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.

Pipphy Xiao | Business Owner & Artist

I started Pipphy’s Curiosities to pursue my goal of having a business that satisfies my personal passions and ambitions, while also being altruistic towards others. With this in mind, my company is focused on the curation of goods and services that brings happiness and peace to our customers. I go through great lengths to find the right items at the right moment that can achieve these goals. Right now, those are pairing carefully selected plants with one-of-a-kind handmade wood fired planters. The result are remarkable pieces created from a blend of something from the natural world with something human made by an artisan. Read more>>

Connie Zhang | Co-founder & CEO of mocaa.com

My partner Kerry and I came up with the idea of a matchmaking edtech marketplace when we were in school. During a coffee break between classes, we saw a group of incoming students networking with the admissions team, and we jokingly said “Definitely don’t miss that.” This was the beginning of a conversation that led to our realization that the education industry is due for an upgrade. Read more>>

Elizabeth Boykewich | Coach, Facilitator, Mindfulness Guide & Podcaster

I am a coach, a facilitator, mindfulness guide and podcaster. I work with people inside the business and people that have nothing to do with Hollywood. I’m a big Carl Rodgers fan and believe “The good life is a process, not a state of being”. Supporting people through their process, wherever they are in their journey, helping them create more space and peace inside and room to make shifts in their lives and relationships, to live more fully into themselves and their dreams, is purposeful and meaningful work. Read more>>

Kerynn Laraby Samantha Mills | Co-Owners

Samantha and I started as hobbiests, We started collecting plants in our area, and once we realized that there was a market for the plants we had in our possession, we started selling them online, mostly on Facebook groups. We became well known in those groups, and our following began to grow. Soon, our inventory was taking over Samantha’s dining room. Because we live an hour apart, we decided the next move would be to find a common area where we both would have access to care and sell the plants on our own time. Read more>>

Lauren Lazar | Co-Founder

The idea for Sweet Lolli was born during the COVID 19 pandemic, as a way to connect friends and family through gifting. As we all know so well, we were disconnected from the people in our lives for such a long time, and we wanted to create a concept that was fun, playful, bright, and helped make people feel happy and connected with those they loved, regardless of how near or far away. Let’s be real.. Read more>>

Tara Smith | Founder of Comfy Carepacks

Comfy Carepacks started as a passion project. While living in New Mexico, I adopted two dogs, Carmelo, a terrier mix, from a local shelter and Coco, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Unfortunately, they are no longer here. However, I will always cherish their unconditional love, which is I am a sucker for pets and that inspired me to give back to my community, specifically the pet community Read more>>