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.

Tara and Marlene Herrera | Co- Founders and Creative Directors of Little Lady B.

Little Lady B. was inspired by our then 4-year-old niece. At the time, we noticed a gap in the fashion market. We could not find clothing that fit our niece’s bold personality and that was sustainable, price conscious, made with natural/nontoxic materials while upholding eco-friendly practices.  Read more>>

Natasha Artea | Brand Owner

Cutie Cute Pets wanted to provide pet every day fashions, accessories, toys and especially cater to that Dog Mom & Dog Dad that wanted to express & show off their love for their pets. We started with collaborating with local businesses from pet bandanas, pet & human tees & now even treats. Read more>>

Ciara Bird El | Artist & Designer

I needed the ability to have more creative control over the projects I was working on, whether they were of my own creation or through clients that aligned with the vision I had for my company. Read more>>

Valentina Allen | Baker and Shop Owner

I started baking with my mom when I was young and it was a hobby for a long time. Little by little I started baking for friends and family for their events. Eventually it just felt like the logical thing to start a business. At the time I didn’t realize the bigger purpose my business could serve.  Read more>>

Alyssa Heffield | Salon Owner & Hair Dresser

When I enrolled in hair school, I ultimately knew my dream was to one day be my own boss. My business class centered around a hair dressing career, and my professor laid out a tree with many branches of potential opportunities that this career could take me.  Read more>>

Sinclair Hickman | Actress, Artist, & Film Studio Owner

If your are going to start your own business please make sure you are doing it correctly. Make sure you know about the business you are getting into it. Read more>>

Yuying Chen | I’m a multidisciplinary visual communicator + designer, catching the magic moment for you!

As a designer, I believe that the ability to sustain oneself is essential. I view design as a lens through which to comprehend the world, and my pursuit of it extends beyond mere employment. For designers, career options are not confined to corporate roles; they also encompass entrepreneurial ventures. Read more>>

David Acuff | Author | Filmmaker | Comedy Marketing

Necessity is the mother of invention. But also, getting laid off with 7000 of your fellow cast mates from Disney is also the mother of invention. Maybe the evil step-mother of invention. That’s what happened last year after seven years as a Producer-Editor for the house of mouse. And that’s fine. That’s our industry. It’s got highs and lows.  Read more>>

Louisa Foong | Pianist, Music Producer, Composer, Arranger & Music Educator

When I first launched Pine Music Academy, I felt like I was navigating without a map! I even thought, ‘Am I crazy for even considering this?’ It was smack during the Covid-19 pandemic when I had plenty of hours to ponder life’s twists and turns.  Read more>>

Mimiko Mao | Vintage toys lover

My passion for vintage toy culture sparked the idea for Cabbage Garden. Growing up, I was captivated by the charm of old toys, which seemed to hold more allure than the newer models available today. I wanted to bring these cherished characters from my childhood into the present, blending classic designs with modern aesthetics to appeal to a wider audience.  Read more>>

TeAndre’ Miles | Filmmaker & producer

My journey into entrepreneurship was a gradual evolution, beginning with casually photographing friends for enjoyment. Over time, individuals started approaching me to pay for my services sporadically. It wasn’t until over five years later that I recognized the necessity of formal education to enhance my skills and confidence in my craft. Read more>> 

Irina Antonenko | Actress, Amodel and Co-founded Lemoori brand.

I have a passion for creating something beautiful, and as a teenager, I even worked as a florist – one of my first jobs! Between my acting and modeling career, I would create bouquets and arrangements for my home and friends. Everyone would ask why I wasn’t turning this talent into a business, creating for others.  Read more>>

Scott Jennings | Investor & Entrepreneur

Starting my own business stemmed from a desire to merge profit with purpose. As I started focusing on Impact Investing and health and wellness, the notion of generating positive returns while contributing positively to society resonated deeply with me. Read more>>

Demetrius Hill | Film maker & Producer

The thought process behind starting my own business was to show my my loved ones that they can do more than just “work a job” without being fearful about their finances. Read more>>

Blayre Pichon | Filmmaker

About 6% of writers, directors and producers in US-produced films are African American. As black filmmakers, in order for us to keep making films – most of us will also need to start a media company or collective of artists who are invested in creating and supporting black content.  Read more>>

Manuello Paganelli | Fine Arts & Documentary Photographer

I never planned on becoming a photographer at all. I figured I would become an attorney helping others like my father or, from my mother’s influence, trot the globe as a missionary doctor. Read more>>

Kati Angelov | Motion and Projection Design professor & Artist

Since I am not a business owner, I will describe here my thought process regarding my curriculum development, which is unique. I am the chair of the Media Arts Design department at Cypress College. Beyond that I am also an independent projection design artist. Read more>>

