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.

Jonathan Madera | Empathy-Driven Creative & Innovator

I had already been designing t-shirts for Latinos under a different brand, but when I started to reflect more deeply, I noticed something missing in the golf space. There wasn’t much representation for our community in the sport. Although there were other Latino brands for golfers, they often felt very specific to a single country or culture. I wanted to create something more inclusive that resonated with the broader Latino experience, embracing our diversity and shared heritage while still making the game of golf feel approachable for all of us. Read more>>

Luis Hermida | President & CEO

We started our video production company when my daughter, Hailey Hermida, began her acting career at the age of seven in Los Angeles, California. After COVID-19 hit, we found ourselves with a lot of free time on our hands. Since we’ve always loved having fun and joking around, we began filming our daily lives and posting the videos on TikTok and Instagram. After just a few videos, one went viral, which encouraged us to keep posting. People really enjoyed our content, and that support fueled our motivation to continue. Read more>>

Destiny/bitten Miranda | Witchcraft Practitioner, Tarot Reader & Shadow Guide

My thought process stemmed from a need for more connective work, especially in service. I have always worked in the service field since I started working at 17, and over the years it became really clear to me that the most interesting and fruitful interactions come from being in a higher up, ownership type, position. I loved being the director/boss and making a name for myself within the community and the networking fascinated me! I wanted to do something that shared my creative side, and love for crystals and metaphysical healing. It felt like something really called me to guide and learn with people. Read more>>

Catalina Maria | Balloon Decorator / Event Designer

The idea to start creating with balloons came from the fulfillment and enjoyment I felt after planning and decorating my kids parties, which was reinforced every time I got a “WOW” from the party attendees, who admired every single detailed I created. Read more>>

Olga Demeshchik | Mindset + Spirituality Coach

The idea for Balance You Seek came to me as a deep, intuitive calling during my own self-healing journey. After witnessing the struggles my family faced upon coming to America and experiencing my own challenges as a first-generation immigrant—such as bullying, body image issues, self-confidence struggles, codependency, and family trauma—I became acutely aware of the emotional pain many of us carry. These personal experiences planted a seed within me: the realization that if we don’t heal and release old beliefs and past traumas, we not only hold ourselves back from living the life we truly desire, but we also unintentionally allow those unhealed wounds to affect every area of our lives and the people around us. Read more>>

Alex Robaina | Founder + CEO of LISTA Planning Co.

I started university in 2013 without the faintest idea of what I wanted to be when I grew up. I met with a guidance counselor who recommended that I pursue a career in medicine, based on my excellent grades in anatomy and chemistry, whether that be pre-med or nursing. When I weighed both options, I prioritized finishing school quicker. I thought, “I want to start my life already”, so I chose the shorter track: nursing. I got into one of the most competitive nursing schools in the country, and once I started taking the classes, I realized how much I actually lit up at the idea of helping people in a vulnerable state. Read more>>

Camila Crispino | Interior designer at C2 Creative Concepts Interiors

Creative Concepts Interiors started impulsed by my passion for aesthetics and functional spaces. Ever since I can remember, I see myself applying my taste and creativity for family and friends and always found ways to archive the right space with any budget or circumstances. Read more>>

Tatiana Escobar | Content Creator

From the very beginning of my career, I knew I didn’t want to work for a corporate business. My goal was always to be a part of something smaller, where I could have a more personal connection to the work and, ultimately, make it my own. This mindset led me to my first business, Inklab Signs. I started working there at 19, and by the age of 26, I became a partner with the owner. We ran a successful shop by continually thinking about how we could grow and evolve with the times.  Read more>>

Kalyn James | International Pilates Instructor, Model and Event Emcee

When I was young, my grandfather owned his own business and I remember my first job was shining shoes in his shoe repair shop and he also taught me how to work the cash register. I loved seeing him with his own business and being in control of his own destiny, especially as a Black Man in the deep south in Alabama. When I grew up, the philosophy was to work hard, get a good education and college degree, and get a great job with benefits. Read more>>

María Bomio Martinez | Founder of Resilience Jewelry

When I decided to start Resiliencia, I was driven by my passion for jewelry and the desire to create something meaningful. After the passing of my son, I needed a way to cope with the immense grief and find purpose. Creating jewelry became part of my healing process, a way to channel my emotions and turn them into something beautiful, while also addressing my personal needs for emotional resilience and independence. Read more>>

Tam Barrant | EIC & Founder of Dos Uno Co.

My thought process behind starting Dos Uno Co. was driven by the desire to fill a creative gap I saw within the community. I have a deep passion for fashion, content creation, and marketing, and with my background—a Master’s in marketing—I knew I could merge these skills into something truly dynamic. Florida’s fashion scene stands out; while much of the world is layering up, we’re still embracing lighter, breezy pieces, yet we want to stay on-trend. I realized there was no real guide tailored to our unique lifestyle here. Every time my friends and I were getting ready to go somewhere, we’d search “what to wear to…” but often found that the answers didn’t reflect the venue’s vibe or clientele. So, I thought, why not create comprehensive, curated style guides that not only keep us in style but also align with Florida’s culture and climate? I wanted to give people a resource that solves a problem I knew wasn’t just ours. Read more>>