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.

Yesy Hernandez | Mechanical HVAC Engineer and Founder of a HVAC Mechanical Company

I should credit my mom and my mentor. Some context: I grew up in Burbank, and my mother and I were very close. She’s the one who inspired me to get my degree and then my MBA—and I wouldn’t have become a stationary air conditioning and heating mechanical engineer without her. Then, my mentor was like a father figure to me, and his work ethic helped me learn the ropes of the trade. Read more>>

14/48 Hollywood | The World’s Quickest Theatre Festival!

It’s hard to call it our own as 14/48: The World’s Quickest Theatre Festival, has existed since 1997 up in Seattle, WA. Some of us participated in that festival for many years and as members of that community, we thought it was something that would really benefit the artists in the Los Angeles area. It’s a theater festival that’s really about building and creating a community through the power of creativity and collaboration. Read more>>

Anthony Fiddler | Music Producer

I was in the artist’s position for years. Spending tons of money (I/my band didn’t have) trying to make music and get it out to the world. Fiddler Productions was based on a sense of affordability to help artists get their foot in the door. I wanted to use the tools and knowledge I had to get quality, efficient recordings for the artist and give them something they’d be proud of. Read more>>

Greona Boisseau | Cosmetologist/Body wax specialist

I’m a licensed cosmetologist originally from Trenton, New Jersey. I moved to California about 7 years ago and worked in the hair industry for 11 years. I loved doing hair but didn’t feel fulfilled. I decided to focus on waxing because I wanted to provide a consistent, clean, professional and knowledgeable wax experience for all. Read more>>

Virgilio Rivera | “Pops”

I came at a young age to the United States and I had an ambition to do something for myself to be able to help my family back home. My first job was as a dishwasher and little by little I moved up to be in the kitchen. Language was a barrier and a struggle but didn’t stop me from wanting to learn and move on. With my ambition I worked for different hotels, the Queen Mary and Disneyland. I knew being a cook was what I wanted to do. Read more>>

Xiomara *Xia Maibelie | Soulful Licensed Therapist (APCC)

My vision and goal for my business is to provide energy healing and use my therapeutic skills as a holistic healing approach to mental health. As an AMFT, APCC, Reiki Master, and certified yoga instructor, I strive to offer my Clients a handful of tools to help them on their mind, body, spirit healing journey. My belief is that we must address all three components of our lives in order to obtain long term healing and overall wellness. Read more>>

Chance | Singer/Keyboardist – The Baby Goats

Oh, I’ve been in bands since I was a teenager. It’s second nature. Started playing piano when I was 7… I love every little aspect about being a musician, even the hard parts (and those are plenty). I’ve been in a signed act, I released independent solo music. But this band feels different. Thing is, I had been writing guitar forward music for a while and a couple of years ago I thought…what if…what if I went back to my synth roots? Read more>>

Sona Avetisyan | Professional Organizer & Decluttering Coach

It was less of a thought process and more of “following the light.” Here’s how it happened. I came back from my divorce hearing, completely heartbroken. For some reason, I had assumed that because I had a great marriage, I was going to have a great divorce as well. The hearing shattered that belief to pieces. I came home disappointed, sad and in absolute disbelief. I held myself strong all evening. Then, when my kids went to sleep, I burst into tears. Read more>>

Kim Edwards | CEO & Founder

The purpose behind starting my business was three words God gave me…. On February 24, 2020 God spoke these three words (1) Concepts (2) Ideas (3) Insights to create my Christian Dating Website. He said, “Go back to the foundation of who I AM and share the purpose of how it’s supposed to be when the Men seek their mates, the scripture He gave me was ‘’He who finds a wife finds a good thing. And obtains favor from the Lord.” Proverbs 18:22. I’m a Christian and I believe my website will help people to understand relationships. Read more>>

Janie Schwartz | C0-Founder of SAINT

We are three friends who had our lives turned upside down by divorce and separation. After realizing that there was no existing support system for navigating single parenthood, we set out to create SAINT to redefine divorce and single motherhood. SAINT is a member-based community and platform for the modern, single mother providing the necessary support, network and education wherever you are on your journey both online and in-person. Read more>>

