A dad can’t find a bakery to make a birthday cake that can accommodate his daughter’s allergy-related needs. Two freelancers realize they need a way to organize all of their client contracts and can’t find software that adequately handles their use case. Necessity is often hailed as the mother of innovation – but not all ideas come from necessity. Unfortunately, in our experience, often media coverage of the ideas that powered amazing businesses and projects often stops at a very superficial level. The founders noticed a need and boom – idea. Often the ideation process has a much longer, more complex story and so we’ve asked some entrepreneurs and creatives we admire to go into detail about their ideation stories.

Samantha Diaz

I’ve always believed in the power of dance to bring people together, and after years of working in the industry, I felt it was time to create something truly special in New York City. The idea for the New York Belly Dance Festival came from my passion for building community and celebrating the beauty of belly dance on a larger scale. Read more>>

Alisa Singh

A few years ago I ran into a pretty serious case of artist’s block. Given that I still needed income while blocked, I took on Virtual Assistant work so I could use my decades of corporate experience for something! I worked for other artists in my community and very quickly moved from admin work to project management (one of my corporate skill sets). At the same time, I’d been building small community groups of artists and facilitating them through their weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual work. (Facilitation being another corporate skill set.) I was doing all this with an eye toward my block and waiting for it to ease. Read more>>

Jaime Duggan

Living a healthy lifestyle has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I grew up in what you’d call a “granola house” – organic food, homegrown vegetables, and fresh eggs from our backyard chickens were just part of everyday life. My mom had a vegetable garden, my parents played racquetball and tennis, and living healthily wasn’t a choice; it was just our norm. Read more>>

Nini Mosiashvili

I’m Nini, the founder of Ninimosi Designs and the creator of every single piece of jewelry you see in my brand. I am from country of Georgia, currently residing in Philadelphia area.

I was 10 years old when my grandmother took our family’s heirloom silver spoons to a local silversmith and had them transformed into tiny bangles for me. There were 10 of them. They were so small that as I grew, it was really hard to take them off, so I always kept them on. The only time they came off was during airport security checks or when I was in labor with my three children. These bangles ignited my love for silver, inspiring me to collect unique pieces from all over the world, especially during my travels to exotic countries, which is my other passion. I still wear them all the time. Read more>>

Cathy Hawk

The journey to creating Clarity® has been a series of rare and magical moments arranged in perfect
sequence to wake me up to the wisdom hidden deep within myself, and my calling for innovating
a system to understand and use human energy. It all started in an empty field stretching to the
Nooksack River in Washington State.
When I bought that property forty years ago it awakened my latent visionary systemic thinking. Read more>>

Chelsea Silva

When the pandemic hit, like a lot of people, I found myself with a lot of extra time on my hands. I had always wanted to try sewing, so I picked up a sewing machine—mainly with the idea of making dog bandanas for my dog, Massey. After all, when your dog looks good, you feel good, right? It was a fun, creative project, and I started really getting into it. Read more>>

Andre Doxon

The Remote Remodel team, I and my sisters, Alycia and Chantal, had been small time investing in residential real estate for a few years. With my background in carpentry, Chantal’s degree in interior architecture and Alycia’s Masters in Business Administration, we each had different skills that we contributed to acquiring homes in our local area, redesigning, renovating and reselling them as a side hustle. We had plans to eventually grow it to our full time business and then Covid hit. The impact on our local Florida real estate market left us as very small fish in the real estate investing world. We found we just couldn’t compete with the bigger investors and investment groups in the market. We didn’t want to just give up on real estate but in order to continue, we had to figure out how we could be different than the rest. While my sisters and I each had our unique skill sets, we all thrived on creative problem solving. Read more>>

Olivier Chemin

The idea to bring Jacques Janine to the U.S. came from a mix of passion, vision, and the desire to create something truly unique. In 2016, as I was working on the international expansion of our family’s beauty salon chain, my wife, Marcela, and I visited Windermere, Florida. We immediately fell in love with the area—not just as a beautiful place to live and raise our family, but also as a market full of potential. Read more>>

