I transferred to my town’s public school and (barely) graduated in 2018. I say barely not because of bad grades but because I had so many absences. Luckily I was able to save myself by photoshopping a bunch of doctors notes. I decided to move down to Florida to go to college at Florida Atlantic University. My first year (2018-2019) I failed out. Then somehow I convinced my parents to let me continue to live in Florida and attend the community college on FAU’s campus, Palm Beach State College. Again I failed out. Simply because I didn’t want to show up to my classes. I was working full time at a tanning salon chain in South Florida, for $11/hour, and I still would rather do that than go to class. Read more>>
Megan Blake
It was the end of 2022, and my personal world crumbled. My mom passed away in October, and by December, my fiance and I had broken off our engagement. I was emotionally burdened with no idea of how to transmute all of that incredibly heavy energy. The day before New Year’s Eve, a Flight Attendant coworker and friend facetimed me to join her for a virtual wine date. She let me vent to her, and when I was done, she demanded I write a book on what I’d just endured with my broken engagement in the middle of grieving my mom. She wasn’t the first to mention it, but she was the most emphatic about it. So, after our facetime, I journaled the events that led to the demise of my relationship. Writing always came easy to me in school. Pouring my feelings out on paper was cathartic, and re-reading the craziness was very entertaining. Every day from New Year’s Eve until the publishing month in November ’23, I wrote. I unintentionally self-isolated from my friends and family for weeks, sometimes months on end. Creating and perfecting my first novel, Entangled, had me laser focused. They all rooted for me, and I couldn’t have done it without their support. Read more>>
Manuel Besse
To make my dream come true, I chose to focus my studies on images and the arts. After passing my Baccalauréat, I entered the École Nationale Louis Lumière in Paris to acquire solid technical knowledge. I also continued my training at the École du Louvre and the Académie Charpentier, while pursuing a doctorate in ethnology devoted to primitive Oceanic religions. During these years of study, I took part in a number of photographic competitions, winning mentions and first prizes, which enabled me to build up an extensive portfolio. This work opened the door to freelancing, enabling me to collaborate with prestigious agencies such as Sipa Press and Cosmo International, as well as other agencies specializing in the culinary arts and oenology. These early experiences were decisive: they gave me the opportunity to meet press agency directors, who then entrusted me with more human-oriented assignments. Read more>>
Matthew Sims
The start of the business is just a piece in the start of my life. Which only really started just over a decade ago. My life was directionally headed the opposite way of success, I didn’t make good choices, I spent a good portion of time incarcerated and in places, no one would be comfortable. I had hundreds of opportunities to do good with life and make a change, but, just couldn’t figure it out. I had hit that lowest point in my life, and decided it was time for something different, I wasn’t happy with my current life. So, I worked my tail off for the next few years figuring out how to live an honest life, a productive life, a happy life . I found great joy in helping others and learning new things. I think I figured out that there might be a bottom to life but, absolutely no top, you can go higher and higher if you want to. so, I did just that. I spent many years learning and teaching how to reach new heights in life, professionally and personally. I have always had an interest in and a draw to motorcycles. I rode them, I worked on them, I read about them, I loved two-wheeled machines. Read more>>
Yeimi Antonini
Starting my own business has always been in the back of my mind for a while and so it took a big step to actually commit. I’ve been an artist and creative professional for years, with a background in construction project management, so blending those worlds into something uniquely mine felt natural. The first major step was accepting that I was ready to put in the time, effort, and passion to build something from scratch. Once I embraced that, I took care of the essentials, like setting up my LLC and EIN, which made everything feel official. After that, it was about putting myself out there and building my brand’s presence. I organized a launch party to showcase my work and introduce Pixel and Palette Studios to the community. It was a way to celebrate this milestone and to set the foundation for what I want this studio to be: a creative space for unique, quality designs and projects. It’s been incredibly rewarding, and I’m excited to see how Pixel and Palette will grow from here. Read more>>
Alina May
I think it’s a cannon event for avid readers to put a book down and be like: I can do that. I can write something like this! And that’s what happened for me. I’ve written stories my whole life, but one day I was like: I’m going to write and publish a whole novel for fun. I’ll do it just for myself. I’ll probably lose money on it, but it’ll be worth it to give me an identity outside of being a mom and being a 9-5 employee. So that’s what I did! I wrote any chance I got for three months. It was fun to exist in my own little world that no one else knew about. And when the book was done, I looked for editors. I realized that editing can be a super lengthy process (weeks to months) so once my manuscript was with the editor, I had time. That’s when I fully leaned into social media and learned everything I could from people who had gone before me. I found a cover designer and formatter, and also started my own social media page. I knew social media and marketing were going to be my biggest challenges since I had no experience in those things. But I threw myself into it and no matter how many times I failed, continued trying. Consistency and effort paid off, and social media became a very successful tool for me. I had content go viral and was able to find a bunch of early readers for my first book. Giving out ARC copies (free copies in exchange for an honest review) allowed me to get even more online attention before the release of my book. Release was very successful and…here I am now! Read more>>
