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.

Ty Hamilton | Fashion designer/serial entrepreneur

My dream was league or nothing growing up since I played almost every sport. Until around my sophomore year in high school I began to realize that the true key to financial freedom is ownership. That’s around the same time I started our clothing business 199Scrilla. I basically approached that lane by accident. My business partner and I started designing our own clothes to wear on a daily and the demand for our products grew from there on. By the 10th time someone stopped and asked where did I get my outfit from, I was already wearing Scrilla. So once we had a good name to match our brand I thought we could be the new FUBU. Read more>>

Chelsea Smith | Floral Preservationist – Specializing in Wedding Bouquets

Starting and owning my own business was honestly not something I ever imagined for myself. Right out of college, I started working in the public relations industry, and eventually found my way into events/weddings. I truly enjoyed working for larger companies, having amazing co-workers and having more structure and direction provided for me. Read more>>

Dilene Allen | Realtor

When I started my own business Dilene Realty Group (DRG), I knew that success would depend not only on my passion for the craft but on building a solid foundation of structure and processes. According to a *Forbes* article on why businesses fail within the first five years, a lack of proper systems and operations is often a major factor. During those early years, many business owners focus on perfecting their service or product but neglect to build out the crucial infrastructure behind the scenes. This includes establishing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), analyzing historical data to understand sales cycles and seasonal trends, and implementing strategies like time blocking to maximize productivity. Read more>>

Anthony Santana | Founder of Smooth Razors Barbershop

I grew up watching my parents taking risks in this country, chasing after their dreams and start several businesses of their own one of them being construction cleaning. I started helping with the construction cleaning business and eventually took over. I added pressure washing to our services but I always knew I wanted to do more just like my parents did. I started cutting hair when I was in high school at 14 years old practicing on my friends and younger brothers. It was a hobby to me, something I enjoyed doing. Read more>>

Caroline Irby | Co-Owner

Since we opened Wayward Coffee Co back in 2020, we knew we wanted it to have a unique, different sister company that reflected the same values but served a different purpose. Thus, Outpost Fine Goods is now born. Our goal with starting Outpost was to create a useful, curated general goods store in our neighborhood, that also serves as a community space. We feel we’ve done that and are so excited to see it grow. Read more>>

Katherine Nguyen | Entrepreneur

My thought process behind starting ZELIA LABEL was driven by a combination of personal passion and market opportunity. I’ve always had a strong interest in fitness, but I struggled to find activewear that not only fit my style but also represented my heritage and values. I noticed there was a gap in the market for a brand that blends quality, functionality, and cultural pride, and that’s when I knew I wanted to create something different. Read more>>

Katee Bratcher | Professional Photographer

I originally started taking photos of my kids because I could not afford to have photos of them made as often as I wanted. It turned into a business after I had my second child, she has a heart condition and I needed to find a way to earn an income and stay home with her. I am completely self taught and it has been a long (8 year) journey. I started out giving out pictures for free in order to practice then started charging $25 per session and have moved up from there. I still learn every day! Read more>>