Entrepreneurs tell us about starting their businesses

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.

Barbie Boi | Professional Wrestler & Professional Wrestling Company Owner

Honestly my thought process was to create a safe space for people. I was outcasted, bullied and felt so unwelcome in many environments in wrestling and I did not want any other people to feel that way. Read more>>

Harpreet Kaur | Anti Disciplinary Artist and Gallerist

It was pretty self serving, I think.
There were a myriad of reasons to do it.
I had control over the curatorial direction, I did not have to ask the artist to give me a disproportional amount of money if their work sold. I could also be among my other responsibilities. This meant I could try to build a small gallery with little overheads and still be involved with the best part of the ‘industry’, the artist Themselves. It is a very ad-hoc space so it really gives me room to experiment since it is just a window. Read more>>

Lawdie Pahlavan | Candy Shop Owner & Producer

I was working as a studio film exec for almost a decade before I was laid off right before the writers strike happened. With the whole industry on hold and no job opportunities available I started catering dinners for friends to keep myself busy and creative. As one dinner turned into many a few of my friends encouraged me to start my own line of food based products. After trying my hand with a few homemade snack products I decided my favorite snack of all was, and is, candy. Why not start a candy shop with curated high quality candies that I grew up loving? The research was incredibly fun—who wouldn’t want to taste test candies??— and I enjoyed making the mixes.  Read more>>

Hannah K Lopez | Financial Consultant

My thought process behind starting my own business was deeply rooted in a desire to create something meaningful that aligned with my values and passions. I wanted to design a life where I had control over my time, could make an impact, and work toward financial freedom not just for myself, but to inspire others to do the same. As a single mother, I understood the importance of independence and resilience, and I saw entrepreneurship as a way to build a legacy while helping others achieve their goals. It was about taking my skills, experiences, and vision and turning them into something tangible, all while breaking barriers and proving that with determination and focus, anything is possible. Read more>>

Teresa (tess) Quintanar | Babyquip Quality Provider

Starting my own business is an exciting and transformative journey for me, one that marks the beginning of a new chapter in my life. The path I’ve taken, however, wasn’t something I had planned. It all started early last year when I received a late diagnosis of autism, which brought clarity to many of the challenges I’d faced throughout my life. Growing up, I struggled with various aspects of life—whether in school, social situations, or in the workplace—but I never truly understood why things seemed so difficult for me. My issues became especially apparent when I found myself constantly “job hopping,” moving from one company to another, unable to hold down a steady position. Read more>>

Jay | Promoter & Media

Initially I wanted to create a resource that would not only be beneficial for me but also for people from all over. It evolved from a IG page posting events specifically to LA to a media company. I would attend events and provide photography/video, a one man team. Read more>>

Ian Tucker | Local LA 3d Print Artist

In August of this year, my family and I went to Kentucky to bury my grandmother. Coming back to LA and jumping right back into the 9-5 grind, I had this eye-opening realization: life is way too short to spend it stuck in the middle of office politics. I’ve always known that I wanted to do something creative, but I never really took the leap because of the constant pressure to work, pay bills, and just get by. Read more>>

Melissa Mendavia | Ceramicist + Dance Enthusiast

Creativity has always been a driving force in my life. From exploring color and music as a child, I’ve sought to understand the world through artistic expression. When my eldest started kindergarten, I joined a local ceramics studio, and was instantly captivated by the art form. The interplay of earth, fire, and technique, resulting in both beautiful and functional objects, deeply resonated with me. Read more>>

Rebecca Drysdale | Owner, founder

It was an accident! I wanted a place to teach when I moved to LA that I didn’t have to rent hourly. I threw some lights upstairs thinking that if people wanted to do shows here and there, it could supplement my rent. Many of the indy shows that were scattered around the city at the time moved in, and within a week I had a theater on my hands! That space was not built to be a theater, or anything really, so we had to move to a real space after two years of people very reasonably complaining. In order to make a larger space work, I needed to spaces to rent out. So then before I knew it I had a giant space on Hollywood Blvd with two theaters running. It was all a happy accident, but it is not a “business” per se. I don’t make anything, and no one who helps out at the Clubhouse makes anything. Read more>>