Jasmine Sia Ngegba

The story of Sia Jasmine began in 2012, sparked by an authentic and unexpected moment. My mom traveled back to Sierra Leone for my grandfather’s funeral and, knowing how much I loved waist beads, I asked her to bring me a few. To my surprise, she returned with hundreds! She couldn’t decide on which colors to choose, so she brought every color possible instead. At the time, I had just moved into my first apartment and was figuring out how to balance my budget. I quickly realized there was no way I could wear all those waist beads myself, so I decided to start vending them at local events and driving around to different campuses to sell them. What began as a practical solution quickly turned into something much bigger. Read more>>

Joseph Wu

I’ve always had a deep love for mid-century design. My first home, built in the 1950s, had that iconic flat roof and expansive windows, and it sparked an appreciation for the simplicity and elegance of that era. Growing up, I was also fascinated by music in all its forms—especially vinyl records. Though I didn’t own a record player until I was older, the idea of vinyl always captivated me. There’s something timeless about the tactile experience of a record and the way it connects you to the music. Read more>>

Alexis Billings

Kids today are more stressed and anxious than ever before. Would it shock you if I said that adults in this country are too? Our youth’s parents and teachers are feeling increasingly overwhelmed with each passing year. Thankfully, yoga, meditation, and mindfulness are now common words in our vocabulary. While these tools will not solve the underlying problems that are causing this mental health crisis, they do help alleviate suffering for the moment. I have witnessed what this crisis is doing in our schools and in our students. I was determined not to fall victim and to do something about it. That is how ArtsyAsana began. I am an empath and a creative determined to use my heart, skills, and knowledge to meet the needs of the next generation. Read more>>

Amber Hill

I came up with the idea for The Tattooers Set up journal because I noticed a gap in the tattoo industry. As tattoo artist we keep so many plates spinning to maintain our success or just build it. We to keep our schedule in order, maintaining client relationships, creating designs, and even chiseling out personal time.
Over the last hand full of years there have been a few amazing veteran tattoo artists developing coaching platforms and groups to help the tattoo community succeed as business owners, but no day to day success tools to keep Tattooers on track. I decided we needed a physical tool, not just ideas. Read more>>

Natasha Bennett

The idea for In My Prayer Closet Ministries came in a way I never expected. At the time, I was in a season of deep transformation in my faith. For years, I had unknowingly been entangled in religious rituals, going through the motions without truly experiencing an intimate relationship with God. Read more>>

Nekoe Smith

I believe I was 23 at the time. I was over at my friend’s house chilling in the living room. My friend was cleaning up in the kitchen. He stopped what he was doing and said, “Nekoe, what do you want to do in life?” I was like, “Huh?” He said, “Man, I can see you create video games or write some comic books or something. I’m telling you right now! A light bulb turned on above my head! Creating comic books. Yeah, I can do that. Immediately, I came up with a topic. First of all it’s going to be based in Jacksonville. The city is called Duval City. Just like Gotham City. lol. When I graduated from high school the very first thing I did was. I got into martial arts (taekwondo). I couldn’t find a job, and I wasn’t in college yet. My mom ran into this guy Mr. Lewis, and he teaches taekwondo for free. Read more>>

Ben Burch

Mindi and myself (Ben) started talking about the idea of opening a farm market when we were at Virginia Tech. In the Summer of 2023, we really started to piece together an idea. We knew we wanted to carry our own beef from our family farm and exclusively carry products from the state of Virginia with all Meat, Dairy, and Produce being as local as possible. Read more>>

Jayda Halsell

For years, I had dreamed of being an entrepreneur. I was always told that you can work towards your own dream or spend your life working on someone else’s. I was selected to be a part of the Kentucky Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs during high school, where I became extremely interested in the startup space and in becoming my own boss. During college, I kept that same desire, often dreaming of the business I would create. I worked in the Office of Admissions, where I worked with a leader who put me in contact with my now mentor. Throughout college, I would bounce ideas off of my mentor and receive honest feedback. This process lasted four years. Read more>>

