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.

Dayan Viera

My thought process was simple… I didn’t want to wait for permission to become who I already knew I was. 💯

Coming up, I saw how many talented artists stay stuck because they depend on someone else to open the door for them. I made a decision early on, I was going to build my own door. That’s where the business mindset came in. Read More>>

Samantha Goland

Starting my own business came from a desire to create something more aligned with how I believe therapy should feel and function. In earlier roles, I gained invaluable experience, but I often found myself wanting more space to slow down, individualize care, and focus on deeper, more sustainable work with clients. Read More>>

Romello Blade

When I started United Blade Entertainment 2012, I was in the middle of a serious grind. I was running a separate business and working part-time jobs on the side just to keep everything moving. But even then, I never stopped writing. In fact, I wrote Gray People during that exact period. Read More>>

Samantha Santos

It was a long time coming. I had spent nearly 15 years in the events industry, working under incredible mentors, planning weddings, executing galas and activations, and building a career I was genuinely proud of. But for a long time, imposter syndrome kept me from believing that all of that was enough to go out on my own. Read More>>

Rachael Bronstein

I created Life’s Jam five years ago during the pandemic, when the music and live event industry shut down almost overnight. My background was in production finance at NBC, and I had always had a deep appreciation for the people behind the show. After moving to Florida, I became involved with local festivals like Tortuga Music Festival and the Key West Songwriters Festival, which deepened that connection even more. Read More>>