We reached out to some of our favorite entrepreneurs and asked them to think back and tell us about how they decided to start a business. Check out their responses below.

Avry Griffin | Co Founder, CEO Griffy’s Organics

I was broke, juggling four jobs, and unsure of my future during my senior year of college. While many of my friends had secure job offers or plans for post-grad degrees, I found myself at a crossroads. Despite my less-than-stellar grades, I always knew I wanted to build something of my own; I just hadn’t figured out what that was yet. Read more>>

Benjamin Vilaplana Stark | Visual Artist

Im still figuring out how to me echándose my art, i Just started to move in the art industry. At first in my early years I was figuring out my style, my signature my mark for my art. Two years after 2020, after a lot of praxis and studying with different másters of art I found my type of art. Now we are ready to go foward and move in the art world Read more>>

Nancy Matthews | Founder, Women’s Prosperity Network, Vision Catalyst & Architect

I’ve had the entrepreneurial spirit since the age of 5 when my friend and I picked roses from her mother’s garden and made perfume to sell and we did quite well (her mother wasn’t so happy that we picked all her roses.) In my adult life I’ve had a wide variety of side-hustles to support me as a single mom, raising two children. In 2002 I took the plunge into full-time business ownership and have never looked back. Read more>>

Alyssa Copley | Owner & Founder of Cookie Culture

I really wanted to start an online business that honored the Lord. I had many different product ideas, but none of them were the right fit until we came up with the idea to sell faith-based cookies (All God’s idea!) This idea allowed us to start a business that impacts people’s lives through our faith-based cookies. Read more>>

Jennifer Harmon | Business owner

I wanted to create unique items for people Read more>>

Sam Sambo Rawls | Engineer, Songwriter, Artist, Producer, Singer

Find something that you are passionate about that will never feel like work. One you find that, invest and make that passion apart of your life. Read more>>

Yajaira Romero | Body care seller

My thought process behind starting my own business was basically so that I could save money for my 15th which is next year and also to be my own boss and have control of my own work. Read more>>

Ervin Palacios | Direct from Go Latinos Magazine – Graphic Designer

I worked at a newspaper El Vocero Hispano in Michigan for 9 years, during that time, I acquired a lot of experience which helped me understand the importance of being able to help the community through information, when I moved to Florida I saw that it was a great opportunity to start, together with my wife Bertha Lopez, a community magazine but bilingual, Spanish and English. That’s how this project started. Read more>>

James Rice-Peña | Technician / WTR, ASD, AMRT, FSRT, OCT MRSR4158, MRSA4035

The idea of starting FL Cleanup came from a deeply personal place. Having witnessed the emotional and physical toll that water, mold, and fire damage can have on families and businesses, I felt compelled to make a difference. I envisioned a company that not only restored properties but also offered reassurance and support to those affected by such disasters. Read more>>

Michael Zuratti | Entrepreneur

I recognized a gap in the market for people looking to get tattoos but dislike the pain associated with it and are also constrained by time thus not having time to go to multiple sessions. I established a unique solution: a tattooing under anesthesia. By offering a comfortable and pain-free experience at our surgical center with medical doctors and the top tattoo artists in the country. My business aims to redefine the tattooing experience, making it accessible and enjoyable for all people. Read more>>

Vasilii Ponomarev | Forex Trader & Trading Coach

I got my higher education in Finland, EU.
While I was studying and assessing job opportunities for my degree (business data analyst), quite quickly I realized that with the average salary and full employment my earnings would not be sufficient to purchase a good apartment, travel and live a decent life. Read more>>

Ana Zecca | Broker |Owner

In 2019, in Doral, Florida, Ana Zecca founded Zecca Realty Group, LLC to redefine real estate excellence. With a strong passion for the industry and a deep understanding of the local market, Ana built a team dedicated to providing top-notch service. Every aspect, from creating the brand, the logo, and the marketing materials everything was carefully planned to ensure integrity and professionalism. Read more>>

Julia Vacala | Founder & CEO of Vianne Clothing

My entrepreneurial drive started at a very young age when I began my first business selling homemade slime at just 8 years old. This early experience sparked my passion for business. Growing up, I witnessed the sacrifices my parents made coming from underprivileged backgrounds to provide opportunities for me and my brother. Their hard work instilled a strong work ethic in me. At 16, I launched my first legitimate venture, an upcycled clothing line utilizing the design skills my mother taught me. Read more>>

Martina Negro | Luxury Fashion Content Creator

My thought process when deciding to do social media as a business was driven by the desire to fuse my love for fashion, lifestyle, and travel with creativity, leveraging digital platforms to connect with a global audience. I never knew what I wanted to do when I got older, but I always knew I wanted to work for myself. The pandemic presented an opportunity for me to start doing social media. I saw social media as a powerful tool to stay connected, inspire others, and cultivate a sense of community. I decided to share my passion for fashion that I got from my grandmother that lives in Milan. Read more>>