Terah Gisolo
The journey to starting Real Good Rescue has been a long one—one that began not with a formal plan, but with a deep-rooted passion for dogs and a fierce desire to make a difference. For many years, I was a “rogue rescuer.” I’d rescue strays, care for them, and find them homes—all on my own and under the informal umbrella of what would eventually become Real Good Rescue. I had been volunteering at shelters and working with other non-profits, but there was always a nagging feeling that I could do more. The idea for what would eventually become Real Good Rescue really started to take shape about 20 years ago, when I first learned about the shelter crisis. I had no idea that, while so many dogs were being killed by the thousands and millions in the U.S. each year, people were still breeding dogs as though there was no issue. It was a total eye-opener, and I couldn’t ignore it. I felt compelled to educate myself, to understand the scope of the problem, and most importantly, to do something about it. Read more>>
Elesia Marie
I wrote my first screenplay, ZOMBEEZ, during the COVID lockdown. I’m an actress, so when everything was shut down, there was nothing to do, no auditions, no films/tv shows being made, etc. I had an idea for this movie and so with a lot of time on my hands, I began to write. I started maybe around the end of February/beginning of March I believe and finished the first draft at the beginning of June. I live in a small town in NorthWest Florida where the film industry isn’t exactly booming. You have to travel to Atlanta or New Orleans (4-5 hour drive each way) for auditions and for work.. I had this idea that I could write this film for myself and my fellow local actors. Of course, I had no idea how I would accomplish this as I’d never done anything like this before. Everything I was familiar with was in front of the camera, not behind. I knew nothing of producing, directing, or putting a film together. I reached out to a local cinematographer that I’d worked with on some short films. Read more>>
Hannah Wong
An Apple a Day is a book made during my last year of university. I studied in Kingston University graduating from the Illustration Animation Bachelor course. Knowing that I was about to graduate, there was always a question I had in my mind, “What is it that I want to leave behind?” I wanted to create a project that would be of meaning to the community I was leaving, but to also the future generations of Kingston University. The idea of ‘An Apple a Day’ came about from my practiced habit of eating an apple each day and seeing posts of fruits and questioning what it is that was interesting about them. As I slowly recognised fruits as a curious subject, the title, ‘An Apple a Day’ came to mind. Connecting the question, “What is it that I want to leave behind?” with the title, became the start of my project. While eating an apple a day and getting to know my subject, I recognised the time that goes into this habit, from washing the apples, to getting the cutleries out, to peeling etc. I realised that building a habit takes time, but more importantly, the outcomes they lead to can be great. This led me to how I wanted to frame my project. Instead of answering my question, I wanted to create a project that presents it, with time being the main component, which initiates habits or anything else that then leads to what we leave behind, just like how eating an apple a day is an act of prudence that may contribute to us being a little healthier. Read more>>
Alex Giddings
When the idea for Tropix International first came to me, it wasn’t just about starting a real estate company; it was about creating something unique—something that reflected my vision for luxury and professionalism in Guyana’s rapidly growing real estate market. I wanted Tropix to stand for excellence, sophistication, and trust, delivering exceptional service in luxury residential and commercial real estate. The Spark The inspiration for Tropix came during a moment of reflection on how I could carve out a niche in the industry. I shared my idea with colleagues at the brokerage I was working for at the time. Initially, it felt good to share my vision, but what followed was one of the most disheartening experiences of my career. Those same colleagues betrayed my trust by using my brand’s name to launch their own business. Read more>>
Dionte Gilmer
I started during the early days of the pandemic when Las Vegas got shut down. During this time I’ve noticed the lack of intelligent government response and felt like that we the people would be on our own with this one (Covid). So, I started looking for ways alternative ways to maintain that wouldn’t get me put in prison. I wished that I wasn’t but I was late coming to the cryptocurrency party even though I was invited years back when a Bitcoin was only $10 dollars. I began my research about cryptocurrency, nfts, and the metaverse and I needed to figure out how best to use this potential opportunity. Going at it alone, I invested my own money, a little at a time on different crypto coin projects; Cardano, Bitcoin, PI, and a few others. Read more>>
Tahira Devine- Nimmons
Creating a creative space was something that I dreamed of and just a year before I was denied a lease at this building that I wanted so badly. I thought that because I received business funding that I would automatically be suitable and well that wasn’t the case at all. Fast forward a year later I was walking down the street in downtown Philadelphia, scrolling through instagram and I saw a studio for rent. It was a blank space with beautiful lighting and lots of windows. I immediately sent it to my husband and asked him “ Should I go for it.” He said YES! And I booked a tour the very next day. Read more>>
Fernando Cardoso
