Many books on startups and business talk about how there are right and wrong reasons for starting a business. So, we asked a handful of successful founders about their reasons and the thought-process behind starting their business.

Esha Chhabra Smita Satiani | Co-Founders of Alaya Tea

Alaya Tea came together in 2018, over drinks in San Francisco. Smita, who had grown up drinking chai in an Indian-Pakistani household and spent the last 10 years working in social impact, had always wanted to start a different type of tea company. Meanwhile, Esha, who had been covering climate issues as a journalist for the last 10 years, had just returned from Darjeeling, one of India’s most iconic tea growing regions. Read more>>

Chen-An Lin | Artist

From the moment I decided to become a professional artist, I started thinking about how to develop and promote my art. I think an art career has to be about interacting with people, for people to see my art. In addition to running an Instagram account, participate in Art Battle or other art events to communicate with people in the art world, and participate in art competitions to gain experience. Read more>>

Mark Patino | Production Sound Mixer

When I first graduated from college in film, I needed a place to start. So, I would apply for jobs through craigslist as a boom operator. My first gig was for an AFI school project. I was hired and introduced to the sound person on set, whom I would be booming for. He, through several AFI short projects taught me everything I needed to know about booming and sound recording on a set. Read more>>

Savannah Starr | Dessert Designer, Founder & Owner of Haute Sugar Co.

I started Haute Sugar Co. with a dream to reinvent cotton candy. Yup, I wanted to modernize the blue and pink cotton candy found at fairs or amusement parks, in clear plastic bags ready to be gobbled down by kiddos and adults alike. I thought big, I thought of infusing cotton candy with rosé, which to this day is still one of our most popular puffs. Read more>>

John Akhoian | Owner and Co-Founder of Rooter Hero

I started my first business when I was 19 years old. I called it H & A plumbing then renamed it High Quality Plumbing. I had no choice. I had to start earning more money to replace my dads income after he died, so I basically did it to help support my mom and not lose our house we had bought two years prior. Read more>>

Zydia Botes | Founder of Something Good Studio & Co-founder of Romaria Knitwear

I was working for a company at the time and was terribly unhappy. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit and wanted to create ‘something good’ – something that could give me the opportunity to change my lifestyle and to make a positive difference in the lives of others. Read more>>

Iris Luo | Design Researcher & Storyteller

Firstly I want to disclaim I haven’t started a “successful” business yet. I see myself as a design researcher and an artistic practitioner currently. Why I choose to stay in the academic institution is a strategic choice because of the hegemonic paradigm in the art and creativity industry. I prioritize the process of creativity over the final products in the so-called market. Read more>>

James Grace | Founder/CEO of Foreign Finesse Clothing Company LLC

I had to write a Business plan,I prayed. I stayed consistent, came up with a name, a logo, met with a graphic artist, met with other clothing brands and soaked up game. Then I found my manufacture and stuck to the plan. Read more>>

Amanda Behl | Brewer & Fermenter

We all have a LUCHA story…and I thought I would share my LUCHA! Prior to starting LUCHA I brewed for personal consumption. I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at 26, underwent treatment, several surgeries, the cancer metastasizing to my lower abdominal muscle and ultimately a complete hysterectomy at 32. Read more>>

Nichole Sneed | Clothing Designer & Music Junkie

My thought process was honestly all over the place when it first came to mind that I even wanted to have my own business. I almost instantly started thinking about all the reasons why I shouldn’t and why it might fail, which is a horrible way to start! I have friends whole are currently business owners or previously had businesses and from them, Read more>>

Myriam Nowara Schragger | Skincare Developer, Organic Chemist, Creative Director

No compromise in choosing the best and healthiest ingredients for my skincare line. Read more>>

Antoinette Johnson | Creative Director & Fashion Stylist

I knew from since young age that I didn’t want to work for anybody. I worked my first job at a retail store when I was fourteen, and the experience was negative. I realize how much sacrifice a person can make for the employer or company just for that company to disregard you and treat you badly. Read more>>

Malcolm Bellew | Creative Entrepreneur

Pain is a great motivator. Prior to starting my own business/creative endeavors, I was working in factories, DVD stores, restaurants, moving furniture, and even selling vacuums door-to-door at one point. There’s no shame in hard work, but for me, it’s hard to be passionate about cleaning out grease traps or getting metal splinters in my hands. Read more>>

Britney Campbell | Stylist and Content Creator

For me, the process of starting my own business was simple. At first it wasn’t particularly about starting a business. As I’ve been a freelance costume designer and stylist for about 5 years now, I’ve come to realize that this industry is a difficult one to maintain a living in. As far as I can remember, I’ve always been obsessed with different styles, clothing and a great bargain. Read more>>

Kimberly Whiter, Ed.D. | Owner & CEO of Elder Care Solutions

Well, I actually didn’t start it! I met the two original CoFounders in early 2019 when I was presenting at a conference on some data I had collected in research I was doing on interprofessional / interdisciplinary teams. At the time, I was cultivating a career in higher education and had no plans to leave. Read more>>

Hannan Hussain | CEO and Founder at Intern Guys

Intern Guys was born out of my own struggles to land an internship as a software engineering student. In early 2020, I found myself spending months applying and interviewing for internships in tech companies, until I finally got one. But It was a frustrating and disheartening experience, and it made me realize that the current job/internship platforms weren’t making the process any easier. Read more>>

Alicia McIntosh | Women’s Health and Fitness Coach

My thought process behind starting a women’s health and fitness brand/business was to help other women in need of direction. I accumulated a lot of information through formal and informal education. Through this process, I learned about my body, and I decided to share this knowledge that can transform lives with the women around me. Read more>>

Maritsa Aguilera | Esthetician/Body Sculpting Tech

Aesthetic has always been a passion of mine. As a teenager, I would compare skincare products and do as much research to help with my acne and cellulite. I learned that over-the-counter skincare products were not as effective as those of a licensed esthetician or dermatologist. During the last quarter of my esthetics course, I couldn’t wait to graduate. Read more>>

Marie Wulfram | Autistic Photographer & Animal Advocate

I was honestly looking for more freedom. I’m a mom to an autistic child and was finding it hard to work a typical job that was flexible enough to still care for my son as needed. When I lost my job working in veterinary specialty and emergency, I knew finding another job that paid well and was as flexible as my last job was going to be slim to none. Veterinary jobs are typically 10 hour days and that wasn’t going to work for me. But I LOVE animals and knew I still wanted to work with them. So, I dove head first into turning this little idea into a full blown business and, with a ton of hard work and early mornings, Marie Wulfram Photography was born. Read more>>