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.

Aliki Ko

Warriors4elements started from the realisation that we have a magnificent lab that is prototyping and testing non-stop and seems to be doing alright for the last few billions of years (!): NATURE This realisation made me start looking deeper into the dynamics of natural ecosystems, how they become sustainable and what makes them flourish and realised that the fundamental recipe for success is the balance between all 4 elements: earth, water, air and fire. The ecosystems that manage to thrive seem to have found a way to effortlessly exchange energy between all the 4 elements. Read more>>

Collins Pettaway, III

Great question! I essentially follow the same model for anything that I start- I write it down! I’ve evolved from composition notebooks to my “notes” app on my Apple products, but it’s always been the same. Growing up in church, I was always taught to “write the vision, and make it plain.” That has allowed me to get an understanding of what my ideas are. Read more>>

Sly Roque

It’s interesting how Popmantra started. We originally launched The Clever Group which is a creative branding agency, where did creative branding and marketing for artists, talent and small businesses with entertainment industry as our focus. We needed to open our services to different industries to survive because entertainment is hard. I started hearing quite a bit about web 3. People we’re beginning to asking me my thoughts on how music was going to be affected by the new tech. Before I knew it was on panels and speaking on twitter spaces about web 3. Read more>>

Christen Jolicoeur

If you ever felt a constant pressure to do more or that you haven’t done enough, then you can probably relate to what I’m about to share. What got my business going was a desire to complete the next item on this list that only existed as a societal norm. Michelle Obama, in her memoir Becoming, described this as being a “box checker”. You start out with one goal, you achieve the goal, but there’s no real celebration because there’s something else to be done after the achievement. Read more>>

Juan Alvarado

Everything starts with a dream My dream was to always be my own boss and own a business of my own and my other dream has always been cars super cars and luxury cars to be specific. One day I decided to start a business putting together those two dreams I always had in mind so I started a mobile auto detail service and hoping to work on cars I always had dream of I started to work at a detail center to start getting some knowledge on washing and detailing cars I work my way up from a regular car washing guy to a detailer and move up in to assisted manager Read more>>

Zoe Ruddock

When I really think about how I started it always begin with me putting pen to paper. I tell my friends this all the time but I get chills when I look through my old notebooks, because almost everything I’ve written down, whether that was some sort of sketch or idea, I’ve seen it all come to fruition and then some; even the silly things. It all really starts with getting that idea out of your head. Read more>>

Gabby Sanchez

In March of 2021, my boyfriend and I were very unhappy at our current jobs. We were living right outside of Chicago and our lease was almost up. We had finally realized that we wouldn’t be happy until we started working for ourselves. One day we were watching the Jon Favreau movie “Chef” and had looked at each other and my boyfriend said ” I haven’t had fun in a kitchen in a while, and that actually looks fun.” and that was what ignited our ideas to start our own business. Read more>>

Allison Fleece

Allison Fleece & Danielle Thornton met planning their first trip to Kilimanjaro, and they immediately knew it was a match made in adventure heaven. What they didn’t know is that their first experience would not be their last OR that climbing Kilimanjaro would change their lives forever. After their first trip up Mt. Kilimanjaro, they were hooked and knew they were onto something – the unique combo of bringing women together for adventure travel, Read more>>

Maia Potter

I originally established my brand in 2019, but did not launch and attain sales until 2021. The idea was to begin as a cut and sew line with 3 original designs. Transparency moment— I can sew, but i needed a professional to carry out these specific designs for me. After going through a couple of manufacturers, samples kept coming up short of my expectations, so i pivoted to jewelry and furs. Read more>>

Lashawn Chandler

I have always had an idea to have my own eyewear line. I researched for almost 4 years before I found a vendor and manufacturing company that would give me what I wanted and needed. Once I found out the vendor had the type of frames I liked and pricing was great there was tons of back and forth being that they were overseas. But of course that all comes with the process. Next thing I had to do was decide if I wanted to use my name or have different collections within the eyewear line. Read more>>

Sean Hanford

My name is Sean Hanford, and I am a sophomore majoring in Entrepreneurship at Kennesaw State University. When I was first interviewed by Voyage ATL in 2019 I was still in high school and creating a dream book for my life. I must say that a lot has happened in the last 3 years, and I am on target to reach my goals of becoming a successful real estate agent here in Georgia. In 2021 I graduated with STEM Honors from High School, I made the Dean’s list my first academic year in college, and I became a realtor at the age of 19! Read more>>

