We reached out to some of our favorite entrepreneurs and asked them to think back and tell us about how they decided to start a business. Check out their responses below.

Matthew Harrison | Film Festival Director & filmmaker

I own and operate Film Crash, an annual boutique film festival and screenplay competition held at the Laemmle Royal theater in West Los Angeles in October. 2024 will mark our 40th year of operation. I started making films in New York City as a kid, and after I graduated Cooper Union school of art, I was looking for venues in the city to screen my films, and getting rejected everywhere. So, in 1985, instead of waiting for venues to accept and screen my films, I decided to create my own screening series at my art gallery in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. The 80s were an exciting time in the art scene in New York, full of possibility. Read more>>

G.A.D & Shoji | Producers/Instrumentalists/engineers

G.A.D and I both came to Los Angeles around 2012 to attend Musicians Institute and to pursue musical careers. We quickly became friends and starting playing gigs together. In 2015 we started writing and producing songs out of G.A.D’s studio apartment. We quickly developed a vision of having a full on production company where we had our own recording studio. The idea was that we would rent it out, as well as be able to assist other artists with any and all steps necessary to turn their musical ideas or demos into radio ready songs. We also intended to use the studio as a personal creative space where we could take our own musical projects to the next level. Read more>>

Kiran Nahar | Incloosiv Foods Founder

As a single mother of three, I knew I had to be healthy (physically and mentally) to take care of my children. My top priorities were my children’s health and education. It was hard for me to see them eating frozen waffles and buttery bagels every morning, but that’s what they wanted. I needed to create a healthy alternative that they’d happily eat if I wanted their brains and bodies to have the nutrition to function throughout the day. I experimented with sweet waffles first, made with oats, bananas, flax seed, nuts, seasonal fruits, and cinnamon. Fortunately, my kids loved these waffles and didn’t even realize they were eating healthy food. Read more>>

Greg Cebulski | Producer, Writer, Editor

I started Pine Rider, Inc. this year to brand myself and my work. After working for multiple production companies on a litany of shows for the past 15 years, it felt like the right time to formally establish myself and give myself a piece of bedrock to jump off from on my own. It’s a scary thing deciding what you stand for, but I’ve also discovered that it’s emboldening to establish a business in order to represent what kind of projects you’re interested in, what you can represent as a creative contributor, and give yourself a sort-of backbone for producing the kind of material you believe in. My ultimate goal is to have people regard the Pine Rider brand as something that stands for quality and enjoyment. Read more>>

Marina Tena i Borràs | Illustrator & Graphic Designer

I was looking for some spark, actually. I love the concept behind design and illustration, how ever, I was working 9 to 5 every day on a design agency where I was not allowed to make any decision (dramatic as it sounds). For me, this was letargic and boring. So I started working part time on my own, slowly getting my own clients, and at some point I felt confident enough to take a risk and work as a freelancer, where I feel creatively challenged every day! Read more>>

Vladimer Botsvadze | No. 1 Global Marketing Thought Leader by Thinkers360, Renowned Keynote Speaker, Startup Advisor, & Social Media Influencer

It was a natural evolution of my journey through social media. As I immersed myself in the platforms, cultivating substantial followings and engagement, I realized the immense power of connection and the value of authentic relationships. Those interactions, the trust I built, and the value I provided freely through various channels were pivotal. My consistent dedication, pouring in hours daily, was a testament to my commitment, energy, and long-term vision. The foundation of my business developed from this groundwork of trust, value, and relationships. I recognized the opportunity to translate these efforts into something more tangible, scalable, and impactful. Read more>>

Matt Hiett and Andrea Di Francia N/A | Trila

We’ve been playing music together for years, starting at the church we met at, and moving into some cover songs for local gigs. Whenever we played, we’d always find ways to sneak in original songs, though. I think it’s always been a passion and a dream for the both of us to be in a band so it felt kind of inevitable. We’ve both had different types of jobs outside of music, too, and I think no matter how capable we’ve felt at accomplishing tasks within those jobs, there’s a passion and a comfort we find in music like no other career provides. The spark of new song ideas, the locking in of musical hooks, playing live shows and connecting with an audience… these things are consistently life-giving for us and give us even more reason to lean into a music career together. Read more>>

