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.
Toy and Rah D
Latoya and Rah D are both transplants of Cincinnati, Ohio. Rah D is from Detroit and moved here about 12 years ago and Latoya moved from Washington D.C. to Cincinnati almost 3 years ago. For Latoya, living in D.C. meant having a sense of belonging. She had access to a vibrant community of Black queer women whether it was a day party, brunch, or professional groups, Black queer people have space and community everywhere you look. Read more>>
Krystalle Wheeler
In 2012 I journeyed a miscarriage in the Spring. It left me feeling frail. I spent the Summer months feeling really sad and could cry at a drop of a hat. That fall we got pregnant again and I was cautiously excited. I found out at my 20 week sonogram that my baby was sick. I was really mad at God, feeling like I had already been through something terrible. That night, during dinner I watched my husband and toddler dance. Read more>>
Courtney Britton
I created ButtahBody back in 2020 out of necessity. I realized how much money I was wasting on moisturizers and lotions. None of them kept my skin moisturized throughout the day and most of them were filled with ingredients I didn’t know or understand. I had no idea what I was putting on my skin daily. Read more>>
Severine Embert
Originally from Lyon, France, I arrived in Austin in July 2017. I started to discover my new city which welcomed me in the summer heat. I immediately felt the good vibrations that Austin creates. Passionate about street art, I very quickly fell in love with Austinite murals. This street art can be clandestine, illegal and anonymous, or on the contrary, signed, authorized and commissioned but it’s always an artistic expression. In Austin, just like live music, Street Art is everywhere and contributes to the dynamism of the city coloring on walls and keeping Austin Weird. Read more>>
Kristy Hampton
I’ve always loved photography and frequently admired the work of others in the industry. Several thoughts surfaced when thinking about opportunity to open my own business, thoughts stemming from my competitive side and thoughts from my logical – realistic side. Thoughts such as; is the market too saturated, will other photographers accept me, can I produce the work that I envision, do I have enough time to run a business, how will I learn the skills I need to be successful? Read more>>
Brett D. Scott
It started with a big breakdown moment, I caused a major financial upheaval in my life, this caused a domino effect. My wife who was pregnant at the time left me and I had to start from scratch, whilst paying back the debt and helping my now ex wife be a stay at home Mum for the first few years of my sons life (my choice) Read more>>
Jonathan Amponsah
I came up with the idea for my business in my second year of University. I was in the Bachelor of Arts in communication and media program so I did everything by related to media and communication. In my second semester of my second year I took a photography class and really enjoyed learning about it, then the idea of creating my own business came to mind I didn’t know anything about running a business but I started anyways. Along the way I did my research on how to run a business and also how to get better at photography. Fast-Forward here I am with a successful business. Read more>>
Sylvester Brooks
I knew I wanted to be a barber when I was 14 years old. At the time me and my best friend decided to get some clippers and try to cut each other’s hair, we thought it would be funny but after cutting my friends hair, and jacking his hair up, I quickly learned that I could enjoy doing this all the time if I learned how to cut hair correctly. So I decided to research and look up how -to videos on how to cut hair. And I would practice on myself from the videos I was watching to try different hairstyles. Good thing hats are around because it was a lot of trial and tribulations learning how to cut my own hair (bad haircut days) Lol. Read more>>
Jovan Martin
All of my life I have always had to battle stigma and bullying. Whether it be due to my height, race, or mental illness, I have always been labeled as an outcast and forced to overcome stigma. I ended up homeless as an adult and most people had given up on me, the most important thing was that I refused to give up on myself. I had a friend named Fred, who invited me to a convention called HeroesCon, and I told him that I struggled socially and I was afraid that people would make fun of my height. Read more>>
Marilyn Mack
I’m Greek. I think I came out of the womb knowing how to cook and bake, and loving doing both. My YiaYia sat me on a stepstool near the stove and made me tell her when the water started boiling. I learned from her that measuring was optional for cooking, but crucial for baking…even if that measurement was “one coffee cup, filled” or “three big spoons”. Greek Easter bread was literally my favorite baking time of the year. That yeasted, eggy, anise-scented dough, braided and blanketed in more egg, and a hard-boiled, deeply dyed red egg nestled atop it. Read more>>