Sarah Elliott

In early 2020, I was wanting a sticker to use for our family to trade with other families when we went camping. I already had some basic design experience so I designed something for us. After getting that initial sticker made, I showed it to my husband and said these life altering words “I think I could sell these.” He agreed that we had happened on a really great quality hydroflask sticker, and the potential for me to design them and sell them was there. From there, I designed a few stickers, and posted them on facebook. My friends, snatched them up pretty quick. Read more>>

Cristina Wilson-Hudlin

Twin sisters Cristina and Michelle Wilson had dreamed of owning their own boutique since they were little girls. Their first business endeavor was a coffee cart they owned in college which quickly expanded to multiple locations. After years of countless 4 AM shifts while also putting themselves through school, the twins graduated Sonoma State and their next move was immediately clear: it was time to live out their dream of opening a clothing boutique. Read more>>

Demetria “MzMetchi” Brown

I love being in media and being a beauty influencer! That wasn’t what I originally sought out to do when I became a business owner. I’ve been in Corporate America for years so I originally dabbled in event planning and coordination. I did this for about one year and was granted an opportunity to be on a local Chicago radio station. Once I was in that seat behind the microphone, I felt at home. Before I knew it, I was hosting a show with two other business women but it was unfortunately cut short. Read more>>

Brittney Coke

I currently operate 2 businesses. Classify Beauty which is already established and Cab Career and Business Firm which is in its early stages of establishment. It all started when I developed a huge clientele through providing braiding hair styling services when I was in high school. That is how I got started in the Beauty industry. From there I started dabbling into fashion and from there it led to me developing a love for make up as well. Read more>>

Dawn Marsh

Visions..Dreams..Ideas.. They come from so many areas, our thoughts, hearing a song, taking a walk in nature, being in tune with the Spirit, talking with friends and family. When we got the call that our former employees that, “we’re not going to make it”, we were driving from Round Rock TX to Missoula MT for one of our kid’s graduations, with only 2 weeks worth of clothes with us. Read more>>

Tiffani Thomas

So once I was able to acquire at-least 10 students, I knew I had something special. It was like a feeling I never felt before! You know that gut feeling that you don’t get often?! In the beginning, of course, I didn’t have all the answers, but I was aware that I would need to build my clientele! I had to come up with pricing (We have changed at-least 3 times), a location for the tutoring (which is where I came up with the Mobile/traveling idea), I wanted to make it easier for the parents, and let’s be honest my self as well! Once I figured out how much I wanted to charge, and a place to conduct the tutoring, nothing held me back, and I went for it! Read more>>

Anita Craig & Chauncey Moore

Coffee is the third-most consumed beverage in the world behind water and tea. In addition to that, coffee comes from all the places that people want to be. When we started this journey, we bonded over two things: the love of coffee and the love of travel. We wanted to offer a product or service that has an impact on people and how they can fit it into their lives. As we continued to brainstorm, we realized that coffee not only soothes the soul, but it brings people together. And because of that, we knew this was a venture that we wanted to start. Read more>>

Tiera Allen

I wish I could say that my company was created by spontaneous thought, an inspiring dream, or a crazy aspiration that I looked to fufill at some point of my adult life. The hard yet beautiful truth is that the idea for my company was birthed by a diagnosis that made me take a hard look at how I was caring for myself or lack there of. Read more>>

Javan Allison Monique Cooper

On February 17, 2018; Javan had an asthma attack that put him in ICU. Javan suffers from severe Asthma, Anxiety and ADHD. This day wasn’t a great day for him. He couldn’t breathe while I (Mom) was in the showers, he came in and wrote on the fog mirror Help Me! After being admitted into the hospital, we learned so much more about his illness. One of the things we learned was that ADHD and Anxiety can play a part in having an asthma attack along with his allergies and others. Read more>>

Andrena Phillips

I had been working since I was 16 years old. I had always worked for other people, helping them to achieve their dreams. But one day I decided that I wanted to see how far I could go with my own business. I had nothing to lose. I started my business in the life coaching and motivation speaking arena. Others had always told me I was good at helping people to overcome their obstacles and I motivated them to move forward positively in their lives, I was constantly asked, “Are you a life coach?” Are you a motivational speaker?” I would laugh it off at first but then I recognize I do love this idea of serving others in life tips and speaking. Read more>>

Onega Ulanova

I think every venture I am becoming a part of has a deeper meaning for me. Something relating to doing good for others. In some cases, more than financial benefits. I usually bring to the table the spark on energy, marketing, and PR strategy and execution, as well as finding ways to finance the venture (either through personal investments, nondiluted fundings, or putting together a round) Read more>>

