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.

Nicole Potts

From childhood I was always creative and loved arts and crafts. As I got older I use to watch my grandmother sew and mend everyone’s clothes. Throughout Highschool I use to cut up and design clothes for school talent shows. Read More>>

Reham Tahir

Palve was never just an idea — it was something that came together naturally, through people who shared the same creative heartbeat. It really began with Harris Faisal and Anum Zafur. The two were already collaborating — Harris, a visionary creative director with a sharp eye for design, and Anum, a talented textile designer with a gift for texture and storytelling through fabric. Read More>>

Sony Bruno

I’ve always wanted a brand. Since I was little it’s been something that I’ve dream about. My love for fashion has always been something that has never changed as I aged. From hot glue to needle and thread to a sewing machine. I’ve always loved altering clothes and making them my own. Read More>>

Bianca, Kayden, Karyie, & Kahvey Swanigan

My entrepreneurship journey began out of necessity. As a mother of three, I faced a daily struggle trying to find effective solutions for my children’s eczema and dry scalp. Every product I tried contained harsh chemicals or artificial fragrances that either didn’t work or made things worse. Frustrated and determined, I began researching plant-based remedies and experimenting with my own formulations. Read More>>

Jack Sanders

I studied Architecture at the Auburn University Rural Studio. I was mentored by a McArthur genius, AIA Gold Medal winning, artist, professor named Samuel Mockbee. He took his students into the poorest parts of the country , Hale County Alabama , what he called the “classroom of the community”. Read More>>

Mike Clapper

I didn’t start this business with a plan. I started it from a place of frustration and clarity. My wife and I had just finished a two-week bucket-list cruise to Iceland, a gift for my 40th birthday. We were docked in Reykjavík for a full day, and all passengers were asked to disembark for routine port checks. We had an accessible day tour booked. Read More>>

Kelsey Breland

Kailie’s first job when she was 16 in high school was working at a florist. She fell in love with everything floral and decided to obtain a Floral Design degree through Mississippi State University under the care and direction of Dr. James DelPrince, AIFD and Mrs. Lynette McDougald, AIFD. Read More>>

Shennell Estrich

You! Yes, you reading this — you’re the reason I do what I do. As a kid, I always felt an inner pull that I was meant to be a healer — to help, protect, and be a voice for others. Read More>>

Zadarius Macklin

My path on becoming a photographer was something that started before I even realized it was a skill. Growing up in Jackson,Mississippi, I was heavily involved in church. At an early age, the 1st Lady of my family’s church began to teach me how to record the Sunday services. Read More>>

Mark Murry

My journey into aerial photography began almost by accident. While completing my bachelor’s degree, my advisor mentioned I needed one more elective. I chose a summer course in Agricultural Technology at USI. It was a class centered on how drones are used in modern farming. That course opened my eyes to the broader world of unmanned aerial systems and the regulations that govern them. Read More>>

Kristyn Bray

I was born to be a teacher. It is the thing I have done all through my life, from the early years of putting my little brother in his high chair to teach him to count with cheerios as a kindergartener, to the college students from Spain and Korea who I sat down in front of the chalkboard in elementary school. Read More>>

Jooyoung Lim

My professional growth began at Studio 88 Architecture, where I had the privilege of working closely with three partners — Serda, Joseph, and Argiris — each of whom profoundly influenced my development as a designer. Serda brought over twenty-five years of experience in architecture and construction management, including her work on the Woolworth Building renovation. Read More>>

Akosua Mireku

I initially moved to Los Angeles in 2019 to pursue songwriting. I had some great experiences in the music industry and also had some really horrible ones. I came to LA with some big ideas to not just write songs, but to produce records, potentially get involved in music publishing and really put a business mindset behind what I was doing. Read More>>

Danielle Wildstein

The idea for Blue Oak really stems from my childhood and personal experiences. Growing up, my mother struggled with chronic health issues that affected her quality of life and her ability to fulfill her role as a single mother. I had to pick up a lot of the slack with my siblings and watched her cycle through doctors and medications, often without improvement. Read More>>

Eli Joseph

I started my business when I was 16, but the idea really came together when I was about 15. I worked on it behind the scenes before officially launching right after I turned 16. The wild part? It blew up within the first month — way more than I ever expected. Read More>>