Niki Santana | Owner/Lead Florist

Woman and Afro-Latina Owned, Rosas de Alma Florals is a Premium Pop Up boutique that specializes in arranging with the freshest and most unique blooms. We dedicate time to make all our arrangements with love and it comes straight from the ALMA, straight from the SOUL ! We provide a more personalized service, taking the time to understand our clients specific needs and preferences and we offer a unique selection of blooms and arrangements that are not typically found in larger commercial stores, but are personalized for our clients, especially providing a higher quality of blooms for our clients. Read more>>

Allison Castillo | Entrepreneur, Housing Case Manager & Student

When I created drinkjuiceLA in my mind, I knew I wanted to share my infinite love for the sun, LA, positive affirmations and fruits and veggies combined all in one. I not only wanted to start something where I could use my creativity but also I wanted to start a business where I could share the wealth of health with as many people as possible. Read more>>

Lilia Asserian | bartender

I was first working as a barista at coffee shop and the owner decided to open her new restaurant which they were provide full bar and alcohol drink, so i decided to get my own bartending license to work as a bartender on her new restaurant.
so, after i got my license and took bartending classes I thought about to start my own mobile-bartending business too. So, I go do my own events. Read more>>

Sebastian Aparicio | Photographer and Artist

Starting my own business was inspired by the need to process and scan film so much, and with so many of my friends shooting film it felt like a no brainer. I’ve begun processing and scanning film along with selling my prints online and at local shows. Read more>>

Pooja Gidwani. Md Mba | Concierge Doctor & Weight Loss Specialist

My decision to start my own practice came from years of witnessing how the traditional healthcare system often failed the very people it was meant to serve. Working in hospital systems, I saw far too many lives cut short by chronic conditions that could have been prevented with the right care earlier on. Time and again, I watched patients suffer worse outcomes because of systemic limitations—insurance constraints, rushed appointments, and a lack of focus on long-term health. It was heartbreaking to see how many of these tragedies might have been avoided with a more proactive, sustainable approach to healthcare. Read more>>

Valeriia Volokhova | Ooqza Tattoo Artist

Honestly, it all started kind of by accident. Back then, I didn’t see tattooing as a business or anything serious—I was just doing it for fun, hanging out with friends. But eventually, I started making a little money from it—not much, but enough to keep me motivated to get better. I had this drive to stand out, to make my mark, and to have a real impact on the industry and culture. I looked up to tattoo artists who were bigger at the time, and that inspired me to push myself further. That’s when I made the decision to really go for it. I set a goal: to become a world-renowned tattoo artist and to create my own unique, recognizable style. Read more>>

Glori Delorio, Bcba Larry Thigpen | I dont know, Larry is no longer a paralegal, he’s the CEO of Monarch. He won’t be an enquire until July

I have been in the applied behavior analysis business for 20 years now. I always wanted to be a teacher like my mother and grandmother before me. When I was in college and working as a para-educator, I was introduced to special needs children and knew I had found my calling. That position opened up new opportunities for me to learn about the science of behaviors and begin working directly with families and their children on the autism spectrum. I shifted my college career to follow the track of earning a master’s degree and becoming a board certified behavior analyst (BCBA). Not only did I quickly realize I had a knack for mentoring the behavior technicians I oversaw, as well as a knack for being a support system to the families, but they noticed. Read more>>

Igor Blintsov | Executive Leader in Collections & Financial Recovery and Entrepreneur in Fintech

My decision to start my own business, AICFO Solutions, was shaped by both my professional experiences and a strong desire to address the pressing financial challenges facing small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Throughout my 20-year career in the financial sector, I’ve had the opportunity to work with industry leaders like Citi Bank and Alfa-Bank, where I specialized in debt recovery, fraud prevention, and cash flow management. This work gave me a first-hand look at the kinds of tools and technologies that large corporations rely on to manage these challenges effectively. Read more>>