Kay Dolores | Musician

Starting a band is pretty much the opposite of starting a business. It’s more of the creation of a parasitic organism you attach to your own skull to suck out your cerebrospinal fluid. And that’s before it sucks out your self-respect, your morals, and your faith in humanity. It will alienate you from your family, your faith, and any reasonably priced home appliance. It will leave you a shell of a person, a haunted machine draped in a cigarette-stained excuse for skin. As Hunter S Thompson said, there’s also a negative side. Read more>>

Lulu DePina | Owner: West Adams Pilates

In May 2021, I started my pilates studio at home with just one reformer, a mirror on the floor, and a throw rug. Despite its simplicity, I took pride in this space and began teaching my dancer friends, neighbors, and anyone who couldn’t afford it to pay what they could. The main goal was to help people regain mobility, exercise, and improve overall well-being both physically, mentally and spiritually. . It became a safe space for people and the word spread fast. My main goal then and now is to keep pilates affordable for the community. Within a few months, I had gained a few dozen clients, and by the summer of 2022, I had (4) reformers and was teaching group classes in my home, which led me to decide to open a commercial space. Read more>>

Jennifer Villegas | Photographer

Straight out of high school I was in the medical field medical assistant to be exact. I stumbled across a job interview as an ophthalmic assistant and the rest is history. After many years of trying to get into a hospital I finally got my dream job as an ophthalmic photographer at Kaiser Permanente. I didn’t stop there I always strive to be better and I quickly learned that being an ophthalmic photographer wasn’t my dream job after all. I didn’t want to be stuck in a clinic I loved being around cameras and taking pictures so I decided to buy a camera of my own and do photography as a hobby on the side since my hospital job is part time. I enjoyed doing my photography on the side it gave me a little best of both worlds doing what I love. Read more>>

Terry Majamaki | Co-Founder

Honestly, we started this business by chance. Our background from working in the corporate world is in creative, tech, and e-commerce, mostly doing websites for various well-known companies. At the time, my wife Jenny was into running and going to races, we were traveling around the nation to run half marathon and marathon events. My wife always wanted to run the Great Wall of China Marathon, she signed up, but as the date got closer a conflict came up and she was unable to make it. She had a running friend who had relocated to Beijing, and she asked her to go to the race to pick up her packet and grab a medal for her. Read more>>

Connor Hill | Bespoke Furniture Maker & Interior Design

I was bartending at a whiskey bar in Hollywood called Lost Property when the pandemic hit and I was essentially forced to stop working like most people in the hospitality business. Once the bar was completely closed down, I found a box of some old beer taps and a very random idea formed- what if I made a wooden ship helm and used beer taps as spokes? I had never made furniture In my life, but I now had the gift of too much time on my hands. I started watching YouTube videos of woodworking religiously and within a few months, I made the beer tap’d ship helm. That was just the beginning of a craft I never could’ve predicted procuring. I obsessively continued my YouTube studies, experimenting every single day. Read more>>

Hadeel Hadidi | Founder + Creative Director

When the pandemic first started and my industry (film) was shut down, I had a lot of time to reflect and explore new hobbies. I used to love smelling candles at the stores but could never find scents that were unique or made with clean ingredients sustainably. I began to also realize that with the ongoing civil war in Syria and now what is happening in Palestine, that I would probably never get to go back and visit like I had been fortunate enough to do when I was younger. Bint El Jiran would become my love letter for my time spent in the Middle East and a way for me to share my heritage, memories and its beauty with others who may also never get to experience them now. Read more>>

Kristian (Angelino) Ward | Artist, Producer, Songwriter

My thought process was just to do it. I had no plan at all other than trusting the journey and that everything I needed I would acquire in the process. As an artist, overthinking often causes us to get in our way, which is why I elected to ignore the need to be perfect and just put myself out there. Read more>>

Ranela Sunga | Social Media coordinator

Heart of Compassion began in 2003 when founder Pastor Eric Tietze went door-to-door in the community of Pico Rivera, inviting neighbors to a free breakfast in a church parking lot. His purpose for this is to share the word of God. When Saturday morning breakfast grew to over 100 people, Pastor Eric began to search out food donations to keep the project going. As word spread, he started the Heart of Compassion ministry and decided to not only feed his neighbors but send them home with food as well. Soon, hundreds of people throughout the other parts of Los Angeles County began to show up to receive the blessing. Read more>>

