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.

Peyton Bissell | Owner of Teal Sky Co.

My main goal when starting Teal Sky Co. was to empower others with positivity through the products that I have designed! Teal Sky Co. is all about being yourself and allowing your confidence to shine through! What you surround yourself with is a huge part of expressing yourself and can change your outlook on each day. Whether you want to express yourself through our apparel, stickers, or tote bags, your positivity will emit to everyone around you. Read more>>

Naomi Herbert | Aircraft Mechanic & Chef

I wanted more than my 9-5 Was able to give me. I I wanted more not only for myself but for my family. I work hard day in and day out building wealth for everyone else, but myself. I wanted my sacrifice to not be in vain. I was desperate for freedom to be creative and to walk in my calling.and pursue my passion in the culinary arts. I wanted to share a piece of me with the world. Read more>>

Laura Holmes McCarthy | Ceramist & Creative Director

I’ve worked for ad agencies and startups as a writer and creative director for over 15 years now. I started taking ceramics classes in 2017 after abruptly deciding to leave a particularly bad job situation. This was half an impulse inspired by the thought of “I need something to fill my time now that I’ll never work again” (the self-doubt is very real, ha) and half by wanting to return to making art that engaged my hands and my body in a more tactile, immediate way after having set aside art making for nearly a decade because of the 60+ hour weeks that agency life often required. I ended up falling in love with it. Read more>>

Jason Tieu | Realtor, Actor, & Software Engineer

The idea of being a realtor was something I’ve always envisioned, but never took the action to pursue it earlier in my career. I always had this drive and an extroverted personality when it came to anything real estate, interior design, and even business related. One of my favorite shows is Shark Tank, and I have watched every single episode and even rewatched some of them, hoping one day I would take the step to start my own business and become a realtor. Read more>>

Zeenat Khan | Founder and BOD

In March 2016, I established DFW Refugee Outreach Services with the goal of mentoring. To adapt, refugee families must have access to mentorship programs and their basic survival needs fulfilled. We were the first organization to start a mentorship program and, to date, have successfully mentored several hundred families. I volunteered for many organizations but was not satisfied with delivering items at the door; I wanted to know the family behind that door. Read more>>

Elizabeth Arenas Alegre | Physical Therapist

I decided to start my own business after working for a corporate chain almost 10 years. I was in a managerial role as well as treating patients. I had thought about venturing out on my own for a couple of years, then I had my son, and that was what ultimately my decision maker. I was at the point of burn out- completing reports, calculating numbers, putting out fires for others, and still treating patients, most of the time taking work home. Read more>>

Kuumba Smith | Director of Brewery Operations & Owner

The initial thought came when people started telling me how good my home brews were. I thought it was a plot to get free beer. Then I started hearing it more and more cross Dallas-Fort Worth. After the beers started to place well and actually win competitions, I knew I had something. It was still on the back burner for a little bit, then after a rough period at work, I realized I was busting my butt making someone else rich, when I can bust my butt for myself!” (Kuumba) Read more>>

Aline Campbell | Founder & Handicrafter of Tasty Scents Co.

I got my Chemistry degree back in 2015, but later decided to be a stay at home mom while my kids were still young. After they got a little older, I faced the common mom dilemma: I wanted to go back to work, but I also wanted to be home with my kids. It just seemed like no choice would make me completely happy. That frustration kept coming up in conversations I had with my husband, until one day he said: “Maybe you need to think outside the box. Read more>>

Kim Carpenter | Executive Coach | Author | Speaker | Founder & CEO of People at the Center

If you had told me in my late 20’s that I’d have my own business someday, I would have said you were nuts. I was quickly climbing the corporate ladder in New York City’s Silicon Alley. In my black suit and heels, I’d clip-clop up and down the subway steps multiple times a day until collapsing on the couch at my Park Slope brownstone with a glass of wine (or two). Everything was great. Until it wasn’t. Read more>>

Chris Ossenfort | Professional Advertising Photographer

I had known that I wanted to be a photographer since my teens. Landing in the freelance world of fashion and advertising at age 20 as a photo assistant, my goal, at the time, was survival more than anything. Luckily the industry was booming then and my dedication to hard work allowed me to climb the ladder quickly. Read more>>

Christy Lee | Home Baker & Dental Hygienist

My husband pitched the idea of owning our own small business/side hustle. I love crafty and artsy things so he made some suggestions but I’ve always had a passion for baking. I came up with the idea of making bento cakes because I had yet to come across anyone who makes them in the way bakers in Asian countries do. Both cakes and packaging are super important to get the full experience of receiving/enjoying a bento cake so I wanted to be able to supply that for folks in the DFW area. Read more>>

Sasi Kondru | President/Founder of Aid4Need

(Sasi, President of Aid4Need) I had volunteered with several other organizations in middle school, having over 300 service hours in one. I was inspired by volunteering with other organizations to create my own student-led nonprofit. By starting my own nonprofit in high school, I wanted to create an organization where students could volunteer, just like I did, and I wanted to make a bigger impact on my community. Read more>>

Aaron Spears | Financial Services Liaison

Before starting Reclaim, I was working 2 jobs to support my household while attempting to finish school online and still have a decent quality of life. I found that what I had created for myself was the total opposite. I was always working, so I was never home to spend time with the family I was providing for. With costs rising more than pay, I was barely keeping up with the financial demands; even working 7 days a week. Read more>>

Zazel | Full-time Content Creator and Entrepreneur

My dream was to always become an entrepreneur. I despised clocking into and out of a 9-5 although I understood the importance of being a worker before becoming a boss. Read more>>

Katrina Hughes | Licensed Esthetician

I have always had a passion for making others feels beautiful so I decided to become an esthetician. While attending school to get my esthetics license I realized my true calling was to own a spa. My vision for BEAUTY JUICE SPA & WELLNESS was to provide accessible skincare to every client. This idea evolved into a philosophy of life. Understanding how your skin affects how you feel and show yourself to the outside world can have a profound impact. Read more>>

SAINTTRENT EVAN | Graphic/UI/UX Designer

Emerging from a transformative revelation, Intel-agressif, my graphic design firm, embodies an unwavering fusion of talent, patience, and integrity. Fueled by a burning passion, my resolute mission sets sail to establish a thriving business that transcends norms, culturally elevating the pursuit of aggressive intelligence. Read more>>

Shanay Joseph | Hairstylist & Salon Owner

I wanted to be more available for my children and have control over my schedule. I was fired from a job once for having to leave because my son was taken to the ER for a head injury from school. I knew that day I had to become my own boss! Read more>>

Frederick Russell | Co-owner

Our thought process was to bring people vision to life, through media production & content marketing. Read more>>

Chelsea Hampton | Career Consultant & Confidence Coach

I started Careersequipped because I am my clients. I am the black young woman who graduated with a degree and started working in the criminal justice filed as an analyst. I thought that this my my career forever but I was met with so many different obstacles and challenges. I worked in the capacity of federal and local criminal justice and I just was not fitting in. Read more>>

Abby & Olivia Rodriguez | Coffeeholics & Latte Lovers

It all began with our shared passion for coffee and how it brought us together. We spend hours trying out new coffee shops every weekend, and that’s when we realized we wanted to create something special with our bond over coffee. We’re huge coffee enthusiasts and wanted to share that love with others. The idea of being mobile and reaching different events and places appealed to us. It’s been an amazing journey, not just as sisters but also as coffee buddies. Read more>>