Jason Brown
When I first started researching how most people become wealthy, an overwhelming response was always Real Estate or the Stock market. One I started to study the stock market, almost every place I looked was very confusing. I would buy books but each book I started to read would use a confusing terminology that would force me to go buy another book to understand the first book. Read more>>
Deborah Ulmer
The shift happened with my bakery when I attended a week long plant based immersion. I then became totally vegan and rebranded my bakery the same. Soon I started realizing that I was getting a lot of customers with allergies. I began to have the main focus of my items to be allergen focused so everyone will have a treat to enjoy. Read more>>
Teri Shackelford
The idea came from 2 things colliding…..my absolute love of flowers from a very young age and helping my Mom and Sister with their wedding rentals and decor business as a kid. Fast forward 30 years, I’ve raised my two girls, was facing an empty nest, and asking myself, “what do I know how to do?” I knew flowers and parties. I started with making corsages for my girls for dances. Then I found myself making them for their friends. Read more>>
Toni Porter
Hi, thank you for having me! My name is Toni Porter, I’m a mom, serial entrepreneur & DJ. I became an official business owner after being laid off from my job. I was also in college at the same time, in need of extra money. The economy wasn’t the greatest and lots of layoffs were occurring across MI. I’ve always burned candles to relax but was having difficulty finding a good brand that actually smelled good. My god mom started making them as a hobby and I loved them. So, I started selling them at the local hospital that I worked for. When I got laid off, I asked my godmother if she wanted to go into business together. Read more>>
Nick Boyers
I grew up in Ohio and moved to Georgia in 2008. A few years after moving I decided to start a cornhole league as a way to meet new people. I grew up playing sports and wanted to continue to stay competitive without having to spend extensive time training. The league started with 8 teams at the Suwanee Town Center and slowly grew one season after another. After a few years, it grew to what it is today – 30+ locations with over 10,000 people that have played in a Peach State league. Read more>>
Kaija Lawrence
Kaija Malia, LLC. is the result of when purpose and passion collides. From a young girl I always had a passion to help and inspire others. As I journeyed through life and developed into a woman that passion also developed and I ultimately discovered that the things that I was passionate about was also my life’s purpose. As a result of my life’s challenges, victories, strengths and weaknesses, the idea Kaija Malia LLC. was discovered. Read more>>
Katie Schmitt
Our journey began at Elementary School PTO, we found ourselves together quite often working on projects; there may have been some over the top Book Fair decorations. Along the way we became friends & really enjoyed working as a team. The seed was planted that it would be fun if we started creating for ourselves & it grew from there. We sent the kids back to school after winter break, January 2020, and had the first business breakfast of CC Meep. Read more>>
kendria holmes
Rollin Clt was an idea that Kendria had back in 2017. There was a realization that there were no skating rinks in the city of Charlotte. This was a great opportunity for business and to help the community. Sh’niqua, Kendria and Brandi came together in 2020 in the midst of a pandemic to bring this idea to life. What was initially a business model for an indoor rink, the pandemic caused the trio to pivot by taking the indoor concept outside. Read more>>
Nikkita Grady
After my third pregnancy, I experienced postpartum depression for the first time. Before delivering my daughter, I had an extremely high sex drive. Seems like the moment I had her, my sex drive diminished entirely… for seven months or so. Initially, I thought nothing of it because if we’re being honest, who’s thinking about sex immediately after having a baby anyway? Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. I had no sexual desire whatsoever. I had no desire to be touched by my partner and no desire to touch myself. Read more>>
Ashlei White
Becoming a mom is probably one of the scariest feelings I’ve had thus far in my 30 years of living. The fact that you’re about to take on the responsibility of another human being and still find a way to remain the woman you were prior is something you can’t imagine doing until it happens. Growing up, most young girls dream and anticipate the day they’ll start their family. I was just starting my second career in HR and had so many plans on how I would dominate my field. Read more>>