Nra Kudelka | Shop owner

I’ve been a wardrobe stylist for 24 years and lived in Los Angeles for over 30 years. After graduating from UCLA and starting as a wardrobe assistant, I came across nail art while out shopping in the streets and stores of Los Angeles in the early 2000s and have been a fan ever since. Nail art is another means in which you can express yourself and your style, and really an extension of fashion. It seemed organic, fun, vibrant, and real just like the women I saw doing and wearing the art. I was hooked. Read more>>

Alek Sandar | Music Producer, Songwriter, Recording Artist

I decided to be an independent, musician, songwriter, singer, music producer) while I was studying international business management between Berlin, Paris, New York in 2007-2011. I did an internship that showed me help 9-to-5 office jobs look like and I decided that I cannot do this my entire life. So I dare the difficult step to freelance work as an artist back in 2011. Read more>>

Samantha Hampar | Samantha Hampar | Realtor for First-Time Buyers & Solo Women

How I got here was far from a straight line. After graduating from USC, I took a job at a Pinterest influencer marketing agency back before “influencer” was even a thing. That job kicked off my career trajectory— being part of a startup acquired by The New York Times, moving to Austin, and working with incredible house name brands like Disney, Nabisco, Wendy’s, and Levi’s. But when the gaming company I was working at suddenly shut down in 2023, I faced a crossroads: find another job in my field or pivot completely. Much to my surprise, being laid off ended up being a blessing in disguise. It made me pause and think about what I really wanted to do. Read more>>

Debra Gordon | Crafter

I have been crafting for 3 years – creating magnets and vintage-inspired jewelry. I sold my creations at Farmer’s Markets and pop-up boutiques. I wanted to create an indoor space for all the artisans I had met over the years – where we would not have to battle the weather and would not have to set up and break down every day. At Artfully Made, we have a lovely space in the Historic Arts District of Canoga Park to showcase our handmade items 5 days a week!. Read more>>

Lisa A. Cervantes Esq Llm | Entertainment/IP Attorney & Yogini

I come from a long line of entrepreneurs . . . all of my family members have had their own businesses . . . and all of us appreciate the freedom, the autonomy, the leadership inherent in this type of workplace. In my immediate family, we were never too far removed from the pioneer stories of our great-grandparents, who had farms in what’s now suburban Los Angeles! My great-grandfather’s semi-retirement was owning the corner store/motel in Kernville. Read more>>

Melissa Hutchins | Stock Associate/ volunteer

I always wanted to help reunite with owners, find a rescue or forever homes. I’ve loved animals since I was a kid. My dad used to feed the outdoor animals. And brought them in if they were sick. I hate to see animals euthanized for space. It’s hard work but I keep trying to help as many animals as possible. Read more>>

Brisa Lopez | Catering & Food Services, WOC Small Business Owner

To be honest, it was a moment as random as it became later on, a breakthrough.

Back then, I was at a six figure secure job but during one meeting in New York, I realized that I never had the opportunity to give my dream a chance. Then I figured it was now or never. And right there, my life changed forever.

The most important part to start the process of my new business- as naive or romantic as it sounds-, it was the mere fact of acknowledging how sure I was to take that step and how excited I became to start a new chapter in life. Read more>>

Judy Ta | Business Coach

Starting my own business really came from a place of burnout. I worked in the corporate world for years—at companies like Goldman Sachs and McMaster-Carr—and while it was an incredible experience, I reached a point where I realized that hitting all the “traditional” milestones—like getting promoted, earning six figures, and climbing the corporate ladder—wasn’t actually fulfilling. Read more>>