As a lifelong soccer enthusiast, I never imagined that my love for the sport would eventually lead me to become a business owner. Growing up playing soccer, I developed a deep appreciation for the game and its ability to shape young minds. When my son showed interest in soccer, I eagerly signed him up for local leagues. However, I was disappointed with the quality of programs available. Determined to provide my son with a better soccer experience, I searched for alternative programs. That’s when I discovered Soccer Pups, a unique program that emphasized not only soccer skills but also character development and fun. My son thrived in the program, transforming from a hesitant player to a passionate enthusiast. Read more>>
Mike Liu
The Journey from Idea to Execution: How FreeFuse Came to Life” Starting FreeFuse wasn’t just a spark of inspiration—it was the answer to a problem that kept nagging at me, one that I saw affecting industries across the board: the need for more personalized, engaging content experiences that didn’t rely on static, one-size-fits-all approaches. But the question was, how do you take something that complex and actually make it actionable? Step One: Define the Core Problem and Vision The first thing I did was zero in on the problem. I started with a simple but powerful question: What would it look like if content could adapt in real-time to each user’s needs? I wanted FreeFuse to be a platform that anyone—whether in training, sales, or customer engagement—could use to build dynamic, interactive journeys without requiring deep tech knowledge. This became the backbone of FreeFuse: creating something powerful yet intuitive. Read more>>
Justine W. Krank
This was a long time coming… I started thinking about grant writing as its own enterprise in 2020 because I was hired at my job in January of 2020, and once lockdown went into effect I thought I might get laid off right away. (Couldn’t have been farther from reality). Fast forward to June 2021: I’m loving my job, thinking this is finally the nonprofit I can stay at for the next 10+ years…until I retire even. (my husband and I had been talking about retiring early— in our 40s— since we were 29). Then my husband gets a call at work saying he’s a candidate for a transfer to Hunstville, AL, to open a new store for his company. We dreamed of retiring in NC and moving across the country is expensive. Huntsville AL is a heck of a lot closer so we say yes. I talk to my boss (they decidedly need me, and I also need to keep my job), we strike a deal, and six weeks later I’m living in Hunstville, AL. Read more>>
Jasmine C. Perry
You said: what is a grammatically correct way to say the following and keep my voice: I got into the TV and film industry the stereotypical way, “it’s who you know.” I got a hook-up on an internship in a TV department and I worked my way up the ladder jumping on different productions. I got a degree in media, film and TV and a masters in screenwriting, but those two pieces of paper did very little for advancement in my career. I got into making films of my own and I always try to include a social and/or political issue in my work. I believe that we all have a unspoken contract to at least attempt to make the world better than we found it, and I honor my part of that contract by telling empowering stories to counter act all the negative media that makes people more ignorant and materialistic. Read more>>
Johana Gomez
Casita is a collection of feelings and amazing experiences. The idea started with a friend of mine, we just to host friends in my house and cook for them. They really love our food and came with that crazy idea of opening a restaurant. I have been involved with this industry since I was in Colombia (country where I am from 😉). So, we decided to open a Food Truck that we named Sur Sabor, but unfortunately, our partnership did not last long. It is when I decided to buy my own Food Truck and open Casita Colombian Food. My daughter and the boyfriend that I had at that time were an instrumental support I needed to start, people that I thank a lot. It was a very rough time, even if I had experience with catering and events, running a restaurant was something totally different. We all learned on the way, the process was not easy but full of lessons and experiences that I appreciate a lot. Read more>>
Kristen Hopkins-vincent
While working in alternative schools and juvenile justice centers, I dedicated myself to developing social-emotional curricula tailored to meet the needs of Black and Brown youth. These students often faced systemic barriers, trauma, and inequities that required a more intentional approach to their social and emotional growth. However, as I implemented various SEL (Social Emotional Learning) programs, I noticed a glaring gap: the existing frameworks lacked cultural relevance. They failed to affirm the unique experiences, identities, and resilience of children of color. These programs did not reflect the lived realities of the students they were intended to serve, leaving a critical void in their effectiveness. Read more>>
Ashley Pletcher
My cookie business all began one lazy afternoon as I scrolled through Instagram, captivated by vibrant videos of cookies—each one more enticing than the last. Watching those videos ignited a passion for baking that I hadn’t fully realized. One day, I decided to take the plunge. I gathered flour, sugar, butter, eggs and vanilla ingredients and began mixing the dough. As I worked, I felt an incredible sense of calm. The rhythmic sound of the mixer and the warm aroma filling the kitchen turned my space into a cozy spot. I discovered how much I cherished this creative process, from measuring ingredients to watching the cookies rise in the oven. Read more>>
Valerie Dorris
It all started with my love of candles. For years, they were my go-to for creating a peaceful, inviting space, but I grew frustrated with paying for overpriced, toxic products from larger manufacturers. They often gave me headaches or didn’t smell as great as promised. I began to wonder—could I create something better? That curiosity sparked an idea. I started researching everything I could about candle-making. I spent hours learning about natural waxes, non-toxic fragrance oils, and clean-burning wicks. My evenings were filled with YouTube tutorials, blog articles, and trial-and-error experiments in my kitchen. Read more>>