Maritza Camacho
During my teenage years and early 20s, I was very involved in training and thought personal trainers were amazing. However, I was under the impression that in order to be one, I had to look a certain way. This along with a few more things, prevented me from being comfortable in pursuing being a trainer. Fast forward, I became a mom and decided that I had to pursue whatever I wanted as a way to be a better example for my daughter. Read more>>
Ingrid Barnhart
I have always liked photography. I saw my Dad taking pictures of everything (it was his hobby). I did my first portrait session when I was 17, invited a high school friend, painted a large piece of paper, grabbed a lamp in my house, and did it! I still have those pictures, which are a treasure for me. I wanted to go to Photography School when I graduated. Still, I ended up forgetting about it and doing not only one but two college degrees in business and administration, and of course, that’s what I did for a long time; Read more>>
Jamille Leonard
The idea originated for the love myself, mom, and grandmother has for great handbags. I just recently graduated from college unsure of my plan but grandmother made it loud & clear that I need to make a move with grad school or get a job in my field. Reluctant, on following suggestions I came up with a game plan and pitched my idea to two of my closet friends. The birth of The Clutch Express Co, LLC made its debut. Read more>>
Vivian Wilson Bluett
When I was a kid I spend a ton of time with coloring books and sketch pads. At the time, I never thought being a visual artist was a career choice for me. In my early 20s I received an art set from my ex-fiance’ that included different types of paint. 10 years later (2015) I actually took the paint out the packaging and began to play around with it. At the time I had been laid off from my corporate job and I had no idea what my next move was going to be. Painting was something I began to do just to pass the time. Read more>>
Joy Hardaway
I started Memphis Greetings after years of creating my own satirical cards to gift to my friends and family. I have never been the sentimental card type and wanted to give the people in my life cards that sounded like “me.” recipients would always say you should sell these and well here we are. Read more>>
Monique Butler
The idea of my Sweet Tooth Water Bottles came from my kids birthday parties and wanting to do different party favors. I saw a chance to do something unique and different and I made it into something greater. My water bottles have went from cartoon characters to NFL sports team to even movie characters. The possibilities are endless and it definitely makes you feel like a kid again. Read more>>
Burrell Brown
When I initially moved to DC I was in graduate school and working at a law firm and really wanted my suits to fit well. I got some pants tailored at a cleaners and I was not pleased with the results. I received a sewing machine as a gift from my mother-in-law and began watching YouTube videos to teach myself. After a lot of trial and error and gracious friends that allowed me to practice on their clothes I decided to see if I could profit from this skill. Read more>>
Sheena Brown
I have been making intentional candles for 17 years for friends and family as gifts. Around Christmas time of 2021, I was making candles for a friend’s Christmas gift and she spoke up about the power she felt from my candles. That was when I realized I could help others with my craft. I had changed my name on social media to Witchy Yoga Girl a year prior to starting my business so when I needed a name the same friend said “you already have your business name” when asking her opinion. Read more>>
Daijah Moore
After I had my daughter, I was trying to think of a way for me to make money and maximize my time with my daughter. I had to think what am I good at, baking. So I started doing videos on YouTube and taking orders. I was excited to be doing something that I was good at and I could still grow and develop my skill in. I thought it was solving my problem of: me not having a job, there was my money and not wanting to put my daughter in daycare so she would stay with me. Other people have the same mentality as me. Read more>>
Lauren Wright
For the last 10 years, I have been passionate about optimizing wellness by integrating preventative primary health care and research. As a nurse practitioner studying the gut microbiome of preterm infants in my Ph.D. program, I discovered that babies who weren’t being given breast milk were suffering fatal complications. I wanted to find a solution that would give all babies the ability to have breast milk, and support prolonged breastfeeding. Read more>>