Dr. Dawn Whitaker | Founder & Wellness Advocate

“When I started my business, I knew I wanted to make a positive impact on the lives of athletes, especially former athletes. So many face emotional challenges after leaving their sports careers—things like losing their sense of identity, dealing with anxiety, or struggling with depression—but there wasn’t much support tailored to their unique experiences in a way that felt approachable or non-threatening. I kept asking myself, ‘Who’s really helping these former athletes with their mental health?’ Read more>>

Ala Lopatniov Singereanu | Travel Family Blogger

When we started TravelFamilyBlog, our second son was just six months old, and our older son was three years old. Life was a whirlwind as we navigated raising two young children while I continued working full-time as a travel agent. At that point, I had already spent four years in an online travel agency in the hotelier department, which gave us valuable insights into the travel industry. Read more>>

Charlie Ray | Chef & Culinary Wildling

My thought process behind starting my own business was driven by a desire to make a meaningful impact on the world in a way that aligns with my expertise and passion. With a background in food science, wild cooking, and a deep connection to the land, I realized that working for someone else, bound by a chain of command, wouldn’t allow me the freedom to fully pursue my vision. Starting my own business gave me the opportunity to take on challenges that matter to me, build a platform to address them, and work toward my goals on my own terms. Read more>>

Mashanda Lazarus | Artist

Because I enjoy so many different kinds of art- illustration, sculpture, embroidery, fashion, crafts- I’ve felt like I had to compartmentalize these practices in order to market them. In design school we were encouraged to have a distinctive style for our illustrations, so that clients would know exactly what to expect. I graduated thinking it was a detriment to my career that I couldn’t choose just one specialty, but it has turned out to be an advantage for the types of jobs that I’ve had. I’ve learned to embrace all of my interests and to follow my inspiration, because I feel best when I’m not denying myself certain joys, but I feared having to justify my activities in order to sell my work. I realized that wouldn’t be a problem if I was my own boss. Read more>>

Jason Lewis | Color Specialist

I was never comfortable working 40-50 hours a week to get paid on Friday and be broke by Saturday or Sunday. Spending most of time time working for someone who kept most of the money made from my work just wasn’t acceptable, at least to me. Read more>>

Wtf Are You Booming | Sound Mixer

We started “WTF are you Booming”after years of being on sets. Many of us crew members would tell stories on set amongst ourselves, and we saw the success of ShittyRigs and thought what if we just focused on the sound community and did the same thing? So a couple of us sound mixers got together and started posting our own pictures and it started growing. Then we started to get a couple pictures a month submitted to us. Then it just kept growing and now we get 5-10 a day. Almost more than we can post. It just has grown far more than we ever thought. Just a couple sound mixers has turned into a community that reaches across the whole sound world. Read more>>

Darce Leone | DJ, Music Producer, Singer

The biggest goal I had was to understand all aspects of the music industry. From A&R, production, logistics, I needed to make sure that all aspects were covered. It’s easy to be exploited, and I wanted to avoid that. Plus, the internet allowed artist to develop on their own while growing their own fanbase. Read more>>

Maria Micha | Spiritual Psychotherapist

I knew from a very young age that I had to work for myself, as my ideas were innovative and bold. Therefore, result getting a conventional job, practicing traditional psychotherapy would leave me feeling like there is more I can do to help my patients. Owning my own private practice would allow me to practice psychotherapy and add intuitive traditions and perspectives such as shamanic practices, hypnotherapy, herbalism and energy reading/healing; offering a holistic healing experience to my clients. My therapeutic mission is to combine the science of traditional psychotherapy with the transformative power of intuitive shamanic wisdom. Hence I devised a method that embraces science and intuitive wisdom, called The Anagenesis Method. Read more>>

Aaron Mostow | Writer, Producer, Creative Activator

The vision behind Catapult World was to create a platform where stories are not only told, but owned—where intellectual property in TV, film, gaming, and digital formats can transcend boundaries, fueled by the force of originality. It’s about more than creating—it’s about crafting worlds that stand the test of time, on my terms. Read more>>