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.
Colleen Bauer
The idea for Fairy Godmother Events was born out of both encouragement and a deep passion for helping people feel calm and cared for during important moments. Years ago, I had the honor of serving as Chairperson for the Bakersfield Women’s Business Conference. After planning such a large, detailed event, I received a wave of compliments from fellow committee members and event partners. Many of them said, “You should really consider doing this professionally.” At the time, I didn’t think much of it, but the seed was planted. Read More>>
Mickey Ni
My inspiration for opening Zing Bungee Fitness came from a desire to redefine what fitness can be. I’ve always been passionate about movement and well-being, but I also recognized that traditional workouts can become monotonous or even feel inaccessible to some. When I discovered bungee fitness, I was captivated by its unique blend of exhilarating movement, low-impact benefits, and incredible full-body workout. Read More>>
Karen Laughridge
I have been a professional photographer for what feels like my entire life. I started my business in 1998 out of my parents sunroom. I had fallen in love with photography in college at Kennesaw State University. I had to be patient building a business as it takes a while. It takes an investment and then one day you are making a profit! I became very well known for my bright colored photographs. Read More>>
Sierra Stover
I came up with the idea for my business during one of the most tender and vulnerable seasons of my life — right after becoming a mom. My daughter was under one, and I was praying daily for a way to provide without having to leave her in someone else’s care. I couldn’t stomach the thought of handing her over to a stranger just to clock into a job that drained me. I knew deep down that I was meant to do something different — something that aligned with the values I wanted to raise her with. Read More>>
Sierra Kondos
Freelancers have the power to choose what stories they pursue- from niche cultural pieces to breaking news or personal essays. You are not bound by a single beat or editor’s assignments, which means more creative range and the ability to write about what genuinely interests you. Read More>>
Patience Gyamea
I’m so glad to share this story thank you, CanvasRebel Magazine, for the opportunity.
I have loved earrings since I was a teenager, but as I grew older, that love evolved into a deep obsession with jewelry. My collection grew rapidly filled with beautiful, unique pieces. One day, after buying yet another batch of earrings, I opened my jewelry box and was overwhelmed. Read More>>
ASHLEY KUEHNE
At Embodied Experiences, LLC, our mission is grounded in compassion, connection, and healing. As experienced trauma therapists with 20+ years each, we’ve walked alongside countless individuals on their journeys toward wholeness. Partnering to create this practice was a natural evolution—rooted in our shared belief that healing happens not in isolation, but in safe, attuned relationship. Read More>>
Courtney Loughney
In 2012 I was working as a behavioral specialist, mostly with children on the autism spectrum. I loved working with the kids, but didn’t love all of the paperwork. Simultaneously, more and more children were using iPads, and social media was on the rise. As screen time was on the rise, childhood anxiety was rising, and time spent playing outside was declining. Read More>>
Tara Eschenroeder
Storytelling is one of my love languages, and I’d love to share one with you.
The story is a small part of the many chapters of this path that has chosen me to walk it, and it’s created as I do.
I had just graduated from university and was in a place of “what’s next?” To be honest, I was feeling a bit lost. My mom lovingly continued to invite me to come and practice yoga with her without a single ounce of pressure. Read More>>
Sandra Burlizzi
I am the founder of a women’s group that was established primarily to address communication needs. As an expatriate for many years, my journey began when my husband’s career took us away from Italy, forcing me to leave behind a job I loved and distance myself from my home, friends, and family. Every relocation brings the challenge of starting anew, and I have now spent 11 years in the United Arab Emirates. Read More>>
Caitlin Wible
I started this business as a creative outlet to pull myself out of Postpartum Depression. I became a stay at home mom after having my second child and struggled with Postpartum Depression to the point where I wouldn’t leave the house to even go on a short walk or run simple errands. I have always made smaller balloon garlands for my own children or helped friends with balloon garlands for their events. Read More>>
Bethany Andrews-Nichols
In October 2017, I took two weeks off from my corporate job as an Art Director to travel to Jaipur, India and immerse myself in traditional block-printing. I had no idea that experience would spark the next chapter of my career. Read More>>
Caitlin Whitmoyer
I never imagined I’d start my own business. Much less two of them. And then consider how many more I may also start before I die.
Truthfully? Starting a business was convenient (hold the judgment) when I first made the jump. I had reached the top of my career mountain in education, and realized the top was a bit less fulfilling than I’d expected. Turns out I missed a few warning sings, which led me into a fiery pit of burnout. Read More>>
Alex Hilburn
The idea for Surge was born out of an idea that the events industry was complacent.
