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.

Sharod Brown

One of the main ideas that lead me to coming up with a business idea that I currently have now is the lack of resources and accessibility to skill development in the area of basketball that is underfunded in my community, and the lack of a safe environment, and a place where kids could be empowered to not just be better athletes but better people in the area that I grew up in in Lorain county. Read more>>

Kate Stuttler

Heritage House: In 2014, circumstances led to a family property becoming vacant. It had been passed down 5 generations and held a lot of memories and history. It also needed a lot of work. The family didn’t want to sell, but no one wanted to do the work required to make it livable. My husband, Jeff, and I fell in love with hospitality at our job with Heartland Conference and Retreat Center. Read more>>

Kinsey Flores & Cathy Barnett

Dance is powerful. It has the potential to make you feel confident, carefree, comfortable in your body, and expressive. Dance is powerful and yet – dance can also be intimidating, judgmental, and unwelcoming. For every person who is the first on the dance floor and the last to leave, there is someone who was teased in middle school about their developing dance moves and hasn’t stepped on a dance floor since. Read more>>

Brenna Gelineau

I have been into photography since roughly 2013 (so 10+ years) and I have always dreamed of photographing other people besides just my friends and family. I didn’t have the slightest idea of the “business” side of things until my fiancé and I met. He is a business major and has run a successful business in his past, so he really was the driving point for my photography business. Coming up with the idea of it wasn’t necessarily difficult as I had already been dreaming of it since 2013-ish, but it was just the “doing it” part. Read more>>

Chad Leuci

It started back in 2021. I was working on the getting the first few glimpses of TezalCo Studios off the ground. In my spare time I was traveling the Southeast USA attending Comic-Cons, I was an avid cosplayer. In my travels I took note of the prevalence of “nerd culture” in tons of small communities, yet this representation was completely lacking in the Wiregrass. Read more>>

Jaize Hudson

My name is Jaize Hudson and I am the CEO of Savon the fragrance, Savon’s Selection my wig company and Thorough Thoughts a tv series in the making that will help people of all ages heal from childhood trauma. I graduated high school in 2020 which was the very start of Covid and went to Cleveland State University to pursue a degree in business and marketing. Read more>>

Chris Shepherd

One night in 2015, my friend and former sommelier Antonio Gianola asked if I could host a fundraiser for the MS Society. After learning Antonio had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis earlier that week, I decided to throw a party with some of my chef and pit master friends and ultimately raised $181,000 for the MS Society. Read more>>

Brianna Breshears

I love to shop, and had always dreamed of owning a Real Deals store. (Home decor, candles, clothing) I also when traveling will try and find the cutest general stores. So I got to thinking I love meeting new people, traveling, and supporting small businesses. With that I came up with Fencepost. A business that accompanies many other small businesses into one. When I pick my inventory I try to support the locals by having their items in my store as well as include them when I have events and markets. Nothing I love more than a small business and being one along side all of the others is so rewarding. Read more>>

Noriko Oyama

I launched LUXFINDZ to offer edgy, sophisticated and affordable fashions, catering to busy women looking for unique pieces. Throughout my career, I was a single mother, traveling around the world on business. From packing school lunches, driving my daughter to ballet, piano, soccer and other extra curricular activities, I didn’t have the time or energy to go to the mall to find business wear, casual lounge wear to formal wear. Read more>>

Sarai Williams

Once I started college out here in Texas I had met a lot of students and friends who encouraged my artistic side and encouraged me to pursue tattooing to begin with. Also the college I attended was a work college so I was required to come up with a business plan for one of the clubs I attended. This motivated me to really think about what I wanted to do or how far I could take my own business if I really tried. Read more>>

Kourtney Grant

After having Braylon “The Preemie Warrior” , I wanted to document our lives. He was born extremely premature at 23 weeks and 5 Days. I spent 367 Days going back and forth to the hospital to spend time with him and learn how to properly care for him. While he was in the hospital both me and his father were working and going to school to per-sue our degrees. Read more>>