Paul Dimech

I have always been an adventurous foodie particularly with dishes from other countries. I was first exposed to paella in 1994 while running the bulls in Pamplona. Love at first sight! At the time I was active duty military and eventually became the guy who was cooking paellas for unit events such as promotion parties, change of command ceremonies and military weddings. Read More>>

Kristen Mata-Ramirez

The idea for The Board Babe HTX really came from my love of bringing people together through food and creating moments that feel special. I’ve always loved hosting and paying attention to the little details that make something feel beautiful and thoughtful. What started as me putting together charcuterie boards for family gatherings and friends quickly turned into something much bigger. Read More>>

alexia white

The idea for my business actually started in the most unexpected way — through Pinterest. I used to spend hours scrolling, getting inspired by all the cozy, creative, and eco-friendly things people were making. Something about that world of handmade, intentional living really spoke to me. Read More>>

Nneka Carrie Ude

Some people have a neat, linear story about how their business came to life. Mine is anything but linear. LOVE DOT was born out of three deeply personal threads — my desire to honor my mother’s legacy, my need to reconnect to my cultural roots, and my determination to reclaim fashion as a space for purpose and intention. Let me explain. Read More>>

Tahnohn Hayes

How I Turned My Diagnosis into a Mission: The Story Behind NutFrusion I never planned to start a snack company — I was just trying to stay alive and feel human again. I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis while serving in the Navy, only two days after my wife — also in the Navy — had boots on the ground in Afghanistan. Read More>>

Royce Dixon Sr.

I got started when my wife and I went through a divorce in 2011. We had been married for 18.5 years with the last 2 being really rough. Not speaking to each other unless out in public and home we were like 2 ships passing in the night. Eventually she asked me if I wanted a divorce and I said yes, I think I do. Read More>>

Jade Norris

The idea for NSPIRE Primary Care was born out of both necessity and conviction. In 2020, I had just completed my family medicine residency — 8 weeks postpartum with my second baby — and standing at the crossroads of career and calling. I saw firsthand how broken and transactional our healthcare system had become. Read More>>

Alejandro Barriga

Books For You Miami was founded in 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic — one of the most challenging and uncertain times for communities around the world. The idea was born from a personal experience of its founder, Alejandro Barriga, who was only 16 years old and a high school student at the time. Read More>>

Stephanie Taylor

This story begins when I went on a hiking trip with my best friend who lives outside of Fort Worth Texas. She actually works for a hat maker there. She brought my first real 100x cowboy hat on that trip that her boss had made for me and I became obsessed. That hat is so comfortable and I wore it every day. Read More>>

Katie Douglas

My baby was 3 weeks old, crying in the middle of the living room and I couldn’t care less. Six weeks postpartum, I was cuddling with my partner. I felt like I might explode from the immense loneliness and guilt, knowing he was feeling closeness and I was feeling nothing. Read More>>

Alizeh and Matt Siddiqui and Earl

We came up with the idea for Common Ground Projects out of necessity — and a longing for a third space where everyone felt welcome in South Mississippi.

Alizeh is from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, and Matt is from Australia. We met in Sydney in 2016, where café culture is a massive part of life. Read More>>

Tyler Starkey

Well… It started with a $200 pressure washer from a garage sale.

At the time, I wasn’t chasing some grand entrepreneurial dream. I actually had a pretty comfy corporate job in the food & beverage industry. I was simply trying to create space in my life, space to be present with my family, to stop trading hours for dollars, and to build something that was mine. Read More>>

Alyee Sakin

I came up for the idea for The Portal Costa Rica after living my own journey of almost two decades, coming back to my authentic self in my life. I dove deep to understand myself (stand under Self), work through childhood trauma, and take accountability for my current Reality in a profound way. Read More>>

Kelley & Rachele Taylor

Kelley and Rachele, a dynamic mother-daughter duo, actually started their journey in the wedding industry before Taylor White Events even had a name. Kelley’s roots trace back to her time as a wedding singer with her band Diggin’ Rhythm and Brass, which earned accolades like The Knot Best of Weddings (2008–2010) and Best of Corporate Bands (2009–2010), voted by Southeastern brides and event planners. Read More>>