Sofia Dozal | Hand Crafted Luxury Tumbler Artist

Everything started during 2020 when COVID shutdowns occurred, and many of us at work were being released – or without work for months. I thought to myself that it was the right time to invest my efforts towards something I truly enjoyed. I was always a creative person when it came to making unique gifts and presenting friends and family with something special. Read more>>

Dominique Becton | Founder & Acting Coach

The idea behind starting the Dominique Becton Film and Acting Academy (DBFAA) originated from the shared passion of married couple Judge and Dominique Becton for fostering talent in the film and acting industry. Together, we recognized a need for a dedicated platform where aspiring and established actors and filmmakers could showcase their skills and connect with industry professionals. I wanted to create an environment that goes beyond traditional training, providing a comprehensive platform that hones artistic abilities and bridges talent and opportunities. Read more>>

Hanna Borges | Clothing Brand Owner

I had the idea to start my own clothing brand with the name BAD LUCK in high school. After spending some time in quarantine and deciding to take the chance, it finally became a reality in 2021. My goal for BAD LUCK is to offer affordable eco-conscious alternative clothing. The fashion industry has a prominent issue with fast fashion and overproduction, which many people are not aware of or choose to ignore. Most existing sustainable clothing brands can be quite expensive and inaccessible for many consumers. Additionally, these brands often only sell basics, which limit self-expression through clothing. With BAD LUCK, I aim to bridge this gap by providing affordable eco-conscious clothing that doesn’t compromise on style or quality. Read more>>

Swam Lewis | Music Artist, Audio Engineer & Videographer

Ever since I started working when I was younger, I always hated having a boss and knowing that I’m working really hard for a small hourly wage while making someone else tons of money. Also just seeing people getting stuck in the “rat race” where you are wasting all your time at a job that you don’t like and never changing anything always made me grind harder on my own. When I started doing audio engineering, videography and design for myself; other artists/brands would ask me who did the all the work so I came to a realization that what I was doing could be very lucrative. I guess after a while creating music, videos and graphics for others it just kind of took off by word of mouth and everything seemed to fall in place for me to start my own company doing what I love without me really planning it out! Read more>>

Juan Leyva | Black Tux Bartending | Owner / Founder

I can be resolute when it comes to getting things done. I currently have a full time job, but Bartending always drew my attention; it was always something I wanted to do out of curiosity and when I did, I was often told by family members I was good at it. More and more the idea of bartending grew, so I decided to go for it. I had a book full of ideas on how to do it and what I wanted to do. Unfortunately, not everything is as easy as it seems. I started with the name, Black Tux Bartending. The name came from how I envisioned the service and myself. I wanted to provide quality service and in a formal environment. I then designed and played around with different logos for about a month until I found the one I liked, the one that fit the name. Read more>>

Sean Miguel Perez | Actor, Consultant & Talent Agent

Whenever I met actors after their graduation showcases, I would ask them about their plans on entering the industry and where their goals lied. I would learn that even though these actors were talented in their craft, they hadn’t been educated in the business of Show Business. Throughout the years I would also help actors create their packages – ensure that it was industry ready. And I did it for free. Because I had so much information and wanted to help as many actors as possible. It got to the point where actors were telling me to charge and when I wouldn’t accept, they would just give me cash or transfer it over. Read more>>

Romi Cortier | Salon Owner & Entrepreneur

To be honest, I never wanted to be a salon owner, because I never wanted to be the guy everyone hated. Previous salon owners I”d worked for were always a little relentless… work work work. So I struck out on my own and became an independent stylist in my late 20’s. The freedom to choose my own hours was invigorating. I moved from Seattle to LA in 1993, and commuted back and for every 6 weeks to see clients, for over 6 years. I rented a chair during those years, at various salons on Melrose. In 2000, a salon owner who I was renting from had a confrontation with one of my clients, and I knew the writing was on the wall. I had to face my fear of being the ‘hated guy’ and began looking for a location to create a boutique salon. Read more>>

Jason Pinyan | Talent Brand Manager

I had been at ICM for a decade and while I really enjoyed my time there and learned everything about the business, I felt a little limited in what I could fully do with my clients. So I made the decision to leave once my contract was up and hang my own shingle to offer truly personalized service to a smaller roster of clients. Read more>>

