Starting a business is a commitment and requires dedication, resources and sacrifice. We asked some of the rising stars in our community how they thought through the idea of starting their own businesses.

Tony & Karla Bartolone | Artists

Our thought process behind starting our business was driven by the desire to create our own space—a space where family, friends, and new people could come and truly feel like they belong. We envisioned a place that feels like home, where creativity flows freely, and where we can both create and help others bring their visions to life all year round. Read more>>

Whitney Paige | Artist

I started my full-time artistic career right after the covid lockdown ended. I had just gone through a grueling separation from an abusive relationship and right after that was let go of my corporate job in Human Resources. Businesses were still figuring out their hiring practices and at the time I lived in a small mountain town in the middle of Winter and opportunities for work were slim. Instead of seeing my circumstances as a hurdle, I saw them as an opportunity. It felt like DIVINE TIMING. I had just gone through the hardest season of my life and for the first time ever I was entirely unemcumbered, so I thought, “This is it! This is my moment! I need to dive headfirst into my art and put EVERYTHING I have into what I’m passionate about.” I figured if I failed, I was no worse off than I was before I tried, so it was time to try! Read more>>

Michi Sanz | Singer & Songwriter

Born in Maracay, Venezuela, Michelle Valentina Sanz Mateu, artistically known as Michi Sanz, began her musical career at the age of 6, where she discovered that music is her true passion, since then she has always been in festivals, media, majors events to show the world its evolution. Singing this 2023 at SXSW. Read more>> 

Delanta Frink | Quality Control Coordinator

The purpose of started Research Xanadu stemmed from Xanadu Flow which is a think tank that use Sound as a tool to process information particularly in the financial sector. Research Xanadu is a “special purpose” business trust that extends my understanding of Sound as a tool to enhance humanity through sonar technology. Read more>>

Annie Cooper | Personal Trainer, Nutritionist, Podcast Host, Fitness Model

I wanted to take my passion for fitness and health and use it to push others to be their best. I wanted flexibility in my life and to be able to work freely without being tied to a specific schedule. I wanted to help others learn what I wish I had known when I first started out on my fitness journey. Read more>>

Jano Degen, Oliver Leysing Jano Degen, Oliver Leysing | Worldtraveler & Photographer

We are Jano and Oliver aka the World Walkerz, two guys from Germany. We started working as chefs in the kitchen. Jano in Dresden and Oliver in Düsseldorf, Germany. After we‘ve had finished our apprenticeship we worked together in a country club in Miami where we’ve met. After two years we’ve decided to keep travel and work outside of Germany. So we went to Australia and New Zealand. In our travels we started to get more and more into photography. We’ve got by the time lot of positive feedback and wanted to become more professional. Read more>>

Deep Dive Through Music | Music Content Creator

Music is 1 of the things I love most in my life, and I wanted to find a way to share my experiences and also experiences of others in the music game.

I really wanted to be 1 of the platforms that puts the spotlight on rising artists in the UK and also internationally as well. Read more>>

Lilian Raji | Fractional CMO, Communications Advisor and PR Specialist

I honestly didn’t want to start my own business. I only wanted to be in public relations because it felt aligned to my destiny. Unfortunately, I fell in love with PR shortly after 9/11, when there was a hiring freeze in the industry. I managed to secure a 3-month internship at a local boutique PR agency which stretched into 6 months with me being freelance with the agency at that time as I interviewed for a full-time position at another agency. I quit working with the boutique when I believed the other agency would come through, but it didn’t. I was devastated, but kept pursuing interviews at other agencies. Read more>>

Lidia Lima | Wedding & Family Photographer

Starting my own photography business was a decision born out of passion and a desire for creative fulfillment. In 2021, during the COVID pandemic, like so many, I found myself reflecting on what truly brought me joy. At the time, I was working full-time in healthcare—a rewarding yet demanding field—but I realized I needed an outlet to express myself creatively and connect with people in a different way. Photography has always been a part of my life, and I loved how it could capture the essence of a moment and tell a story. With so many families, couples, and individuals navigating uncertainty during the pandemic, I saw photography as a way to bring light and preserve precious memories during a difficult time. Starting my business allowed me to combine my passion with a meaningful purpose. Read more>>