Starting and growing a business is hard, but often deciding to start the business in the first place is even harder. We asked some successful entrepreneurs from around the community to open up to us about how they thought about starting a business.

Milan Bakić

I’m passionate about contributing to the growth and well-being of my community in a positive and impactful way. Read More>> 

Nycoal Denz

When starting my own business, my thought process is driven by the desire for greater freedom in my schedule, particularly to pick up my children from school and spend more quality time with my family. Read More>> 

Hannah Pynn

Scoutly Plans makes the dream of moving abroad easier. The new American dream… is life abroad. Over 5 million Americans already live abroad. And with the rise of remote work, younger, tech-savvy Americans want to live abroad. But before you move abroad, you have to take a scouting trip. What’s a scouting trip? It’s a test drive for your future life to find the right fit for your lifestyle, budget, and priorities. Read More>>

Dom Ruggiero

I had been cooking professionally for over a decade for other people learning as much as I could about the business side of things. I always knew I wanted to open my own restaurant and once I felt I knew what I needed to, it was full speed ahead. Read More>>

Mindy Vo

At 40, as a single mom starting fresh, I chose to return to what lights me up, beauty and nails. I’ve been in this industry since 1999, and while I’ve owned salons before, I realized that true fulfillment comes from combining passion with purpose. This time, I’m bringing all of my experience, especially my background as an OPI educator, into the heart of my business. My goal is not just to create beautiful nails, but to create a beautiful space, one where my team can grow, my clients can learn, and everyone can feel inspired, empowered, and celebrated. It’s more than a business; it’s a new beginning, and I’m excited for what’s ahead. Read More>> 

Rachel Chester

Our thought process behind starting Behind the Badge and Blueprints was honestly rooted in one simple question: What if home could be both a safe place and a healing one?

As a married queer couple, one a luxury interior designer, and the other a crisis intervention trained police detective, we saw a gap where mental health, first responder life, and soulful design rarely overlapped. We were living proof that safety isn’t just tactical, it’s emotional. And home isn’t just beautiful, it’s therapeutic. Read More>>