Sean Prince

How did I come up with the idea? That’s a very great question. Where do I start! You see, I was always into skincare and scent ever since I was a little boy. When I was 12, I used to put my grandma perfume in my body lotion just to that I can smell great when I go to school or out playing with friends. I remember back in high school I used to buy perfume, yes, I said perfume not cologne, at the store and add it to raw shea butter with some coconut oil and used it as a body lotion. Read more>>

Tina Newton

Safety Babes Keychains was developed when I noticed so many self defense keychain businesses popping up with poor quality products. This means resin made window breakers and kitty knuckles, both beautiful but, useless in a time of need, battery operated SOS alarms, those have to be thrown away after a year, wristlets made from thick laminated paper. Basically the cheapest way to make something for maximum profit. This bothered me to my core as this is someone’s safety at stake and I couldn’t stand by and let it happen. Read more>>

Yvonne Mwaniki

Listen, when my kids were younger they used to come home from school, either with symptoms that they picked up from someone being sick at school, or with a note to the parent, explaining that a kid in their class has a communicable disease or sickness. This always alarmed me and prompted me to take extra precaution with them, hence the birth of the tonics. I started with the immune support tonic, which at the time involved whatever citrus, herbs and honey we had at home. Read more>>

Taylor Robinson Alexius Coleman

T&A GOLD originally started as Tay & Monet in 2018 which is the name of our Youtube channel. One day, me and Alexius were bored on the couch talking and decided to start a channel. Once we made it to 1,000 subscribers and were monetized , we wanted to take it a step further  by having a product for our subscribers to purchase. Read more>>

Foreign Ángel

To be honest, it started off as just a dream. I never thought of it being possible, especially coming from where I come from but I felt that I wasn’t the average artist. That hunger to show and prove to myself that I could achieve my dream is what pushed me day in and day out. My vision was always unorthodox and outside of the norm when it came to creating and seeing what I could do and how I stand out from everyone else was all I needed to see to make my dream a reality Read more>>

Kendra Nicole

It all started with a walk and tearful screaming conversation with GOD, I had just experienced one of the worst emotional breakdowns that at the time I didn’t see a way out. When I say I was upset and wondering what was next in my life, what steps did I need to take to feel like myself again, I was mentally going through it. Read more>>

Tori Beth Goforth

[My parents, Don and Libby Black, and my aunt and uncle, Jake and Carol Black, are the owners and creatives behind our Heyward Manor wedding venue. It was their dream that came to life, and I am blessed and thankful to work with them every day, serving the sweetest couples and watching so many beautiful love stories unfold. Read more>>

Beth Fynbo

As an older first-time mom with a little disposable income, I was always looking for easier ways to take care of my baby. When my girlfriends took me out to lunch after maternity leave I noticed a problem that I would need to solve when my son was a little bigger. They brought their one-year-old daughters to that lunch and the entire meal, the girls constantly dropped or threw whatever was in front of them. Read more>>

Mark Fairchild

Starting my own business has always been an ambition of mine. It was not ever really a choice in my mind, but more of a calling to be able to create a job that can help others and does not feel like work. I have had a lot of jobs in my life where going to work felt exactly like that, work. I always felt like there were options in the world to create something that was mine and that could offer beneficial services to the public. Read more>>

Avery Blanco

I’ve been a photographer for almost 10 years now, but it wasn’t until recently that I really felt like I found myself in what I was doing! For years, I would just shoot whatever anyone wanted, so I could never really pinpoint what it was that I WANTED to shoot. That is until this past year. I had my first baby, and let me tell you, she has changed my world! I LOVE being a mom! It is so special, and they grow up so stinkin’ fast. I want to capture the beauty of motherhood for all mommas so they can hold onto those tiny moments forever! Read more>>

Christie Gilkes

When I sit back and think about my why, I’m humbled by my journey and the progress I’ve made. However, my business idea was actually something I planned to do when I retired. But, as life changes, you pivot! The idea took a while to come into fruition. All that changed when I became a single mom by choice and in the middle of a career change at the time into the healthcare field, leaving a field where I was paid well to take a whooping $7.50/hr. I had to quickly figure out how to make ends meet. Instead of wallowing in the situation, I started to think about what skills I had to create additional income. Read more>>

