Many books on startups and business talk about how there are right and wrong reasons for starting a business. So, we asked a handful of successful founders about their reasons and the thought-process behind starting their business.’

Sujei Siems | Botanical Creator & Coquito Mixologist

As a dedicated mother and recently married wife, my entrepreneurial journey began unexpectedly yet beautifully. For 25 years, I shared my traditional coquito beverage with family and friends, its rich flavors encapsulating years of love and tradition. In 2019, an idea sparked within me – to venture beyond tradition and create new, innovative flavors that would captivate people’s hearts. With courage and determination, I introduced my new flavors to the world, and to my surprise, sold 150 bottles in no time. It was in that moment that I realized I had stumbled upon something truly special. Read more>>

Angie Contreras Gorrias | Co-founder & Creative Director

Since I was a little girl I have been surrounded by art and design, my grandfather was a shoe designer and my mother an interior designer and fashion designer, so I feel like they passed me that passion for creating and exploring art. On the other side, I am an environmental health bachelor, and thanks to this I developed a large awareness regarding environmental issues, and one that caught my attention was the impact of fashion on the planet and the human health. Read more>>

Emily Marantsman | Owner, Esthetician

The decision to start our own business stemmed from our firsthand experience of the lackluster customer service prevalent in South Florida after relocating. We recognized a gap in the market and saw an opportunity to not only address it but to exceed expectations. By opening a beautiful, modern salon with a focus on exceptional customer service and top-notch quality, we aimed to elevate the standard of beauty services in the greater Fort Lauderdale area. Read more>>

Anton Smeets | Managing Partner – Watrline

Growing up in a family of creatives, plumbers, and bathroom fixture wholesalers naturally instilled in me a deep passion for design and beautifully crafted plumbing fixtures. It wasn’t a single moment that pushed me towards entrepreneurship; it was a lifelong journey shaped by my family’s legacy and a mission for bringing wellness spaces back to the outdoors. We saw the rise of outdoor living as more than just a trend—it was a lifestyle transformation. Read more>>

Libertad Rodriguez | Architectural / Interior Design Photographer

It was a mix of emotions: engagement, excitement, curiosity, but also fears and doubts. Starting a business implied a lot of effort for me, hours of planning and creating, at a time in my life when my second child was born. It was totally a bet on what I believed could be a successful journey. Even though I knew I wanted to do something that, for me, is more than a job; it is my passion, my awesome thing to do. When I was studying Architecture at the School of Architecture of Havana, I realized I used to spend quite a bit of time looking at interior and architecture magazines. Read more>>

Luis A. Valdez-Jimenez | Entrepreneur, Board Member, Voice Talent, & Attorney

Growing up in Miami helped me develop a love for hearing other languages, something that contributes to the vibrant and diverse culture that Miami is legendary for. However, I also saw how language barriers prevented people from achieving the American dream by hindering their access to citizenship, healthcare, financial wellness, and their legal rights. I wanted to help people and businesses thrive by providing high quality translation and interpretation services in all of the major languages spoken in our community. Read more>> 

Marion Carberry | Motivational Speaker, Educator, Entrepreneur

Since the 1990’s, I have been doing entrepreneurial activities. First, I incorporated my name and offered marketing and promoting services throughout the music and entertainment industries. I then opened a restaurant after the tragedy of 9/11. I began my professional journey into education, I believe, for being a hardworking and pleasant student. So I was offered a teaching position at my Alma mater, which I accepted and immensely enjoyed. When I relocated to Florida, my employment aspirations led me back into education. Read more>>

Benoit Pagliardini | Pastry Chef / Bakery Owner

I decided to start Casa Bake right in the middle of COVID. I was an executive pastry chef for a company in Miami and decided that what I was doing for them I could do it for myself. Always wanted to test myself and see if I was able to be an entrepreneur and if I were to like it. I saw it as a new professional challenge. I also saw the opportunity to make great products from scratch with natural ingredients, without any preservatives. Nowadays a lot of cafes or even bakeries sell products that come from a frozen box and are made by machines and industrial full of bad ingredients. Read more>>

Jennifer Charbonnier | Creator, Artist, Holistic Healer, Tarot Reader

Starting a business is a dynamic process that requires thorough planning, resilience, and adaptability. Each step builds on the previous one, setting the foundation for a successful and sustainable business. Read more>>

Nicole Brice | Editor-in-Chief of Mixed Alternative Magazine

After a significant career change, not by my choice, I was at a crossroads, and I needed to figure out a plan for my next phase of life. As a true music lover my entire life, I came up with the idea for Mixed Alternative Magazine after being tired of searching for new music alone. I started to notice that most of the publications out there promote who they are paid to promote and that the opinions on the music are generic and lack authenticity. Read more>>

Nathalie Azoubel | Founder at Houselab Realty – MBA

I’ve worked for myself most of my life, with a few exceptions… Owning my own business, in this case my own boutique real estate brokerage, comes with a lot of responsibilities, but the freedom and rewards undoubtedly outweigh all of them! I love being able to choose who I work with, starting with my team, but also my clients… We spend such a huge amount of hours working, that it is important to be with people that we truly like and admire. Read more>>