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.

Xochitl Gonzalez | Photographer

My thought process behind starting my own process was, at the core of it all, pretty simple. I just don’t want to look back on my life and feel that I didn’t give my dreams the fighting chance that they deserve. Sink or swim I’m going to make this work, thats been my pholosophy. Read more>>

Ejiroghene Mary Ukiri | Founder/Director of EMU International Scholarship Fund

I started this non-profit because there is a very big need for it. In the year 2021, I took a vacation to Nigeria in order to visit my parents and loved ones. During my stay, I witnessed not only the extreme excesses and shortcomings of the Nigerian government but also the massive negative effect it was having on the livelihood of Nigerians. Read more>>

Sam Eisenhower | Filmmaker, Educator & Entrepreneur

I’ve always placed a high value on my independence, as well as the freedom to maintain the ability to be creative. As a result, I’ve never liked working on someone else’s terms because I feel I have a unique way of doing things which doesn’t always fit into the typical or accepted norms. Read more>>

Kayli Peoples | Dwell Studio Designs Owner + Interior Designer

It simply made sense. A little over a year ago I quit nice paying job at another design firm determined to start my own business! Then that same day I randomly got offered a job that would provide a steady income and a flexible schedule… Read more>>

SoulArty GTH | Artist, business owner

I saw a need in my personal life and chose to fill it. Good lotion and moisturizer is expensive and I figured I could make a better product for cheaper at home Read more>>

Steph Lloyd | Business Owner & Soap Maker

My parents were business owners so it only seemed natural to have one of my own. I learned to make soap from my mom and have been lucky enough to glean knowledge from her for Luka Soap Co. When the pandemic hit, and I suddenly had more time on my hands, I decided to start making soap. Read more>>

Emily Lou | Board of Directors: Emily Lou, Eesha Gundam, Phoena Lin, Aditi Nukala, Belinda Dong

Girls in STEM was founded in 2015 by Alice Hou when she experienced the STEM gender gap first-hand. While attending a STEM-oriented summer camp, she realized that there were no bathrooms for women in her engineering building. Additionally, similar to many of our own members, she was alone in a sea of men. Read more>>

The Mocky Horror Picture Show With Liz Barksdale, Danny Gallagher and Albie Robles

Danny – Liz and I are big Mystery Science Theater 3000 fans and we met while doing comedy. We always wanted to do a movie riffing show but no one really seemed interested in even exploring the idea or even doing the writing, which is the most fun part. So one day, we just decided if we wanted to do a movie riffing show, we’d have to make it happen. Read more>>

Special Ashford | Glueless Wig Specialist

Hair has always been something I’ve enjoyed doing since I was about 12. My friends would come over to my house and pay me to do their hair in my mom’s kitchen. Eventually, it turned into a weekend thing. In college, it helped me keep extra money in my pockets and not go hungry… lol. Read more>>

Jacquetta Fisher-Scharnett | Soap Manufacturer Doodiebugs Honey & Hemp””

There were many thought processes behind starting my own soap business though the most important one, was simple; I wanted to create a soap that’s sensitive enough that anyone with severe skin conditions could use it. All natural, organic, handmade and locally made soap. Read more>>

Nicole Chan | Owner of Fat Cat Bakeshop

I discovered my love for baking at a young age and I’ve always enjoyed the feeling of sharing my baked goods with friends and family. So, with encouragement from my family, I started Fat Cat Bakeshop. My goal with the business is to make delicious things that are familiar and comforting yet new and exciting. Read more>>

Jess Howe | Owner & Curator of Ruinous Revied

I started studying interior design back in 2015. I loved it but I felt something was missing. I’m such a hands on person so I missed the kind of creating that was more physical that designing interior spaces didn’t satisfy. Trying to figure out where exactly I wanted to go with my career, I happen to be browsing the free page on craigslist one night and I felt inspired by these parts and pieces that others found useless in their own lives. Read more>>

Tara McKelvey | Social Media Facilitator & Virtual Assistant

Starting my own business started as a desperate attempt to leave the corporate world. After being burnt-out since college, I realized I didn’t want to spend the next 40 years spending 80% of my life being tired from a job I was no longer passionate about. I went to Boss Vision Conference in 2022 and met Sabatini of In Demand VA, who opened me to the world of VA’s. Read more>>

Sophia London | Fashion Entrepreneur & REALTOR®

In the ever-evolving tapestry of real estate, where each thread represents an opportunity, I find myself intricately weaving my experiences as an entrepreneur into my role as a realtor. I’m Sophia London, and my story isn’t just about entering the real estate market; it’s about melding my entrepreneurial triumphs with my passion for forging meaningful connections. Read more>>

Gummy | Artist, Videographer, and Photographer

My whole thought process behind starting my own business was how can I build a successful platform for underground artists and creators that would give them a service to express their art and tell their story. How can I help underground artists and creators elevate themselves within their art and career. Read more>>

Ariel Isaac | Tumbler & T-shirt Maker

I run my own business called KKA Creations. You may recognize some of my items on social media and posts from friends and family. I started my business about eight years ago, more so as a creative outlet, when I took a break from teaching children popular dance and cheer routines. Read more>>

Samantha Sandusky | Lifestyle & Portrait Photographer

In 2019 when I went off to college, I felt like I had to study something practical and useful, instead of allowing myself to explore my interests and pursue what I actually love doing. I put so much pressure on myself to make a future for myself, that I forgot to have fun and let myself be creative. Read more>>

Brooke Howerton | The Paisley Heart Boutique, Owner

I’ve always loved fashion and merchandising. I got my degree in business with a minor in marketing. I went the Corporate America route after graduation because it felt “safe” and I wanted to be able to provide for my family. While working in the office environment I would vent to female coworkers about how hard it was to shop! We were busy at work then going home to our families and the LAST thing we wanted to do was bring children to a mall! Read more>>

Desmond Stanley | Managing Partner at The Incubator LLC

When Timothy Roberts Jr. and I first envisioned The Incubator LLC, it was born out of a genuine passion for entrepreneurship and a desire to create a space where ideas could flourish. Our initial concept was to provide an event space, a physical hub where entrepreneurs could gather, network, and bring their visions to life. However, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic drastically changed the landscape of how businesses operated. Read more>>