Cathleen Turner | entrepreneur, founder of CZero

After the pandemic, I knew I wanted to start a business in the area of sustainability. I find great satisfaction in building things that are validated in the market, and the idea of bringing something new that people wanted excited me. Most importantly, I wanted to build a business that had a net positive impact on the environment. CZero didn’t happen overnight but through a series of experiments and many conversations with business owners in the food space. The magic moment where I realized “I can’t do anything else but build this business” happened when I enabled a customer to launch a new product with local, sustainably grown ingredients. Read more>>

Shayla Varnado | Marketing & Business Strategist

I’ve always had a gift for business strategy and honed that gift over the years studying business, marketing, and industry trends on digital platforms. I started ALYAHS Consulting because I saw so many people starting businesses that didn’t have the strategy to truly grow sustainably. My passion and creativity are what drive the innovation in marketing. Read more>>

Edwin Chan | Architect

When I was the Design Partner at Gehry Partners for over 20 years, I had the opportunity and privilege and to have designed many cultural projects all over the world, including the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao and the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris. However, these are mostly stand-alone icons for established clients, and I realized that there are other aspects of architecture that I would like to explore, such as architecture’s relationship with the urban context, with landscape, and with the arts. So, when I decided to start my own office in 2013, I named it EC3, which stands for my commitment to Empower Cross-disciplinary Collaborations in Creativity. Read more>>

Shadi Beral | Owner of SmileLabs LA

My thought process behind starting my own business was that I’d get the ability to do whatever I want that makes me happy while making others happy, watch something grow from the ground up, and get to be there for my family. There are many positive aspects when it comes to being a business owner. The flexibility that comes with being a business owner is spectacular. I can manage my business from anywhere, at anytime. Business has always been my passion, but so has motherhood. I’ve always wanted to be a hands-on mom that is there for every drop off, pick up, school event, supermarket run, meals, bed time, and every thing else that comes with hands-on parenting. Being a business owner allows me to do all of that. Read more>>

Christopher Shalchi | Digital Consultant and Music Producer

There are few things I obsess over in life; aside from trying to be the best father I can be to my daughter – solving problems is one of them. Even as a kid in school I would discover new ways to solve math problems faster than how we were told and would get dinged points for “showing incorrect work”. When I needed more money for lunch in school I would resell candy and then cigarettes in high school to make the cash needed to leave campus for Sonic everyday. When I was 17 I began to read a series of personal development books by authors like Napoleon Hill, Jack Canfield and Brian Tracy to name a few and realized the huge gap of knowledge pertaining to self for people my age that I created a program based on a synthesis of my findings – the first official business I created as a 501c3 organization. Read more>>

Jeni Bliatout | Nonprofit Co-Founder & Music Enthusiast

When my partner and I decided to do our first fundraiser, Social Sessions, the reasons were simple: 1) find a way to give back and 2) make it fun. We never imagined that we would turn Social Sessions into a full fledged 501c3 nonprofit charitable corporation 3 years later. When we decided to transform Social Sessions into a 501c3 nonprofit charitable corporation, our primary goal was to build trust with potential partners, artists, and agents. We recognized that nonprofit status not only mandates transparency but also establishes a commitment to ethical practices and a mission-driven approach. This commitment to transparency, coupled with our focus on making a positive impact, distinguishes us from other promoters in the industry. Read more>>

Kirsten Stallone | Personal trainer / Strength & Conditioning Coach

In the fitness industry I started to see that corporations or working under someone, I had to do things “their way”. I did not feel right selling a product that my mind and heart were not fully behind. As I grew my client base and started to get my feet dirty I knew it was time to break apart. I knew I had the base to survive and begin to put the building blocks down for my own business. I knew that my business, my training program, was something I was truly passionate about and with that passion could grow. Read more>>

Erin Swift | Creative Director + Omni-channel Creative Executive + Brand builder

Honestly, I never really planned to start my own business; it just happened. Picture this: I was the market editor at Architectural Digest, basically one of the original influencers, deciding trends, scouting the coolest new products, and crafting the AD style. Then, out of the blue, I went from being a part of this huge company to running my own. It was that abrupt, like many things in my career. I’ve always been the type to get thrown into the deep end and somehow learn to swim. The shift to starting my own business felt like a sudden leap, but in hindsight, it was a natural step. I wasn’t following a meticulous plan; it was more of an instinctive jump. Read more>>

