Thinking through whether to start a business – whether to take the risk, whether to go out on your own – isn’t easy. So we asked some entrepreneurs we admire to tell us about how they thought through the process of starting a business.

Camílle Fiori Nourish

Nourish Meal Delivery was born from a deeply personal place. The concept that it’s a company or career I constructed does not feel like something I felt I built but more of a calling, more of a requirement I needed to implement, to ensure vital change in women’s health, for the future of mankind. It’s that serious to me, to ensure the necessary nourishment mothers deserve to have. Organic, gluten-free, lectin-free, plastic-free, pure meals with no seed oils and without artificial flavorings, preservatives, or additives. Read More>>

Abraham

Honestly, my thought process came down to a mix of frustration and vision. I’d been in fitness for over 20 years, and I saw how much time people wasted in gyms without getting the results they wanted. At the same time, I had learned about EMS training and realized how powerful it could be, especially for busy professionals who don’t have an hour to kill in the gym. Read More>>

Robin Larsen

I started my own nonprofit theatre because I wanted to take full ownership of the work I was bringing to Los Angeles audiences. I was already identifying plays to pitch to producers in town, and often using my connections to secure rights. I thought: why am I giving away this level of vision and commitment? I know an exciting, engaging play when I read one, and launching my own company allows me to choose the projects I know are worthy of an audience’s attention. It allows me to run a space and populate it with artists I believe in. Read More>> 

Gary Balitskiy

When we started Infinity Boxing we had one thing in mind and that was to create the best place for people to fall in love with training together. We build our philosphy around a style of boxing unlike anything else out there combing the best of japanese boxing with Peek-a-book. Infinity Boxing is the art of boxing perpetual motion. Read More>>

Kate Pletcher

I’ve known since I was a young kid that I was going to be an entrepreneur someday. Throughout my life, I kept waiting for “The Great Idea” to come to me so I could quit my day job and pursue. At one point, in my early 30s, I realized The Great Idea for me wasn’t some sort of innovative new product that was going to change the world but, rather, getting paid to do something I already did, loved to do, and was really good at… namely, connecting people! So I took about a year to learn more about the recruiting world, build a business plan, and test the waters with some potential future clients. Within 3 months of starting my company, it was clear this was it. Read More>>

Daniele Puppi

It’s a complex question because my work brings together various elements, and in the end what is produced, especially in large, site-specific sound and video installations, is an immersive experience – a sensation. For me, almost all the works I’ve created have a playful, simultaneously punk and poetic spirit. I’ve always tried to impose a new way of using the eyes, the ears and the entire body; a reconfiguration of sensory commands; a new control and new interconnections.  Read More>>

Margaret Sigel

My decision to open my private practice grew out of both personal experience and professional calling. Before becoming a therapist, I worked in fast-paced creative environments where stress and achievement often covered up deeper struggles. I knew what it was like to push through stress while ignoring what my body was telling me. Those experiences stayed with me and sparked my curiosity about how stress and past experiences live in the body. Read More>>

Eva Bergeret

In 2022, I started sewing for fun, making little things out of table cloth or curtains like tote bags and tops. I slowly discovered a passion for it; bringing an idea from your head to your body felt magical. I naturally leaned towards fun and french inspired patterns like stripes, polka dots and gingham. When it came to my first collection, I thought about which types of clothes made sense to me and that’s when I realized I struggled finding affordable clothing that blended comfort and style. Read More>>

Max Simmons

I’ve pretty much been dancing since the moment I could walk. Dance has always been my first love and the way I express myself—it’s how I show up in the world without needing to say a word. I was constantly moving around the house, so when I was 8, my parents signed me up for classes at Brent Street Studios, Australia’s leading performing arts school. Now, at 22, dance is not only my passion—it’s also my business. Honestly, there wasn’t much of a thought process behind choosing this path.  Read More>>

Mike & Arvey

The idea to start our own business came from a shared passion among four friends for health, wellness, and creating experiences that bring people together. We wanted to build something that reflected our energy, enthusiasm, and belief that fitness should be fun, accessible, and inspiring. When we discovered Rumble Boxing, we knew it was the perfect fit – a fresh, energetic brand that aligned with our vision. It wasn’t just about opening a gym; it was about creating a community where people could feel empowered, challenged, and part of something exciting from day one. Read More>>

Katherine Ferro

It’s midnight, and I’m ringing in 2022 on the beach in Brazil praying to God for help. To give me time to quiet the noise in my life and within myself to focus on the things I loved doing the most. Honestly, I hated myself. I hated the way I lived, my character, habits, and who I saw in the mirror. I couldn’t even recognize myself anymore. Sitting on that beach, I swore I wouldn’t go another year carrying all that baggage. Read More>>