Zoë Arnold

For as long as I can remember, I’ve had an inner knowing that I was meant to be of service to others- that my life was meant to create meaningful impact. But for years, I wasn’t sure what that looked like. I was always searching for that deeper purpose, wondering how I was supposed to show up in the world. Read more>>

Veronica Barnes

Several key factors drove me to start Mindset2Money. During the pandemic, I witnessed its disproportionate impact on individuals based on their personal financial situations. I felt some people were forced to choose between their life and their livelihood solely because of their financial status. Additionally, through volunteering with youth organizations, I heard firsthand their concerns about pursuing goals due to financial limitations, lack of access, worries about student loans, limited exposure to the process of achieving their goals, or the absence of a supportive environment providing trusted, expert advice. I believe money is a tool that can help you achieve what truly matters in life, such as health and strong relationships. Read more>>

Leslie Morrison

As a decorative artist for almost 30 years transitioning from large scale interiors to detail oriented designs mainly on leather, I feel, was a natural evolution of my career. During Covid, stores began to ask me to pop up to monogram their items, mainly bags, to bring in business. Clients began to contact me not only for painted initials but also intricate designs on Louis Vuitton and Goyard. What I found is that I was filling a void where it was taking up to 6 months to get items personalized with the bigger leather companies. Also, they were able to have direct access to me to bring to life their creative ideas. Read more>>

Laurel Robinson

This all really started when I went through a lot of BIG life changes all at once. Around the middle to end of 2023, I decided to move with my parents to their house in California that they bought to retire to — that’s what really changed it all. I would also like to make clear that although this was technically a choice that I made, it was the only REAL option for me. Even on my full-time senior designer salary at the time, I wasn’t able to afford to live on my own — or live much better than paycheck to paycheck. Plus, I’ve always been close to my family and didn’t really like the idea of being left on my own over 1,000 miles away (as well as just wanting to be closer to my aging parents). Read more>>

Cherlyn Carby

Lushus Hair was born from a deeply personal journey—one rooted in necessity, heritage, and a mother’s love.

After having my child, I experienced severe postpartum hair loss. At the same time, my daughter struggled with scalp sensitivity that made it difficult to find products that wouldn’t irritate her. I searched high and low for natural solutions, but I kept running into the same problem—most products either contained harsh ingredients or were designed for one specific hair type, forcing me to buy multiple brands just to care for my family’s diverse hair needs. Read more>>

Solimar Williams

Since I was a little kid I was always interested in Fashion. As I grew older my interest in fashion only grew, but I could also see how the space wasn’t necessarily sustainable or welcoming to everyone.

The reason I started UNBTHRD was not only to make a difference in fashion, but make a difference through fashion and I knew with that base idea everything was going to come together. Read more>>

Mary Flenner

I love magazines and grew up flipping through the pages of Bop, Teen Beat, Y&M, and Seventeen. When Kindles and iPads came out, I said, “No thanks.” I like old-fashioned things; books and papers I can hold in my hand. I still use a paper planner and listen to records. So one day when my ten-year-old daughter saw me reading a magazine, she asked if I had one she could read. Read more>>

Madison Larae Smith

Truthfully, the way it has expanded in such a short time wasn’t something I initially set out to do. At first, my plan was to just make an email and a website—a way to formalize my pitches and present my recording artist self with more legitimacy. But as I began the process, I realized that if I was going to establish a label, it would be a waste if I didn’t do it with real intent. That shift in mindset turned it from a functional tool into an actual entity—one that required infrastructure, strategy, and growth. Read more>>

Ike Lewis

I created Flip Or Drip because I saw how the big sneaker platforms were taking over the sneaker game, inserting themselves into every deal, and charging high fees. I wanted to build a free marketplace where buyers and sellers could connect directly, negotiate on their own terms, and truly reclaim the game. To me, this is that direction that sneaker culture should have gone years ago. We should have not sacrificed convenience for connection. But nobody has been willing to build a platform that is totally free. Read more>>