Talaya Logan | Audio Engineer/Artist/Vocalist

To give context, I was working at a fast food chain called Taco Time Northwest. I struggled to find a job after battling depression post-highschool. So I worked there and became a shift leader, Then during that time I attempted to take some college courses (and ultimately failed). I was feeling extremely frustrated in both environments. But I took the opportunity to learn how delegate and practice working with others at taco time. I was also saving up and writing down everything I needed to learn how to record myself at home since I kept having bad studio sessions and couldn’t afford then anyways. One thing led to another and slowly friends started asking if I could record them. Read more>>

Patricia Rillera | Avant-Garde Executive

I have always believed I would be happier creating my own destiny through entrepreneurial endeavors rather than working for someone else. Further, all my significant family members, as a child, were entrepreneurs so I rarely saw family members work for others. Those factors combined created my thought process behind starting a business. Read more>>

Jocelyn Howard | Life Coach | Career Counselor | Business Coach | Strategic Planning & Business

I always knew deep down that I wanted my own business when I was younger, I was just unclear on how to officially make that a reality. All throughout my career growth after college, I began saving information and doing research on the various companies that I was working for. From my short work as a private investigator, to the non-profit group home I managed for youth on probation, to the day program for adults with learning differences, to the inclusion center for those with cognitive challenges. I assessed the pros and cons of each company from organizational structure down to how the company treated it’s employees, to the overall operation of the business. Read more>>

Nasrin Moghadasian | Chiropractor and Health director

To answer this question I have to go over my background and let you understand how I got to Point of opening my practice. I am an Immigrant and patient. My motivation is coming from being passionate about my profession and desire to be independence. my desire to be independent is coming from my background. I was 22 years old born and raise in Iran. I didn’t have any experience before I left Iran. I never went to any trip by myself. I never left the country before I came here. I didn’t speak English and didn’t have any family here and didn’t understand about the culture. I came here with my 2 years old daughter with $3000 in my hand. Read more>>

Suejung Huh | The Founder & CEO of Ohhh

Pursuing my own path has always been my dream. Having worked in companies across South Korea and the US, I often found myself at odds with the direction of the projects I was involved in. I’ve consistently yearned to follow my own instincts and pursue what I believe to be the right course. Read more>>

MARK WILSON | Sailor

Having dedicated a decade to competitive sailing in the Santa Monica Bay, I consistently faced the challenge of finding the perfect glove for the demands of the sport. Existing options were either overly padded, compromising dexterity necessary for handling intricate shackles and pins, or lacked the essential protection required in rough sailing conditions. In response to this gap in the market, I founded Marine Gear in 2022—a reputable brand committed to crafting gloves that meticulously cater to the distinctive needs of sailors. Our gloves strike the perfect balance, offering optimal dexterity and protection for sailors actively involved in sailing, rigging, and yacht maintenance. Read more>>

Kellii Scott | Online Remote Session Drummer

I had 2 objectives. The First was…. Because we were in the middle of a Pandemic and I was just diagnosed with Cancer, I needed to come up with a plan that kept me out of contact with my customer.. and Second, I needed to offer a service that I was an expert at and wasn’t already being offered. The answer was remote drum sessions. While that isn’t super unique, and lot’s of people are doing it, what was unique is that I decided to represent a client base that wasn’t being served. Basically I keep my service very cheap so they can be utilized by musicians that don’t have a lot of money, don’t have access to expensive studios and certainly do not have access to a experienced professional drummer. Read more>>

Youlie | Illustrator from 8:40 a.m. to 5:20 p.m.

I worked for 13 years in different advertising agencies. 13 years of fun and lightness developing friendships, teamwork, work done with joy and good mood, and above all my creativity. 13 years old and 3 children. Then, came the famous questioning about the meaning of my life, of my values… I realized that my job was in total dissonance with my ecological and political convictions. I drew more and more with my children, I remembered that I had always wanted to do that. I had forgotten, stupidly! I have been an illustrator for 8 years now. Good, I’m 8 years old in my head ! Read more>>

Dexter Dale | entrepreneur, and record executive.

I’ve always been passionate about being my own boss and having the freedom to pursue my own ideas. Starting my own business was a way for me to turn my passion into a reality and create something meaningful.” Read more>>