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.
Eunice Adeosun
I remember it was my freshman year of high school (2021), in the height of the Corona Virus. My mom was getting too worried for the fact that I was always home 24/7. She then brought up the idea of me learning makeup from my aunt who was a makeup artist. I stayed with my aunt for a couple weeks to learn but, I would take whatever I saw her do on her client’s face, then do that same thing on my face. I later just stopped going over to her because my young mind felt like I wasn’t learning anything. Fast-forward to the Thanksgiving of 2022, I brought a couple of my aunts together and did their makeup. The makeup, although horrible made me feel proud of myself. I later started practicing continuously on my friends till I had my signature makeup process. By this time, I started getting into wigs. Wigs were an alternative to my natural hair. Read more>>
Silja Paulus
My current business direction came to me quite suddenly but in fact, it was secretly cooking under the hood for a while. I am interested in so many things and learn new skills super quickly. That’s why my skillset is an eclectic mix of translation, creative writing, Thai massage, dance therapy, health-fitness-business coaching, technical writing for IT, and online course creation. I set the intention to get some clarity and figure out how to combine all these things. I was reluctant to let go of any of these. At the same time, their combined weight was weighing me down and causing loads of confusion. Read more>>
Leonid Feinberg
I am a serial entrepreneur. I’m passionate about two things – building businesses from the ground up and cutting-edge technology. After working on several world-class deeptech projects as a software developer, I started my first company, AcceloWeb, in 2008. In just three years it disrupted the web acceleration market and I sold it for approximately $25 million. Read more>>
Zainab (z) Annan
My business started because of my younger cousin. I remember getting her phone call a week before Thanksgiving in 2022. She was excited and said that it was time for me to stop procrastinating and that she had an opportunity for me. Read more>>
Audrianna Angeletti
During my childhood, one of the first beauty services I received (aside from haircuts) was a manicure. It was always an instant pick me up and confidence boost even as young girl. As I got older I started getting acrylics and it was one of those things my mom would always treat me to, so I stayed with a fresh set of acrylics ever since I can remember. Read more>>
Tiki Frederiksen
Anyone who knows me knows I have a lot of ideas, and I mean a lot. When I had my son six years ago, I experienced first-hand the need for interior-related products like play mats that were high-quality and safe for children, with patterns and palettes that spoke to ‘stylish’ parents. I felt like there was nothing on the market like that back then. And I thought maybe I could be the person to do this by bridging my Danish roots and schooling in Scandinavian design with my experience of motherhood in the U.S. Read more>>
Khamila Quevedo
In January 2023, my cousin, Jesus, and I came up with the idea of starting a business that would have a positive impact on the dog care industry. Both of us have been dog parents, so we know what it’s like to leave your dog at daycare or boarding—there’s always a mix of excitement and worry. We wanted to create a place that brought peace of mind to dog owners like us, knowing their furry companions were safe, happy, and getting plenty of exercise and attention. Read more>>
Beth Batts
I didn’t set out thinking I’d one day be running a consulting business like this—I just knew I wanted to help people. My journey started with Leap2Success, where I worked with families to bridge the gap between home and school. I empowered parents to advocate for their children’s needs, from special education services to accommodations for challenges that weren’t obvious. I loved being able to make a difference, but over time, I realized I could do more. That’s when the idea of growing into a broader consulting business started to take shape. Read more>>