It takes a lot more than an idea to build a business, but there can’t be a business without the idea. So we asked folks who’ve built wonderful businesses to tell us about how they came up with the idea in the first place.

Lisa Masters | Founder/CEO Autism Life and Living

Need. As a single mother of two young men with autism who were approaching adult age I realized I needed to start researching options for their housing and support when I was no longer here to care for them. This was when I became aware of the severe gaps in support services and housing options available to individuals with autism and intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD) in Arizona. Read more>>

Erika | Owner of Caring for the Earth Dress Rentals

I came up with the idea for Caring for the Earth Dress Rentals after seeing many of my customers through my modeling/fashion business (More Than Modeling) spend vast amounts of money on clothing kids quickly grew out of. Those expensive ‘wear once’ items for special occasions such as weddings, prom and pageants. Read more>>

Molli Dowd | Gingerbread architect and founder of Edible Estates

I literally come from a family of builders and bakers! With a background in architecture, set design, clothing and landscape design, as well as a passion for baking with the family, all of my interests and expertise came together to create a business baking custom gingerbread houses and teaching workshops. Read more>>