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.

Angela Manrique

Ever since I was little, I felt this calling from God to share the gift of dance. It wasn’t just a hobby, it was purpose. Read more>>

Adasol Loyo

I started my business because I saw a gap in financial education and business guidance for entrepreneurs, especially within the Latino community. Read more>>

NADIA ALTHABE

Honestly, it was not one single moment. It was a natural evolution of my professional journey. After many years working with multinational brands in Argentina and from Argentina to the world, I developed a very clear understanding of what brands and founders really need. Read more>>

Justin Chance

Photography actually started as a personal sanctuary for me—a creative hobby to decompress and ease the mental load after stressful workdays. It was just a way to clear my mind until I began shifting my lens toward people and exploring portraiture. My path completely changed when my brother’s friend hired me for my very first paid gig: photographing his grandfather’s funeral. Read more>>

Shelly Saunier

I don’t think I started my business in the traditional sense. It felt more like my business started calling me. For years, I was fascinated by the layers that make people who they are – psychology, philosophy, energy, the soul, behavior patterns, purpose, identity. Read more>>

Jasmine Waltz

Once the idea really clicked in my mind, everything in my life started moving in that direction. I became extremely disciplined and focused in a way I had never experienced before. I had such a clear vision for what I wanted Waltz Diamonds to become that nothing could distract me from it. No matter what obstacle came up, I just kept moving forward. Read more>>

Alex Ayodele

Honestly, it started with my own body. I spent years trying to understand why the same approaches that worked for some people did nothing for me — or made things worse. When I discovered blood type nutrition and the concept of bio-individuality, something clicked that I hadn’t been able to name before. Read more>>

ANNA CHACON

I started my own practice because I wanted the autonomy to build a patient-centered dermatology model that truly reflects my values. In larger systems, there are often constraints around time, flexibility, and innovation. I wanted to create an environment where patients feel heard, appointments are thorough, and care plans are individualized rather than standardized. Another major factor was access. Read more>>

Bo Sebastian

I never liked working for someone else. Though I have, I felt like the flexibility and ability to create a thriving business was in my bones. Read more>>