Our community is fortunate to have so many brilliant, insightful entrepreneurs and creatives and so many of them have front row, ground level seats that allow them to see emerging trends before the so-called experts, industry leaders, etc. We wanted to create a space to connect members of our community where they could share these insights on trends and opportunities they are seeing.

Germaine Clarke

In the dynamic world of music, 2023 has been marked by the profound influence of Artificial Intelligence. Independent artists, free from the constraints of major music labels, are harnessing the internet, social media, and AI to craft distinctive sounds and rhythms. But with great power comes great responsibility, and the integration of AI in music has sparked both opportunities and significant concerns. Read more>>

Konrad Koczwara

In the ever-evolving landscape of the real estate industry, particularly within property management and operations, we’re witnessing a paradigm shift towards strategic, technology-driven management. Firstly, a prominent trend is the pervasive adoption of proptech solutions, as landlords and operators zealously seek avenues to enhance operational efficiency and, consequently, mitigate costs. This is not merely about adopting technology but leveraging it to streamline processes, enhance tenant experiences, and optimize asset performance. Read more>>

Kyle Bray

One of the biggest trends I’ve seen since opening our food truck in the middle of the pandemic is that more and more people want the flexibility to eat outside or on their own terms. Having the ability to offer outdoor dining was a huge benefit at the height of the pandemic and even so now three years later. Read more>>

Jennifer Emens

Micro-weddings and elopements have become increasingly popular, offering an intimate and meaningful alternative to larger gatherings – they are some of my favorite weddings. The rise of technology is evident, with live-streamed ceremonies allowing loved ones from around the world to participate virtually. Couples are also opting for bold and diverse color palettes, moving away from traditional whites and pastels – I love all the color. Ultimately, personalization remains at the forefront, with couples embracing their backgrounds, hobbies, and shared experiences to curate weddings that are a true reflection of their love story. Read more>>

Michael Tran

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Some of the biggest trends in the new generation of contemporary artist is an explosion of experimentation and straying from traditional painting into a more interdisciplinary approach. I’ve been seeing a lot of printmaking on stretched canvas, 3D elements on canvas, decorating the edges with found objects, and so much more. I think it’s so fun and allows artists to finally get that individuality we all strive for. There is an artist in my cohort, Estefanía, who was one of the first people to use the 3D element to her artwork in such a subtle and intentional way. Her piece, ‘The Red Truck,’ uses foam board, battery powered lights, and acrylic along with an understanding of perspective to build off the canvas and create the illusion of the back of a truck with the lights illuminating. Read more>>

Austin Ventola

The main thing I see amongst creatives is an incredibly curated and public web presence. There are so many places to have a presence online from Behance to Instagram to Dribbble to Pinterest, not to mention work-for-hire gigs like Fiverr and UpWork. I think having an online presence is a great thing especially for designers with global reach, or agencies with a very strong reputation. At this stage in my small business, I prefer to work with my local community, meeting my clients face-to-face. I find my work more satisfying when I can onboard with my clients over a cup of coffee. And I have more time and energy to focus on my projects and lifestyle when I’m not worried about my online profiles. Read more>>

Stef & Chris Schaldenbrand

The first that comes to mind is the support between pop-ups whether they’re competitors or not. Perhaps it’s not a new trend, but one that is so noticeable across an increasing number of pop-ups. Our favorite examples- recommending competitors for other jobs/locations, the willingness to advise new start-ups, and our favorite- seeing industry folk move away from trashing other businesses even if they didn’t love the food or have a great experience. We also see a lot of brick and mortar restaurants being equally supportive of pop-ups and overall it’s really beautiful. Read more>>

Jordan Rahim

In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, social media is the driving force reshaping industries. I specialize in digital marketing, focusing on real estate agents and lawyers, helping them establish compelling online presences. Recently, I collaborated with a struggling real estate agent, leveraging social media to showcase their expertise. Within weeks, inquiries surged, leading to closed deals. Social media isn’t just a trend; it’s a transformative tool. While challenges like evolving algorithms exist, the opportunities it offers are unparalleled. Crafting engaging narratives and strategies, I navigate these challenges, turning them into opportunities for my clients. In essence, social media isn’t just a platform; it’s a game-changer in today’s competitive market. Read more>>

Sam Leigh

Unique AI Utilization in Entertainment In an industry where the trend is increasingly leaning towards using machine learning and large language models to generate ideas from scratch, at inArtists (iA), we proudly stand apart and with our fellow creatives and creators, in-house and in the broader artists’ community. We have chosen a distinct path when it comes to the use of AI on creative endeavors. Read more>>

Davis Mallory

As a DJ we always get requests and one of the cool new modern trends I’m seeing in the industry is a way to do virtual Requests. Recently in Nashville I DJed a Corporate Event at the Four Seasons where we let the guests “play Dj” by scanning a QR code and sending in their requests to me virtually throughout the evening. It was a fun – socially distancing style way to put in a request to the DJ throughout the night. Read more>>

Devon Sweat

Witnessing the rise of digital photography, social media and now AI has been quite the rollercoaster as a photographer. As an artist that prides himself on “traditional” practices within my craft, I’ve tried to stay as authentic as possible. Social media was/has never been my favorite thing. I love the early concept of social media platforms like Instagram; being creative, sharing your art for your friends and peers, and that’s it. Now, it has definitely become a place to advertise your business or YOURSElF. I’ve never been one to put myself out there like that, so social media has been a bit of a hurdle for me. Read more>>

Quiana Johnson

Inclusivity is one of the biggest trends I’m seeing within the beauty industry, specifically sun care. I find this interesting because being inclusive shouldn’t be a trend it should be the standard. Before Black Girl Sunscreen, people of color were completely ignored from being consumers of sun care products. Our deeper complexions and skin care concerns weren’t a priority for the leading brands at the time. Not only that, but some of us may not have been raised wearing sunscreen, have never gotten sunburned, or weren’t educated about the benefits. Now that Black Girl Sunscreen has entered the chat, we have opened up a part of the market that caters to all who were ignored by providing sun care that works for us! Read more>>

Erin Cortinez

The cake world lives and breathes trends. Currently my favorite trends are the Lambeth style and the use of wafer paper in cakes. The Lambeth style, also known as the “vintage cake style” is very trendy right now and I’m obsessed. It simultaneously makes reminds me of Marie Antoinette & a 1950s wedding cake. It can be done in so many different color palettes and piping techniques that it is one of the most versatile cake styles there are. It’s funny because I have been in the this business long enough to see trends come and go. When I started in cakes, big obnoxious borders were the trend, but then a couple years later borders on cakes were considered out of style and people started liking cakes that were cleaner with zero border at all. Now we’re back to loving the piping having borders on our cakes again, trends really do always come back around. Read more>>

Shubham Gosalia

As an independent cinematographer deeply immersed in the dynamic world of filmmaking, I’ve had a front-row seat to some significant trends that are reshaping our industry. Here’s my perspective, along with a memorable anecdote that captures the essence of one of these trends: The rise of streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and others has transformed the way films reach audiences, providing indie filmmakers like me with a direct route to a global stage. This trend has unlocked an incredible array of opportunities for independent creators, offering us the chance to showcase our work to a vast and diverse audience. Read more>>

Jacopo Iasiello

One of the most prominent trends I’ve observed in the commercial /residential real estate industry is the increasing impact of fear and uncertainty on market dynamics. This phenomenon is reminiscent of the concept that money is often created when fear and uncertainty arrive in the market. Currently, this trend is unfolding in the real estate sector, and it presents both concerns and opportunities. Read more>>