AUSTIN POTTS

When I was 18 I became much more aware of the food I was eating, what was really in it, and where it all really came from. I realized that what I was eating every day was directly affecting the way I felt all of the time, and I didn’t feel very good. Part of me always knew that there was so much more I could get out of life, and I realized that my health is truly my wealth. I chose to move forward mindfully with my food choices which eventually led me to start gardening and growing some of my own food. Read more>>

Tohan Omorodion

I love entrepreneurship, it breeds innovation, and drives purpose. I love imagining things and bringing them to life. Texas C.A.S.T Academy was no different. It was just an idea that crossed my mind in my past time after noticing how well I relay instructions to kids and how fast they assimilate these instructions. Most of my business ideas start off as a hobby, and in this case, teaching runway classes was my past time hobby. being involved in various parts the fashion industry as a model, designer and event host over years gave me the insight and knowledge I needed to effectively groom others who would like to enter the industry or improve their skill in the modeling world. Read more>>

Adrian Thomas

The process and transition from idea to execution is something I will cherish forever. While pursuing my professional basketball career in Europe, over time I started entertaining the idea of working with youth programs on my free time. Initially it was just ideas and random thoughts, no real structure behind it. But, every day it seemed to become more appealing. I started jotting these ideas on paper. Read more>>

Michael Baptiste

I started Be Greater Media Agency in 2015 after gaining experience being a co-founder of a start up beverage business called Fresh Start Beverage Company. The core product is called Banana Wave Bananamilk, which we packaged from an idea into a retail product that sells in stores like Walmart, Whole Foods, and many others. I also gained experience in the online marketing universe as a college student by creating and selling my own digital ebooks, courses, physical e-commerce products, and affiliate marketing. Read more>>

Michelle Nyberg

I’ve always been an active member of some kind of beauty community. In the days of dial up I logged onto my computer after work every day and scoured the pages of online communities like MakeupAlley. Later beauty blogs and YouTube became available for consumption. I tended to stick to blog or non-video format as I really enjoy writing myself, so I just prefered that format. I started thinking about creating a blog to share ideas and my thoughts like others. Read more>>

Sevyhnn Hendrix

A lot of times you will have many ideas. The main thing you have to focus on in this phase is getting from conception to execution. When I started working on music professionally, I had to make myself fully aware, that because this was no longer just a hobby, goal focused and intentional movements were crucial to my survival as each moment could essentially date me as an artist. So it started like this, simply asking myself was I going to take this serious and did I want others to take me serious as a result. Read more>>

Jason Simpson

After a successful 20+ career working for a rather well known coffee company I decided it was time to open my own coffee shop. Once I declared that was doing it then it was time I took action. The first step was putting structure in place to keep me moving forward. I set up weekly connections with a life coach, who was also a longtime mentor of mine. We would discuss ideas, my successes and failures, and commitments for the week. I also used project management tools to put things into existence. Read more>>

Himani Pathak

Writing the book itself was the most challenging part for me. I had an idea of what the book would be about, but I wasn’t sure what to do next. The next few months consisted of trial and error. Since it was my first time working on a book, I ran into a few inconveniences. The most important thing I had to figure out was how to be consistent with my work. Some days, I would write pages on end. But, other days would go by without any inspiration or work done. Once I got into the flow, the process became more achievable. The rest of the process involved drafting and rewriting. Though it was tedious, it made the book what it is today! Read more>>

Maniyah Richardson

To start, I believe some sort of creativity is embedded within us, but it takes a bit of introspective thinking to figure out what a person’s “thing is.” For many years I struggled with the clarity of understanding “Who I am” and “What makes me great.” On a rainy day, I found myself sitting on the edge of my bed journaling trying to discover the answers to lingering questions I had about myself and my purpose. A few things became clear to me that day which led me to starting my business, Light in the Dark Media Co. One, I love having the opportunity to connect with people, and two, I have a deep infatuation with unlocking the hidden potential that is connected to purpose and creativity. Read more>>

Bran Black

I’ve learned that generating an idea is a very minuscule piece of the puzzle. Extremely necessary, but minuscule in the grand scheme. Where the determining and majority factor comes in is execution. Nothing moves, unless you do. As it relates to branNEWmedia and branNEWrunway, it’s been just that. When I came up with the concept late 2018 heading into 2019, I knew the level of impact I wanted both BNM & BNR to have on the culture. I had such a huge admiration and desire of the idea that something that came from my head could truly matter in this world. Read more>>