My partners and I have been in the live events world for years, constantly watching artists and promoters pour money into ads that barely moved the needle. Every festival season looked the same: a flood of Instagram ads, rising customer acquisition costs, and flat ticket sales. Meanwhile, I’d see someone post a flyer in their group chat or text their friends about a show, and boom — Read More>>
Rasheid Shamsiddeen
Since a child I’ve always had a passion for fashion and vintage clothing, but never considered selling clothing. Life’s Closet came about my junior year of graduates school. My passion for vintage clothing started to outweigh my desire to work for others. I started out selling vintage clothing on one third party selling site in-order to support myself through college. Read More>>
Katrina Kelley
The idea for Cigar Bella came to me at an upscale event where a cigar roller was off to the side—barely noticed, no signage, no real interaction. Guests were curious, but the experience lacked intention and elegance. I stood there thinking, This could be so much more. Read More>>
Kendra Conkle
I get asked often where the idea for Scripture Flips came from—and honestly, it was born out of heartbreak, prayer, and a deep desire to help someone I loved. Read More>>
Andrea Scrivanich
One evening, I came across a photo of a bride standing in the middle of the desert. The light, the setting, the feeling—it stayed with me. It made me realize how powerful location can be in telling a love story. Read More>>
Hillary Jackson
When we moved our family to a new city—Atlanta from Connecticut—my children were getting older and more independent in school, which gave me the opportunity to return to art classes for the first time in decades. I discovered jewelry making and was immediately captivated. An example of inspiration was encountering Mignonne Gavigan’s embroidered jewelry work. Seeing these new mediums and approaches opened me to possibilities I’d never considered in the commercial jewelry space. Read More>>
Sergio Longo
I was born and raised in one of the most beautiful places in the world — Sicily — and I’ve always worked in the tourism industry. Since 2001, I’ve held a degree in Tourism Economics, and I spent ten years working abroad. Read More>>
Maddy Parke
I came up with the idea of doing creative photoshoots and videoshoots for people when I found my true passion for photography and videography, and when I realized I would be doing it for the rest of my life. When I was in middle school, I was walking home in the rain with my Android phone and stumbled upon a four-leaf clover. I bent down and snapped a picture of it. Read More>>
Megan Collier
I was scrolling through tiktok one day and stumbled across this video explaining what UGC was. Immediately was intrigued and looked into it – it made sense that brands needed more content beyond just influencers and having only 200 followers at the time, I dove into getting started. I was working full time for a medical device company, not loving it and also was a new mom so I needed something legitimate that would help pay the bills + give me that creative outlet I’d been longing for after several failed side hustle attempts. Read More>>
Zack Squier
As a chef, I’ve always had a deep respect for cannabis—whether it was helping someone with pain, sleep, anxiety, or just offering a better way to unwind. But if I wanted to consume an edible or one of the few cannabis drinks available at the time, I had to settle for artificial flavors, food dyes, preservatives, and other ingredients I didn’t usually put in my body. And more often than not, they just didn’t taste good. Read More>>
April Austin
I love to read! When I became a mother, I wanted to instill the love of reading in my children. So, for my oldest child’s first birthday, I bought her a book. On her 2nd birthday, I took her to the bookstore and helped her select a book. For her third birthday, she was excited to pick out her own. She came to love the tradition, and it made her excited about reading. It’s a tradition that I shared with all my children, and they became avid readers! Read More>>
Shaniece Jones
My mission is to help people transform their space and their life by discovering the root of their clutter, starting with decluttering and organizing their closets. So many of us find ourselves stuck in cycles where we try to hold it all together on the outside, while quietly crumbling on the inside. Whether it’s shame, guilt, grief, or insecurity, we carry things that never get addressed, and for many people, the closet becomes the space where it all hides. Read More>>
Kachelle Pratcher
I came up with the idea for my business during one of the busiest and most transformative seasons of my life. I was producing live television news every day while also teaching journalism and quietly helping people in my network with their content. I’d finish producing the news for the day, teach a class, then spend nights helping friends outline newsletters, pitch stories, or figure out what to post on social. Over and over, I saw the same thing: people had great ideas, but no clear way to share them. Read More>>
Helga Berta
While growing up in Hungary, I was diagnosed with celiac disease as a child in the early 2000s. Wether it was lack of education or care, my parents unfortunately continued to feed me gluten regardless of my diagnosis. This took a big toll on my health. After moving to the US and being on my own, I started eating gluten free and taking care of myself. It was a long road of building my immune system back up. Read More>>
Emma Shaffer
The idea for Kira June Braids didn’t come to me all at once — it started quietly, between long workdays and weekends riding my horse. One of my dear friends from college gave me a set of handmade paracord mecate reins as a graduation gift. It was so beautiful and my new favorite piece of tack! I loved it so much, I began learning how to braid mecate reins in my free time. Read More>>
Melissa J Merritt
I stretch watercolor paper on frames. I wet the paper and wrap and staple the back just like canvas. I spray it with archival varnish when the painting is complete. This process allows the watercolor to be presented without a Matt or frame and gives the watercolor a more contemporary and immediate look. The work can be seen without reflections or glare and is physically lighter which is beneficial for transport to art shows. Read More>>
Kyle Schroeder
Jordan and I have been friends since middle school, and I’ve known his wife since I was nine. We both grew up in Niceville, Florida. In July 2023, while I was home visiting family from my job in South Florida—where I work as a federal consultant and serve in the Army Reserve—I met up with Jordan, who now owns a dental practice in Niceville. Read More>>