Brittani Cooper

I am a dental hygienist by trade and the owner of Maid for Muddy Paws, a professional housecleaning company I have successfully operated for the past 10 years. My passion for cleaning extends beyond just homes—I often say I clean both teeth and toilets! Read more>>

Luis Clemente

I’ve been in the music industry since I was 21, and now at 37, I can look back at a journey that’s been shaped by both my love for music and my entrepreneurial drive. Growing up, I was always looking for ways to make extra money. Whether it was landscaping on weekends or selling vegetables at the local farmers’ market, I was always finding a hustle. But it wasn’t until I picked up a guitar at 14 that everything truly clicked. Music became my passion, and soon I was playing love songs for my friends and family, making a little money on the side. Read more>>

Troy Smothermon

I would say that this business started with a friendship. My friend Josh (Co-founder Josh Levine) and I went to college together at UCSB graduating in 2003. We played club soccer together and became close friends when traveling to Spain to study abroad. After college we remained close and went our separate ways career wise. At the time of the World Cup in South Africa (2010), Josh and I took a trip together. We discussed our lives, goals and dreams in great detail. Both of us wanted to pursue our own business and we were unsure where to start. We ended up getting a really unique opportunity to live rent free in South Lake Tahoe for 6 months in the winter of 2010 / 11. Read more>>

Chase Muhammad

It all started with my own healing journey. I’ve always been passionate about food and wellness, but my deep dive into herbalism and holistic health began when I was struggling with my own skin issues, hormone imbalances, and energy crashes. I remember being in and out of the doctors office, overwhelmed by all the products that claimed to be “the cure” but were packed with fillers and synthetic ingredients. That was my lightbulb moment—I realized there was a gap in the market for truly natural, high-quality, plant-based solutions that were both effective and accessible. Read more>>

Lidia Loporto

Well, SocialTini was born out of a mix of passion, experience, and an unexpected life pivot. I’ve always been immersed in the world of small businesses—growing up in a family of entrepreneurs, I saw firsthand the dedication and creativity it takes to build something from the ground up. That experience, combined with my deep love for marketing, naturally led me into a career where I could help businesses tell their stories and grow their brands through social media. Read more>>

Nick Francis

Scrap2Home started during the Covid pandemic when everyone was at home looking for something to do. I noticed at construction sites in my neighborhood how much wood was thrown into dumpsters, obviously headed for the landfill. I don’t like waste of anything – food, time, money, energy, resources – and I kept thinking to myself, “I could build something with all that wood.” I don’t consider myself an expert woodworker but I enjoy it. I have three children; the second is a girl, Katie, who likes to build with me. Katie and I would drive up to construction sites and ask if we could take their scrap. Of course they never cared and happily gave it away. My wife, Amy, looked up simple furniture designs on line. Read more>>

What’s Cookin’ Nyc

This platform was designed to showcase entrepreneurs around New York City and give them a platform to speak about their respective industries. Our mission is not only to showcase, but to educate and enlighten our audience, who inspire to be entrepreneurs themselves, and are just looking for some guidance and experience.

The idea was inspired by seeing a fashion designer as a guest on a music based podcast. Read more>>

Julia Deney

I was a fashion design major at Cornell University and separately began volunteering at a local autism preschool. Staff and parents would bring up their children’s struggle with clothing when I mentioned I was interested in childrenswear design. I then began an independent study working with this school and local families on making clothing more accessible and helping them with other sensory needs by integrating sensory tools into the sensory-friendly designs. I still didn’t see it as a business until Covid hit. I was months away from graduating, and the fashion industry was shut down. However, special education services desperately needed employees during this time. So, I began working hands-on with the kids I was designing for. Read more>>

