What was your thought process behind starting your own business?

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.
Starting my own business wasn’t just spur-of-the-moment decision; it was born out of years of loyalty, disappointment, and ultimately, the realization that I needed to take control of my own destiny. After dedicating a significant portion of my life to a corporate entity, experiencing the pain of layoffs twice, I couldn’t shake the feeling of vulnerability. It was a stark reminder that no matter how hard you work or how loyal you are, your fate in corporate America can be uncertain. Read more>>
During COVID I was working from home and pregnant. Bored and scared like the rest of the world. I needed an activity that would keep my mind calm – and I decided to learn how to embroider. I watched YouTube videos, made a few pieces with no experience, and posted to social media. My DM’s instantly flooded and I realized that I had something here. Read more>>
Starting my own business was a simple decision! I fell into it almost by accident. My mother is an artist and was doing a few art shows while teaching highschool art. There is a high-end art show in Philadelphia that accepts fine art student exhibitors and even though I didn’t feel I was ready for an art show, my mother convinced me to apply. Read more>>
The decision to start my own business was born out of a lifelong passion for painting. Over the years, I found myself accumulating stacks of paintings in my bedroom, and I began to wonder if there were others who would appreciate my unique style. It was initially driven by curiosity – a desire to explore the potential audience for my art. However, circumstances took an unexpected turn when I moved to a country where I didn’t have the right to work. Read more>>
As the founder of Happy Kitchn Studio, my journey began with a deep passion for Italian cuisine and the desire to share that love with others. I’ve always believed that cooking is not just about preparing food; it’s about creating experiences and fostering connections. With Happy Kitchn Studio, I wanted to provide a platform where individuals could immerse themselves in the art of pasta cooking, learn valuable culinary skills, and, most importantly, savor the joy of homemade pasta with friends and family. Read more>>
starting my business was something that came to me rather quickly, yet it was a process that had been forming right before my eyes, my entire life. i have always had a drive to be authentic, vulnerable & to help other people. i have felt different than others for as long as i can remember, almost strange in my being because I knew i was made to do something magical i just hadn’t been gifted with that knowledge yet. my business is still evolving, ever growing and that is the beauty of it, i find. Read more>>
I started my own business because, in layman’s terms, I hated working for people and being told what to do. Therefore, from a young age I always knew I would be an entrepreneur, however Yūbi Box Sushi was born out of market demands. I knew I wanted to open a restaurant but I was not set on a specific cuisine or business model. Yet, the pandemic (COVID-19) changed a lot of things, including the food industry, and I saw a huge opportunity for sushi, more specifically delivery-only sushi. Read more>>
Starting my own business was born out of a desire for autonomy, a passion for solving problems, and a belief in the value of my ideas. Being a real estate agent has allowed me to do all three of these things. Read more>>
When I started Mamasita Movement, I had just started my current touring job with Flo Rida, and created it with the intention of giving students what I felt like is most necessary for growth as a dancer and human. I used to teach classes that were 1 hour long, and did not feel like I set my students up for success by only teaching them choreography. There are so many important factors that come into play as a professional dancer, especially in Heels Technique, that holding a single hour class was not enough. Read more>>
As a single mother raising two sons, I often wondered about the world I had brought them into. Seeing them glued to their devices – for gaming as well as for school – I knew the paradigm had shifted and there was no going back. I wondered, increasingly, about the potential danger of the proximity of high frequency microwave devices to the vulnerable bodies of sensitive people, infants and children, pregnant women, and fetuses. Read more>>
My decision to start my own business wasn’t just about entrepreneurship; it was about reclaiming control over my life and creating a future where my family mattered most. It all began with a devastating blow: losing my job just four weeks before welcoming my first child into the world. The timing couldn’t have been worse, but it opened my eyes to a harsh reality – in the corporate world, I was just a replaceable cog in the machine, not a valued individual with a life beyond the office walls. Read more>>
I started the initial idea of ModzCity back in 2016 with only an IG account, setup primarily to share my passion for cars and anything automotive. Fast forward to 2023 and I decided, I wanted more, I wanted to inspire the next generation of car lovers, exactly as I was inspired by so many others. This led to the start of a Youtube channel focused on car stories, restorations and informative content for all car enthusiasts. Read more>>
I started by small business to help out the hubs with our kids sports and school expenses. As we were a single income household I decided to be a stay at home mom when we married and our family grew to a home of 6 kiddos. Read more>>
My business is called The First Gen Madrina (godmother in English). It provides programming opportunities for the first-generation community on topics such as mental health, managing imposter syndrome, managing burnout, building a self-care plan and much more! I work with colleges and universities to support students, but I also have a coaching practice for professionals that are in a period of transition or looking to make a pivot. Read more>>
Starting up WITHLOVEFEST was my way of helping independent artists get the spotlight they deserved. Making music can be costly when you think about studio time costs, mixing and mastering and marketing. At WITHLOVEFEST we try to bridge that gap and make it easy for artists to get their music to the masses whether it be in person at our events as well as social media. We have helped over 100+ artists around the world and will continue to reach more countries in years to come. Read more>>
When I founded South Floral Group, my primary motivation was to fill a gap I saw in the market for high-quality floral arrangements coupled with exceptional customer service. Having worked in the floral industry for several years, I recognized an opportunity to create a company that not only offered beautiful and unique floral designs but also prioritized customer satisfaction above all else. Read more>>