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.

Idit Or

****** PLEASE NOTE: we have chosen the “Customer Success Story”, which is not listed in the dropdown: “Can you share a customer success story – a time when you helped your client or customer achieve a really great result or solved a difficult problem for them?” ***** Read more>>

Mitchell Swindell

I was born and raised in Metro Detroit. In 2014, I moved into my current home located on a wooded, one-acre lot that was mostly lawn. As a first-time property owner, I felt an obligation to share my land with local wildlife and help restore the forest. However, my inexperience and naiveté only led to long grass and unhappy neighbors. Read more>>

Nicole R. Banks

I’ve always been interested in missionary and humanitarian efforts since I was 18. I have been able to travel to over 15 countries, and while I enjoyed what I was able to accomplish, I always felt there was an underlining need to provide aid more sustainably. Read more>>

Tara Lane

What started out as a group of four women has grown into a full fledged networking and instructional organization with sponsors and members over 300 within our networking platform. More about THE SISTERHOOD: Read more>>

Michelle Valenzuela

Looking back at how I started my business goes back to my children. I had my first daughter in 2006, when I wanted to capture all her growing moments. I started to take photos with a point and shoot camera a simple digital camera at the time. I then realized that I wanted my images to look better and upgraded to my first DLSR camera Nikon D60. Read more>>

Timothy Moore

I blamed my father’s absence from life as child as the reason for my failures as an adult. I always felt that if he were around then I would not have had as many failures as I did. I had a lot of suppressed and unexpressed anger towards him for most of my life. Read more>>

Darwin Salazar

It all started when I was just entering college, I always liked the whole world of digital art, that’s where I started using the famous design programs, I started making designs for my friends, and some clients who liked my art, little by little little I began to be known, until today that we have become a great empire, occupying more than 10 countries Read more>>

Katie Bryl

During Covid, I had begun drawing silly things from pop-culture for my friends and making them into stickers. I’d send the stickers to them as a way to stay connected during a time of distancing. Read more>>

Melissa Swift

SHE WALKS LLC was birth after I had gone through what I felt was a dark season in my life. I always refer to that season as a season of pain and isolation. It felt like everything I loved the most, God removed it from my life during that time. Read more>>

Ketia Daniel

Coming up with my business idea was actually always there in my face. I was working previously for an employer and I was known as the person that was just always cleaning up their area keeping things tidy knowing where things go and I had a spot for everything. Read more>>

Kristin and Heather Thompson and Gardner

Kristin invited heather to work at her salon on S. Congress; the salon didn’t have a name and they brainstormed for a long time to come up with the wild hare. Heather was getting a degree in Environmental Science and Policy from St. Edwards University when we had to find a new location for our salon. Kristin randomly suggested that we redesign the branding to create an eco-conscious space. Read more>>

Donelle Mendoza

The idea of Starting up Birria Queen LLC didn’t traditionally start how most business ideas begin. It began more authentically than that, Taking it back to November 2018 , I moved here to Austin Texas from California. The first thoughts of moving here were to Find a regular 9-5 job in the medical field, and to also find my favorite go to taco shops. Read more>>

Robert Workman

Barebones living started with a shelter. our mission is to help those that a roof over their head and food to eat. I started and then sold two other business’s in my life. Read more>>

Carolyn Michael-Banks

A Tour of Possibilities was birthed out of being told by my CEO, “including African American History in a tour script would make people too uncomfortable.” In the late 1980’s I was working for a national sightseeing tour company in Washington D.C. When I was promoted to the position of General Manager of the DC operation, I thought I had some authority to make some changes… Read more>>

Jacqueline Lozano

The seed for my business was planted when I was little. I remember looking at models on Tv and being amazed on how the shades on their eyes looked so seamlessly and flattering and how their skin looked so perfect. I was determined to learn how to create that on my own. Read more>>

Tony Gunn, Jr

small amount of leisure time. I was scrolling on a social media platform and I came across a post from someone that was describing how a person completely did them wrong. Read more>>

Jasmine & Angelique Gordon

While being in between jobs and picking up odds and ends I was asked to style someone who recently had a gastric bypass. After helping her find a few things to fit her new body type and boost her confidence it occurred to us that we had a huge gap in the women’s shopping industry. Read more>>

Sonovia Pryor and Carmen NateSmith

Our journey as mixologists dates all the way back 11 years. Working as Starbucks baristas, attending mixology school, and working for a friend’s mobile bartending business is what the early stages of our mixology careers consisted of. We later transitioned to working and managing local bars where we worked closely with the owners and learned the ins and outs of the bar business. Read more>>

Sarah Wilburn

I got the idea to start Lost Buddy Spices when my first born was 6 months old. I had been reading “You Are a Badass” by Jen Sincero (if you haven’t already, I highly recommend you grab a copy and start reading!) and I was feeling inspired to step out of my comfort zone and develop a plan to start a new company. Read more>>

Judith Gaton

I originally went to college to become a Fashion Designer. Then, I received my first critique of a collection I designed. My professor told me “You are technically perfect, but boring.” So like all budding artists, I decided to become a lawyer. Read more>>

Rachael Coleman

When I first started college, I learned a lot about the industry. There are, of course, things I love but I wanted to change the things I didn’t like. I hated the Idea of a starving artist, so many famous artists that we know today all died broke and homeless. Read more>>

Jay Desai

I love coffe and wanted to do community cafe as I was very much impressed with local community in upstate area. We got so much love from locals and everything happened good here in Greer SC so me and wife thought about a cocept where we can bring community, work with locals and help locals and it is kind of our pay beck to the community. Read more>>