Takesha Montgomery

I attended Saginaw Valley State University in 2007. When I first started college I had hopes and aspirations of becoming a criminal defense attorney. I had a passion for advocacy and knew that I wanted to help others. When I graduated college in 2011 with my bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice my plan was to go to law school but my plans got rerouted. I ended up working in banking for ten years before I landed a job in education. Read more>>

Jessica Poole

This little business of mine simply began by me having my own pop-up boutique, by being a vendor trying to figure out the best way to put myself out there. Listening to my fellow vendor community we were constantly looking for events to set-up at, ways to promote ourselves and our brands and markets that weren’t all the same. I soon realized I was more passionate about the behind the scenes work that went into everything and wanting to help others than continuing with my boutique. Read more>>

Sherese Patton

After graduating from college and obtaining my bachelor’s degree, I had a hard time figuring out what to do with it. Trying to find a job in marketing posed to be a harder task than I anticipated. I remembered that I had taken a Public Relations course and it was one of the classes I got the highest score in. I decided then and there to look more into that industry and see what working in it looks like. Read more>>

Devin Moore

After going through racist bullying in middle school, I didn’t want another kid to go through what I went through. I couldn’t sleep. I had nightmares. I was paranoid. I suffered from headaches. My appetite decreased. I couldn’t focus in class. I have high anxiety. The racist bullying changed the way I look at life. Read more>>

Joshua Levy

While working from home one afternoon in September 2015 I experienced an epiphany, a true calling from the Universe. It was as if time stood still when my background and experiences of creative writing, acting, teaching special education, and project management came together in one defining moment. The calling was the vision for what eventually became Joshua’s Stage. I immediately shared the moment with my parents and my wife, all of whom offered their full support. Read more>>

Shelley Lynch

My husband suddenly passed away in March 2016. A year after he passed away he knew I was just going through the motions, not really living when he came to me in a dream and said, “I want to take you to the mall, I want you to have a Canon professional camera for Christmas.” I woke up feeling very excited for the first time in a long while. Read more>>

Sierra Middleton

I Came Up With The Idea Of Being A Brand Ambassador By Supporting Non LGBT Related Businesses And Donating The Profits Of My Inclusion/Affiliated Partnered Earnings To Safe Havens That Cater To The Trans Community. While Receiving Unemployment From A Job I Was Discriminated Against For 3 Years, I Wanted To Allow Cis Heterosexual Allies To Advertise And Promote Their Apparel To Queer Customers Of Color. Being The Face Showcasing Trans Models And Trans Fashion. Read more>>

Desinique Robinson

Since a young girl, I’ve always been creative. Weather it’s been within fashion, DIYs, or technology, I’ve just always had that creative touch. I’ve decided to tap into another creative setting and I am a content creator. As stated in our previous interview last year, I spoke about my Graphic Design business. I still have that business but I am also branching off into content creating. I love it! My niche is fashion and beauty. I create outfit ideas, review makeup products and much more. Read more>>

Angela Goday

I started Serenity and Salud Travel Boutique to provide travel booking services and travel coaching to travelers who are seeking a spiritual experience on their trip. I noticed there was a need for this when I experienced first hand the impact that travel had on me during some traumatic experiences in my life. Travel helped me heal spiritually and process grief after losing my brother unexpectedly. Read more>>

Vel Wall

Krispies by Vel was an idea I actually had nearly a decade ago! I tried a cake batter rice crispy treat at a work event- which was delicious- and in that moment, I realized how much you could do with rice crispy treats. I immediately started brainstorming flavors. I was so excited about this treat that I knew others would love it, too! I began making flavored treats for my family and coworkers which solidified that I wasn’t the only one who would like uniquely flavored rice crispy treats. Read more>>

Leanna Penn

I never dreamed of having my own business. I was just a regular girl working at Home Depot designing kitchens. I worked for that company for six years and though I loved it very much, it wasn’t enough to pay my bills and take care of my two kids that were in daycare at the time. I worked my way up to kitchen design and it still wasn’t enough. So I quit. Read more>>

Brad Parkes

My family and I have been in the beer and wine distribution business since the 1970s. My wife and I enjoy entertaining friends and going out to have drinks. We’d often get tired of the bloating of beer. We occasionally drank wine, but the sugar led to headaches. Liquor is heavy and often an acquired tasted. It was about this time that hard seltzers were becoming huge – however, we didn’t like the lack of flavor and artificial sweeteners. After not being able to find an option we were totally satisfied with, we decided to start experimenting in our kitchen. Read more>>