Kristal Ruiz

Hi! I’m Kristal, a mat-Pilates instructor based in San Diego, CA. I completed my Pilates certification in 2019 and started teaching reformer Pilates at local studios. Fast forward a few years and now have my own thriving online Pilates studio. So you’re probably wondering how I went from teaching reformer Pilates to starting my own business. I was in Costa Rica visiting friends in 2022 and I started to think about what I could do that I was really passionate about. I started to list the things I love: wellness, fitness and travel. And then it clicked! I could start hosting international wellness treats. It would allow me to travel, teach Pilates and connect with women worldwide. So I came back to San Diego and started a new Instagram page for this new business idea. Read more>>

Marika Ponton

Over the years, because of my CPA background and experience owning and leading small businesses, I have been asked so many questions about how to improve profitability, how to fix things in financial statements and what is my secret to doing well in business. I love helping people with meaningful answers gained from all my real-world experiences and I get a lot of fulfillment in seeing them take the information and successfully apply it to their own enterprises. Read more>>

Chiaurelia Spencer

After my daughter turned 8 months, I was over the domestic violence I was experiencing within our little family. I left the great state of Texas and headed back home to “Tha Yay Area” aka The Bay Area (East Oakland to be specific). In the midst of moving back I applied for Government Assistance; CalWORKs (TANF/AFDC), CalFresh (SNAP) & Medi-Cal (Medicare), the whole 9! In addition, I applied to and attended Holy Names University to finish out my degree plan. Read more>>

Sher Burton

I have always found joy in the small moments of life, especially through the things I use daily. As a child, some of my fondest memories were shopping with my mom for shower gels, perfumes, lotions, and candles. It didn’t matter how long we stayed in the store—I could spend hours smelling every product, completely immersed in the experience. Those moments have stayed with me because they reflect a core part of who I am: someone who loves elevating everyday routines with little luxuries. Read more>>

Michelle Shepard

Imagine this: I’m home with a 4-year-old and twin 1-year-olds, and I casually tell my husband, “I think I’m going to start designing stationery.” Within just a few weeks, I had my shop, Sweet Mady’s, up and running, selling stationery. It was my little slice of creativity in the middle of the diaper piles, preschool runs, and everything else that comes with having babies and toddlers. Read more>>

Kimberly Mejia Palacios

Events4Christ was born from a passion to gather friends or even strangers together for a great time in the Lord. When I wasn’t living for God, I was a party promoter and loved gathering people to have a “good time”. But that included partying, smoking, and just a whole lot of shenanigans that didn’t please God. The Bible talks about us his children being predestined. When we talk about predestination in the Bible, it means that God has eternally chosen those whom he intends to save. Everyone has a unique quality about them that marks them apart from others. I believe wholeheartedly that mine is to bring people together for whatever the case may be. Read more>>

Latoya Beckles

Creating has always been my haven—a way to navigate life’s challenges and find peace amidst chaos. From a young age, using my hands came naturally to me. I had a knack for transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary. Rocks, bottles, scraps of cloth—anything I could find became a canvas for my imagination. It wasn’t just a hobby; it was a lifeline. Overall using. Read more>>

Lisa Henry

The idea for Smart Girl Brand was something that felt deeply necessary for me. It was a calling within my spirit, driven by a desire for self-growth and healing. Reflecting on the many aspects of life I felt unprepared for—like finance, relationships, and self-care—I realized I needed a way to pour into myself. This journey of self-discovery and empowerment soon revealed a double benefit: not only was I nurturing my own growth, but I also found that I could extend this support to others. Thus, Smart Girl Brand was born, with the mission to empower women through knowledge and holistic wellness. Read more>>

Kanika Rosborough McIntyre

Melanated Princess was truly a God-inspired vision, sparked by a simple but powerful realization: what we see, wear, and experience every day shapes how we see ourselves.
It all started with a book. I set out to write and illustrate a children’s story that reflected the young people in my life—my son, my goddaughter, and my mentees. I wanted them to see characters that reminded them of their own brilliance, but as I worked on the illustrations, I had an even deeper revelation. Representation isn’t just about books; it’s about what we wear, the messages we carry, and the spaces where we feel seen and celebrated. Read more>>