Chason Forehand
Seeing the devastation within the workforce and within the communities during 2020, we decided that something needed to be done that wasn’t more rhetoric, it was about real change. We developed a system where we could bring the voices of people together to create a larger reach to demonstrate how valuing people over everything is the only sustainable and equitable action to create lasting change within the workforce and solve socioeconomic issues that plague our communities. Read more>>
Alexandria Mayhane Baskin
Poppin Natural was a vision I had years before ever being created. I had my first glimpse into the natural world starting with my hair. It became severely damaged from chemical treatments thus, I had to chop all my hair off and go
completely natural. Although a scary time cause I did not know the outcome of what I was doing, it definitely was a learning process throughout the way. Read more>>
Carla Jordan
VICTORIAN STEAMPUNK FASHION…has always been an interest of mines since the age of 7. I received a Fashion plate for Christmas and the rest is history. I remember driving my mother crazy with the selection of garments I dressed myself in. My mother was very girlie and bought the cutest shoes, skirts and dresses for me but, I managed to somehow pair the cute skirts with Wrestling or Combat boots. I knew early on I was unique and my interest would one day serve others because there are so many people that embrace dressing in unique garments and self expression. Read more>>
Jen Brooks
I have spent the last 27 years as a high school athletic director. I am also a woman and because high school sports is a male dominated industry I often found myself as the only woman in the room. I would attend local and national athletic director meetings and consistently found myself being talked over, ignored or simply not let into spaces because I am a woman. I have been told by vendors that girls sports “suck”. Read more>>
Kierra Conover
From the moment I decided to launch my business, I knew that I wanted to hire a marketing agency. My plan was to give my brand idea over to one team and have them own everything end to end; my brand design, strategy, systems..you name it!. What I found, were some amazing companies that looked like they could be the perfect fit. But…majorrr but… All of the agencies and studios, had robust services with an “I-run-a-Fortune-500-company” price tag. Read more>>
Ken Velky
When I was in my late twenty’s I owned a catering business and restaurant with two other fraternity brothers. The restaurant ended up being a money pit and sank the business. Along with sinking the business it also sank the financial possibility of doing it again. However, the day I left that business was the day I wanted to to it again, and I knew that what I wanted to do professionally was own my own food business. Life wandered its path, marriage, mortgage, kids and all the responsibilities they entail. Read more>>
Berry Nash
I have been a photographer for a few years now and I wanted a space where I could have multiple photo sets that my clients and the public could enjoy! My team and I would watch customers come into our first store just to take pictures. So we knew that creating a bigger space with over 20 sets would be a game changer! We wanted Berry Bomb Selfie Spot to be a space where creatives could be free to really be their creative selves! Read more>>
Shara LEWIS-CAMPBELL
In my previous writing and business, I discovered that I lacked direction, focus, and most importantly, purpose. These aspects are an important part of my creativity process and helps me write relatably to subjectmatters based on my own life experiences. I was contacted by a third-party regarding an aspiring poet from an underserved communitywho was having significant difficulty publishing their publications. Read more>>
Liz Harvey
Annwn Animal Sanctuary is a nonprofit corporation founded in 2021 by husband and wife team, James and Grace Danks. Seeing the need for an energetic, distinct, and exotic pet-centered nonprofit in the area, they formed our rescue organization to provide needed solutions for the welfare of unlikely pets. There are many organizations for popular domestic pets like dogs and cats, but what about small, scaly, prickly, or aquatic pets? Read more>>
Kelsey & Tony Tenamore
‘Everlasting Events’ was modeled, molded, and forged by the uniquely specific skills and experiences, of two individuals, who would eventually be married, Kelsey & Tony Tenamore. Fate had them meet while working in the service industry together at a bar/restaurant back in 2012. Their careers diverged as Kelsey moved onto corporate event planning at a large medical company, while Tony stayed on the bartending grind to learn the ins and outs of building a small business, in preparation of his own goals and future successes. Read more>>