We reached out to some of our favorite entrepreneurs and asked them to think back and tell us about how they decided to start a business. Check out their responses below.

Kelly Magouirk | Hairdresser, Co-Owner Erin Kelly Salons

We started this business because we want to help women experiencing hair loss. When your hair starts thinning the options can feel overwhelming. Women are spending hundreds, if not thousands, on supplements that most of the time aren’t going to provide the desired result. We want to provide a safe, caring atmosphere that offers compassion first, and practical solutions next. Read more>>

Karen Marmara | Owner AliCat Coins

It started in 2020, I got laid off from the company I worked for 25 years. Myself and husband James talked about our next move. After some brainstorming, we decided for the short term we would sell some of our personal gold and silver stack as we knew it would be difficult to find a job during COVID.

We started an Instagram page (@alicatcoins). We came up with that name as my daughters name is Ali and her Grandfather calls her AliCat. I liked the name and we decided that’s what we wanted to name the business. I sat down and designed our label and the business was born. Read more>>

Kendra Swalls | Portrait Photographer

Honestly, I didn’t give it much thought at first. I was working as a full-time teacher and wanted something creative and fun that would also allow me to make extra money during my breaks. Photography had always been an interest of mine so I naively thought it would be an “easy” business idea. That naivety probably saved me because had I known what building a business really entailed I might not have ever started. Read more>>

Carey Miller | Photographer

Starting my own business was never something I thought I would do or could do! My business started all because my mother-in-law requested updated photos of my family in the fall of 2019. As a child of the 80s, I immediately thought of dark Olan Mills studios. As I began searching for a photography studio, my sister-in-law (who also started her own photography business) suggested finding a photographer who did mini sessions. She explained that photographers would meet families at local parks and take pictures. My search turned to Facebook, where I found one such photographer. We set a date and met her a few weeks later at the local park. During the session, I observed and was intrigued. I have always had a love for photography ever since I was a little kid. That night, as we drove away from the mini-session, I looked at my husband and said, “I think I could do this.” Read more>>

Mercy Ameyaw | Executive Director

The thought process behind starting my business was God ordained and very deeply rooted in my desire to honor God by impacting lives in a meaningful way. I’ve always had a love and affinity for working with women, and it seemed like they also drew to me. Couple that with a realization that something of this sort would be helpful within our community that wasn’t tied to a specific denomination made me realize this was what God was calling us to do. I’ve always believed in the transformative power of my Christian faith, community, and empowerment, especially for women. Where else to look to but the Bible for inspiration and immediately, the Proverbs 31 passage stood out as a guide: her strength, wisdom, compassion, and ability to influence her household and community. Read more>>

Summer Hanson | RN, co-owner

I was really encouraged and inspired by my husband and best friend (and, now, business partner). My husband, Tyler, had just finished his EMBA and had identified cannabis as an industry on the rise. My best friend, Brittany, had opened her shop House of Healing after a personal search for natural stress and anxiety relief. As a stay at home mom to 2 small kids (1 and 3 when we opened), I felt a yearning for purpose outside our home. My professional background was as a nurse – first in the ICU setting recovering heart and lung transplant and open heart surgery patients; then, for a medical device company – helping heart failure patients who’d received a mechanical heart pump re-enter their communities safely, by educating their primary care physicians, emergency room staff, and first responders on how to manage their unique care. Read more>>

William Sanchez | Owner of The Cleaning Goat

I am a teacher by background, but my entrepreneurial spirit was shaped by my family’s business background. My parents own a Mexican Restaurant in Irving, while my aunt also owns a commercial cleaning business.

Growing up, I spent my summers helping my aunt clean the offices at Toyota of Irving, learning valuable skills such as hard work, serving others, and responsibility. After becoming a full-time teacher, I realized that there was little time to clean, and I was inspired to create a house cleaning business that catered to busy professionals like myself. And so, The Cleaning Goat was born, with the goal of providing reliable and efficient cleaning services to individuals from all walks of life. Read more>>

Shekinah Young | Co-Founder & CEO of Reform Executive Transportation & Forever Young Beauty Bar

Reform Executive Transportation was launched with a clear vision in mind. I wanted to establish a family-owned enterprise that not only creates stable job opportunities for my family but also insulates them from the uncertainties of economic downturns and budget cuts. This initiative is rooted in a desire to provide a secure professional environment where family members can thrive without the constant worry of layoffs. This business is more than just a company; it’s a family fortress against the unpredictable waves of the economy. Read more>>

Brian (bw) Bridger | Musician, Audio Engineer, Photographer, Videographer

I was working in the computer field as a Unix network engineer for a large telecom company. It was great but I just didn’t fit in from a personality perspective. Everyone I worked with was always talking about what car they wanted to buy or how much they spent on this and that, stock portfolio, etc. It all seemed very superficial. I just couldn’t see myself getting up every day and going to this place and doing this thing every single damn day with the same people that I had absolutely nothing in common with. So I bailed and decided that I was going to see how far I could go making money doing something music related. Read more>>

Sid Patel Patel | Franchisee

I have always been into craft beer and loved the idea of creating a space where people can just relax, enjoy good drinks, and have fun. When I saw the chance to bring The Brass Tap to my area, it felt like the perfect fit. There was a growing interest in craft beer, but not many places that really focused on that, so I figured why not create a spot where people can try new things and hang out. Read more>>

Shikha Gupta | Artist and an Art teacher

My decision to start my own art business stemmed from a deep sense of joy I felt when teaching others. There’s something incredibly fulfilling about seeing people discover their own creativity and confidence through art.

As a mother of a toddler, art also became my personal creative outlet—a way to recharge, express myself, and maintain a sense of identity outside of motherhood. Combining this personal passion with the opportunity to share it with others felt like the perfect way to balance my life and contribute something meaningful to the world. It’s been a journey of blending joy, creativity, and purpose into a business I truly love. Read more>>

Psyche Terry | Co-Founder, CEO

As a wife, mother, and entrepreneur, my thought process behind starting Urban Hydration came from a very personal place of necessity and purpose. I struggled with dry skin and eczema for years, and I was frustrated with the limited options for gentle, plant-based, affordable products that were safe for my family. Most products available at the time were filled with harsh chemicals that just didn’t feel right for us. I realized that if I couldn’t find what I needed on the market, then I would create it myself. Read more>>

Grayson Micaela | Industry Gal Founder and CEO

Starting Industry Gal was driven by a huge passion for creating a space where women’s voices, stories, and talents could truly shine. Not just women, but anyone who has not felt heard within the arts world. I noticed a gap in the industry for a production company that not only prioritized women’s perspectives but also actively supported and empowered them behind the scenes. My thought process was rooted in building a collaborative, inclusive environment where women could take creative risks, lead projects, and challenge industry norms. As well as be represented by an agency of sorts that had those very morals and values, if production was not their end goal. Read more>>

Erika Crutchfield | Rapper & Singer

Well, I was always hearing how Jay-Z and other big time people had their own businesses and inheriting to their families. So I figured why can’t I do that for my family. I have plenty of talents so I started teaching my younger siblings, nephews, and nieces certain talents. Read more>>