Asia Perry

I started my business like most people during the pandemic. Not because I had nothing to do with idle time, but for the simple reason that I was sick of losing my lipgloss. Not only did I find myself taking a trip to the local beauty supply every two weeks to replace a lipgloss I just bought, but I also hated the way my lips felt when I had to constantly apply more. Read more>>

David Haupt

. Honestly, it was curiosity. I was watching all these guys make incredible knives on YouTube and wondered if I could do it myself. Turns out, with some time and knowledge, I could. Read more>>

Manny Wilson

Starting The Run with Manny Wilson Podcast, I had aspirations of creating a platform for myself and to give sports fans a voice. Far too often in the Sports world, inaccurate analysis is overvalued due to the large platform it’s presented on. When watching a large network with sports personalities and journalists, we typically assume “This person MUST know what they’re talking about if they’re on ESPN” when in reality, that’s not always the case. Despite the solid takes, most are never held accountable for presenting inaccurate game analysis on the same stage. Read more>>

Gina Guglielmelli

I believe that the ideas and visions we have, land in our mind for a reason. Now some are crazy and wild and the best ones are just that crazy and wild. I also believe that it’s up to us to see these wild and crazy visions through to life. There is a reason we get these ideas, and when we act on the idea is sets more in motion. Read more>>

Komal Shah Kapoor

While interacting with students at Pepperdine, I realized how curious they were about different careers! For me, teaching applied courses meant bringing real-life experiences into the classroom through hands-on projects, case studies and guest speakers. It was always fun to come up with projects and easy to discuss case studies but it was incredibly tedious cold-messaging on LinkedIn to find experts to come to my classroom. Read more>>

Patrick Wierenga

From an early age I always had an unhealthy interest with hats. As far back as I can remember I was stealing my older brothers baseball hats. They didn’t fit, but I wore them anyways. My father always wore a hat, subconsciously, maybe I wanted to be like him. As I got older my interest grew to wool and felt hats. Read more>>

Andrea Betancourt

I came up with the idea to even open my business after leaving a popular wax chain. I had about 50 clients in my DM’s asking me where or when I was opening and that gave me the courage that I could really open my own space. While thinking of my mission, what I really wanted the heart of my business to be, I looked anywhere for inspiration. Read more>>

Jackie Johnson

I have been an entrepreneur for many years as an author, publisher, and business consultant for micro-enterprises and small businesses. When my young adult children entered into their late teen years I began working with them to develop their business visions and aspirations. My eldest son decided to explore fashion as it was a passion of his most of his life. Read more>>

Ashley Staten

In 2017, I went to a KPop Meetup by myself. By taking this risk, I met some of my closest friends! After a wonderful time, I began planning events with them, as well as some on my own. I found it was great to create an open and supportive community for a niche audience. It is valuable to find your people, and those who are interested in similar things, and sometimes it can be hard when it isn’t something that is super mainstream (at least it wasn’t 6 years ago). Creating this community was something I wanted for myself, and in return, became something others appreciated as well. Read more>>

 

Alissa Steffens

I have always loved music and the performing arts and have spent many years in the music industry in Nashville. I noticed how many vocalists would move to Nashville and be completely overwhelmed. Many didn’t know how to sing correctly and/or how to navigate the waters of the music industry. Some people wanted a career as a gigging musician and others wanted an independent music career and others would have loved to be signed. Read more>>

Michael Herndon

I began my own business as a private guitar instructor 9 years ago after having worked in the same capacity but for someone else’s locally owned studio. I had worked there 10 years, was well loved and had a large client base. It became clear that with changes being made within the business I would not be able to teach in the manner I wanted nor have any control over scheduling. I parted ways with the business and spent the next weekend contacting people to build my website. Read more>>

Lenka Dhoju

Returning back to our traditional Slovak cuisine and especially, baked goods, was a natural transition to my own culture and heritage that brings the feel of a home while I am living far away from home – in my homes all around the world. Read more>>