Kyra Green and Mariah Harbert

Setting the table was both a privilege and a chore in our family – rarely anything in between. As kids, we either begrudgingly placed butter, glasses of milk, plates and silverware, or we fought to unpack the holiday Rubbermaids with Thanksgiving pilgrims and pumpkins, bright Easter decor or crystal nativity sets and Christmas china. Read more>>

Edlin Mendivil

I battled with insecurities growing up an makeup has giving me a boost in my confidence, even though I now love being in my own natural self when I do my hair and makeup I feel empowered, helping other woman feel the same way is my purpose, when I give them the mirror and the end and see their reaction is so special to me and that I can have a part in making them feel their most beautiful and confident self is priceless. Read more>>

Inikeya Wilson

I Came Up With The Idea Of My Business “The Makeup Plug Cosmetics” Because I Was Already A Makeup Artist In My City Of Baltimore. The Looks I Would Create and The Products I Would Use Not Too Many Other Makeup Artists We’re Doing, Read more>>

Timothy Freitas

When I first started teaching, I wanted to give my classroom a catchy title because English, at the beginning of the day, can be particularly boring, especially in 84 minutes blocks. So, as I dug around, I settled on “The English Emporium.” I ran with that for about a year, but it certainly didn’t fit my jam. So, once I transferred schools, I knew it was time for a reconceptualization and reinvention, and “The Garden of English” seemed to hit all of the points I liked. Read more>>

Alpa Rama

Being born and raised in Paris, I always enjoyed fashion, more than a trend, for me it has always been a form to express yourself. I lived in Mumbai where I worked in a PR company with numerous fashion designer. After moving to Florida, more specifically Orlando, where fashion would mostly be very casual, I kept my french style. Read more>>

Bobbi Wenzler & Kathy Michalski

1. Spending more time together! We live in different states. Bobbi lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Kathy lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota. We wanted a way to have more time together doing something we loved. Read more>>

Kelly Bach

For as long as I remember I have always loved creating and putting together patterns. I went to school for fashion merchandising and interior design but It wasn’t until I was 29 that I realized I wanted to make my own fabrics. Read more>>

Travis Fourmont

Bar Pigalle is located in the Brush Park neighborhood of Detroit. This area was coined Little Paris back in the 1920s when our building was build. Pigalle is a neighborhood in Paris known for cocktail bars, hospitality and nightlife. After a trip to Paris while working on the business plan, I decided to explore what a French/American concept would look like in Detroit. Read more>>

Dave Magliano

I have studied the martial arts for 40 years. It has been my life-long passion and an integral part of our family. During my 20 years of military service, I had the opportunity to study under several individuals who helped me to understand the real value of martial arts training and inspired me to turn this passion into a living. Read more>>

John DeMato

The idea for my business came by serving the need of one particular client. Up until this point, I had been mostly making money as a headshot photographer and general, jack of all trades, photographer who chased any event or portrait gig that paid. Read more>>

Mubarak Oyegunle

Growing up, I’ve always had a creative spirit. When I was young, I would take random materials from the arts and crafts store, or whatever leftover school supplies my parents left in the house – and build stuff with it. Read more>>

Jordan Redwine

Ankh&Lotus was created in April 2015, but it wasn’t until I attended a fashion business retreat at the very beginning of the pandemic, that inspired me to transition Ankh&Lotus into the “D Cup and Up” brand. I always wanted to create luxury pieces but I couldn’t figure out how to stand out from the crowd until that moment in 2020. Read more>>

Suburbiana Brixx

One day my (now) husband suggested that I learned to DJ, and that he would be able to teach me. He suggested that I would learn because Kansas City at the time didn’t showcase events with a male and female duo. I went for it and the rest is history. Read more>>

Jake Kladder

After several years working for the catering arm of a restaurant group, I started to dream about striking out on my own. However, I loved my job and was very comfortable there. Enter: the cosmic record scratch that was COVID. I lost my job at the end of 2020 and, like many people at that time, had to reassess a lot of things. Read more>>

Peyton and Katie

Planning savy was created with the hopes of making planning events easier for our clients! We focus mostly on bachelorettes so that the maid of honor has less stress on top of all of her duties. We take care of the decor, stocking the fridge, itinerary planning and add ons like Bach bags, charcuterie boards, cookies, neon signs and so much more. Read more>>

Brad Harris

Good Wave is water sports company for adventure families. 
While walking the boardwalk in Pacific Beach, San Diego I saw a billboard ad I couldn’t shake. It was from a well known surf brand using too much skin for a teenager (or anyone), and I started to think bout how the greater water sports industry catered to families. Read more>>

EBONY MONIQUE

I started this business pink patience the land of EVERY RIBBON COUNTS WHEN I GOT DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER…. EVERY RIBBON COUNTS comes from meaning EVERY ONE GOES THROUGH OR BEEN THROUGH THINGS OR YOU MIGHT HAVE WITNESSED SOMEONE GO THROUGH SOMETHING. NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE STAY POSITIVE, PUSH EVERYDAY NO MATTER WHAT…..I was depressed when I came up with this business. Read more>>

Rachel Fraley

When my son was very young, I noticed that the behavior issues he was having seemed to be related to what he was consuming. I kept a food journal and narrowed it down to artificial dyes. We removed any food and drinks that contained artificial dyes from his diet and saw a huge improvement, but there were still times that I would notice the same behaviors. Read more>>

Regina Hyman

I fell in love with photography as a child, running through 35mm film constantly. I always new I wanted to be a photographer. Something about being able to capture a moment in time and knowing you can save that memory forever has always been fascinating to me. Read more>>

Sandra Florvella

With Haitian-businesses.com, it all started when I held a position at a government institution and wanted to extend to opportunities available for small businesses to my community. I conducted an impromptu search to identify and locate Haitian owned businesses online. Read more>>