Alexis Wade | Wine Bar Owner

Everyone in my family owns their own business so, growing up, that was a fact of like; my dad was an Accountant, my mom a Speech Therapist, and my older sister went on the eventually open up her own restaurant in the bay area, Homeroom. While this doesn’t speak to what made me want to open a wine bar, it does explain why having my own business never felt like an insurmountable mountain to climb. I jumped around career wise, working in kitchens, then fashion and ultimately falling into a career in the film industry in the Art Department. Read more>>

Lihi Orbach Forney | Jewelry Designer

i officially launched my business in February 2021, but the development started in 2019 from a deep desire to create more meaning in my life. I worked in a completely different field for over 20 years – post production sound mixer – and felt that i wanted to express more of who i was becoming. I’ve always been fascinated with meaning, self development and reflection. I love aesthetics and design too and i have a very specific eye 🙂 Read more>>

Wayne Dyer | Audio Engineer & Producer| Avery Blue Productions

The thought process was quite simple: If there are no opportunities that are appearing, create your own. That’s what I’ve done. I am the first in my family to graduate college, so there was no rule book on “how to make it.” I’ve buried myself in every article and book that I could find on business and marketing to improve my skills. I am no where near where I want to be financially or professionally, but I focus on being better than I was yesterday. Read more>>

Aaron Stauber | Chiropractor

As long as I can remember, I was wanted to operate my own practice. There’s a difference between practicing as a healthcare provider and running a business. Being able to balance being the practitioner versus being a business owner is super important when it comes to healthcare. With that in mind, I was wanted to put the priority of the patient first as opposed to running a business. I don’t really think of my practice as a business in the traditional sense. Read more>>

Allisandra Ward | Loan Officer & Home Financing Content Creator

My thought process was simply to have more time for my daughter and stop trading time for money. I was looking for more longevity and to have control over my earning potential. In my previous position as an underwriter, I pretty much capped out. I clocked into work, reviewed documents and I wanted to be more hands on as far as helping people with a financial goal. I also didn’t like the idea that I am at a corporation’s disposal due to budget cuts. Read more>>

RAZLEEN SANDHU | REALTOR

I graduated from UC Irvine in Fall 2016 with Political Science Degree and started my job as a Human Resources in Bay Area. As a 32 year old, I switched my career and jumped into Real Estate in May 2023. I want to get into Real Estate and started my own business, finished school and I’m a new license agent. Real Estate was my end goal and kick start my career into new direction. Read more>>

Deandra Gunthrop | Celebrity stylist

When I started my business the goal was to make women feel absolutely amazing and beautiful. I have been In the fashion world for the past 18 years and decided with my experience I could enhance the experience of beautifying my muses one glamorized look at a time. Read more>>

Kameron Rasmussen | Digital Creator & Hairstylist

There was definitely an overwhelming amount of thought that went into deciding to start my own business. A lot of doubt and a lot of “what if’s”. However, after working years in restaurants and behind counters, I couldn’t continue to live my life based on someone else’s schedule and how much they decided my time was worth in dollars. I began working as a content creator in 2015, which was scary because it was still a pretty new profession and there was no blueprint on how to achieve success in that field. Read more>>

Robert Ellis | Founder & CEO

I was at a point in my career where I realized that there is no such thing as job security if you are working for someone else. Having made millions of dollars for different companies, only to be let go once they felt I was no longer of “value” to them pushed me to becoming my own boss. Read more>>

Houman Salem | Fashion Business Executive

LA Fashion Startups was born out of another company I had created over 10 years ago called ARGYLE Haus of Apparel. At ARGYLE Haus, we are an award-winning fashion design house and clothing manufacturer based in Los Angeles. Over the past ten years we have helped create and launch over 500 startup clothing brands. Our clients include notable celebrities, major influencers, established fashion designers, as well as newcomers to the fashion industry. Read more>>

Ari Stevens Zhang | Co-Founder

I’ve started businesses since I was about four years old. Everything from flower stands to Beanie Babies and Paper Routes. My first business was a gift-wrapping service. All my uncles paid me to wrap gifts for their wives that Christmas. I genuinely believe that some of us are born with an entrepreneurial spirit that we can’t shake. I’ve always had side businesses for myself, even when I was working for others. Read more>>