Markita Van De Riet

By the time I hit my mid-thirties, life felt like a whirlwind—I was balancing the demands of being a wife, raising two young kids, and managing a busy career. Somewhere in the chaos, I lost myself. Every morning, I rushed out the door wearing whatever was clean and convenient, barely giving a second thought to how I looked or felt. By my early forties, the pattern had solidified: wake up, get the kids ready, work, pick them up, make dinner, shuffle them to activities, oversee homework, do bedtime routines, and then collapse into the same exhausting cycle the next day. Read more>>

Eddie Griffith

I’ve always been a bit of a film nerd and I enjoy a good story in any form. Once I started working on set as a PA, I decided to one day tell my own stories. Stories that mattered to me. It became a worthy sacrifice not only because I was doing what I’ve always wanted to and doing my passion. Once I got my first short film and even my webseries seeing the reaction from the audience made it all worth it. Read more>>

Rikki Ramsey

I have never thought of myself as an artistic or creative person.. If anything, I’m more of a business minded person.. I’m organized, I’m good at planning and executing.. That said, I fell into social media management during covid. I began by doing social media for a local photographer and decided to branch out to see if anyone else needed my social media services and quickly took on several clients. Read more>>

Rosa Milano

I think it was because I wanted to bring my family with me to this country that I emigrated by marriage, leaving my career as a lawyer and my children in Mexico to continue with my love for my profession. I decided to open a business that would provide service and support to the community, help turn that desire into reality, and have your people with you, sharing your achievements and sorrows, holidays, and parts of our lives. Read more>>

Heather Redisch

The Story Behind Adulting101 Masterclass
I’ve always been fascinated by human behavior—how people think, what motivates them, and how they connect with others. I’ve also always been someone who learns by observing. Watching those ahead of me, I paid close attention to what worked—and what didn’t—as they navigated life.

I remember being in my 20s, stepping into the “real world” and thinking: Why is there no guide for this? College was over, but no one had prepared me for what came next. It felt like a free-for-all. Read More>>

Megan Gutman

I decided to start my surrogacy agency after personally experiencing the surrogacy journey as an intended parent. Unfortunately, my experience with the agency I worked with left much to be desired. The fees were exorbitant, yet the support and communication were minimal for both myself and my surrogate. It became clear to me that there was a better way to operate—one that prioritizes transparency, support, and empathy for both surrogates and intended parents. Read more>>

Alex Curnutt

My freelance business never began with one big moment or decision. Instead, it started as an undefined project that, through years of trial and error, grew into something both successful and deeply meaningful to me.
It all started when I moved to Austin fresh out of high school, ready to pursue my dreams and a degree at UT Austin. It was here that I discovered a vibrant community of musicians, artists, and filmmakers who were eager for help with their personal projects. Back then, I was so hungry to learn and create that I dove in headfirst, blindly messaging people, showing up to random events, and immersing myself in the scene. I quickly realized the worst thing someone could say was “no,” and that became my driving force. Read more>>

Daisy Amanda Jones

Daily Daisy Botanicals literally started as a dream. After moving to SATX from Los Angeles in the spring of 2021, my husband and I were neck deep in renovating our fixer upper cottage home. For months, every day, all day, we were working on our home. To say we were tired by the end of the day was a gross understatement. We slept like the dead those months, yet rested and ready for the next day of hard work. Read more>>

Jordan Smith

Starting JJOvenDelights was like a natural progression of my life’s journey, blending passion, family, and a love for food. Growing up, my parents were always in the kitchen, and I was right there with them. My mom’s desserts were legendary – from cookies to cakes, every recipe felt like a warm embrace. It wasn’t just about the baking itself, but the connections that were built around food. When we gathered, it wasn’t just for a meal but for shared stories, laughter, and love. That feeling – that comfort – always stuck with me. Read more>>

Stephanie Rivera

I have been obsessed with photography for as long as I can remember. When I was younger, I wanted to be a photographer for National Geographic so I would walk around with my film camera, taking pictures of everything and everyone. When I was in college, I saved up enough money to buy my first digital camera and became the unofficial photographer documenting family events to nights out with my friends. When I got pregnant with my son, I knew I wanted to take his photos so I invested in my first DSLR camera. I set up little photo shoots for milestones and people would always tell me how much they loved seeing my photos of him. I would have friends and family ask to get photos done from time and time which turned into “hey you should do this for real!” Read more>>

Megan Wenstrup

I get my best ideas during a workout – lost in the music, pushing my body to the brink, dripping in sweat…I guess that makes sense? Heights Cycle was conceived more than a decade ago, yet at the time, I had no idea that this is where this story would lead me.

I developed a committed, long-term relationship with exercise after college. I mostly ran, but threw in an occasional group fitness class, with a special affinity for Indoor Cycling. Riding bikes outside with the traffic and elements terrified me, but the loud music and motivating instructors made cycling indoors nothing short of intoxicating. Read more>>

Rose D

2020 was a tough year for so many reasons, but for me, the hardest part was the loss of connection. Being with people, seeing their faces, hugging a friend—suddenly, all of that was gone. It felt like time just stopped. Then came 2021, a year we all hoped would bring us back to normal. But the truth is, things never really went back. That deep connection we once had seemed lost, and we didn’t even know where to begin again. Read more>>

Darnell Wilson

It all started when I was 18 years old running a non- profit pet rescue. I would take in pets off the streets providing them with shelter food and love, (Love for pups animal rescue) working at Morrison Animal Hospital at the time they would give me discounts on vaccines and their check ups. Although the passion was there although receiving donations it just wasn’t enough that’s when the idea for the business side came in and lovable Paws pet services was born. The logic was if I can start a business for profit I could continue with the passion while having a percentage go towards the rescue. Read more>>

Wait, Qué? Podcast

After entering the pandemic (due to exceptional boredom and the need for a creative outlet) we decided to start a blog, which soon became a marketing agency. As we worked and spent extended periods of time together, we had even more profound, interesting, and funny conversations. We kept joking that we should just start a podcast. So, in February of 2022 we did. Thus, Wait, qué? was born. Read more>>

Kasey Dunn

At A Creative Loft, our story began with a simple idea: creativity flourishes when people feel connected and inspired. We’re not just a team—we’re a family of storytellers, dreamers, and problem-solvers who believe every brand has a unique story worth sharing.

It was born from years of passion and expertise. Kasey, our founder and head of strategy, brings a wealth of experience in marketing and brand development and a talent for transforming bold ideas into results-driven campaigns. Matthew, our co-founder and head of production, has been deeply rooted in the media production space for years, honing his craft and building a reputation for delivering exceptional content. Together, they’ve built a creative space (loft) where strategy meets artistry and brands are brought to life. Read more>>

Brett Burch

Brett Burch: The Visionary Behind PilotHelper, Revolutionizing Mental Health in Aviation
In the high-stakes world of aviation, where precision, focus, and resilience are non-negotiable, pilots take on enormous responsibilities. Yet, behind the cockpit doors, many face an unspoken challenge: maintaining their mental health in an industry where seeking help can mean losing their pilot’s license. Brett Burch, a trailblazing entrepreneur, saw this dilemma and decided to tackle it head-on, creating PilotHelper—a groundbreaking platform that is transforming how pilots access emotional support.  Read more>>

Stacey-marie Williams

Believe it or not, Iconic Desserts started with me sitting at my 9-to-5 job, eating lunch, and falling down a deep rabbit hole of YouTube cake decorating videos. You know the ones; where they take a simple cake and turn it into a masterpiece, making it look way easier than it actually is. I was mesmerized. Every lunch break, I’d sit there, completely hypnotized by bakers frosting cakes and their flawless piping techniques, thinking, I could totally do that. (Spoiler: my first attempt was not YouTube-worthy.) Read more>>