Juavette Pulliam Johansen | Real Estate Broker/Owner & Life Insurance & Annuity Specialist

I use to work for University of California Berkeley. I worked there for 16 years as an Accounting Analyst. Suddenly UC Berkeley was going through budget cuts and my department was one of the first departments to be cut and everyone was laid off. That was a turning point for me. Read more>>

Melanie Nelson Anita Goodson | Co-founders of Spirited Brands

Embarking on the entrepreneurial journey wasn’t merely about launching a business; it was a fusion of passion, expertise, and a vision to revolutionize the ready-to-drink cocktail landscape. Our journey began with a shared love for cocktails and a commitment to living healthy and active lifestyles. Read more>> 

Sarah Timmerman | CEO

I have always wanted to own my own business. I love creating and envisioning new things and this is the ultimate culmination of those two passions. When I was 20 my mum offered me a party of a ticket to Paris – and I took the ticket to Paris. Read more>>

Stacy Nguyen | Graphic Designer & Artist

Funnily enough, I did not have a deliberate thought process when I started my business. I think that a lot of times, we assume that starting a business is a huge decision made by a person who has deliberated, prepared, has all their ducks in a row, and has written a business plan. Read more>>

Owen Galicia | Media Creative, Producer, Brand Owner, Photographer

When starting O.G._Vintage & Cultura it really was an idea built from multiple past experiences. Growing up my mom used to take me to swapmeets, thrift stores, and second hand vintage stores. She would always be up for a good deal and that mentality stuck with me, it later led to me going on my own and sourcing my own clothes and memoribilla to collect.  Read more>>

Tia Weiss | Jewelry Artist

I first decided to start my business during the pandemic. I graduated from college in May of 2020 with a degree in photography. Due to the pandemic, however, most jobs in this industry were not available, so I ended up working a customer service job at a film development lab. Read more>> 

Nivia Da Silva | Baker

I wanted to work with my passion. I’ve always had a love for baking and I had pursued it in the past but never went fully into it. During the Pandemic I found myself with time on my hands and decided to invest into education to broaden my knowledge on baking.  Read more>>

Brian Chanthavong | Automotive Repair Shop Owner

I decided to embark on the journey of starting my own business within the automotive repair industry. My aim was straightforward: to establish an automotive repair shop that stood out for its honesty, transparency, and commitment to quality service. Read more>>

Melanie Charles | Jazz Artist

As a musician, I am reluctant to call my work a business but as record labels become a thing of the past and more and more work falls on the artist, I find myself having to compartmentalise the art and the “job”. That being said my brand Make Jazz Trill Again was born out of a necessity to amplify artists that are of the Jazz tradition or that are jazz adjacent. Read more>>

Hana Lee | Podcast Host

Bulgogi Podcast began as a silly outlet to share the thoughts and feelings I had about dating, growing into myself, and my inner most struggles as a 20 something year old. I was confused about how to be a better friend, what confidence even meant, and what to do when I felt lost in my career.  Read more>>

Claudia Gilani | FDN-P, Clinical Herbalist, & Podcast Host

Starting a business was never part of my plan! Throughout my life, I’ve faced ongoing health challenges. By the time I reached college, my condition worsened significantly. I struggled with anxiety, depression, severe cystic acne, chronic fatigue, persistent body aches, and even chronic laryngitis. Read more>>

Joshua Hussainy | CEO of Pixelhappy

Throughout my career as a graphic, web, and mobile designer, I had the chance to work with some amazing companies like USA Today, Disney, Shopify, and Adobe. It was a blast and the pay was great—but not without its drawbacks!  Read more>>

Black Magic Tim | Cinematographer

Initiating my own business was not initially my primary objective; rather, it evolved organically as a means of forging a unique trajectory aligned with my aspirations. Despite possessing specialized talents in cinematography, visual effects, and editing, I encountered challenges in securing positions that fully recognized and utilized these skills within existing companies. Read more>>

Val, Sam & Cecy Reynoso, Miranda & Hernandez | Artists & Co-owners

The three of us originally had worked together in a high volume LA based nail salon starting back in 2016. The dynamic and work environment in that salon brought, created a bond so tightly knit, it was as if we would move as one. As our craft grew, the three of us also felt like that same salon that had helped cultivate our talent, eventually began to hold us back. Read more>>

B. Hawk Snipes | Entrepreneur. Social Activist & Entertainer

The thought process behind starting my own business was to be my own boss. After years of working for other people and business, I wanted something of my own. Creating my own online clothing boutique has truly taught me more about consistency, responsibility and accountability. Read more>>

Jenn Meek | Pastry Chef

My thought process behind starting my own business was pretty simple in that it would always be something that I would have control over. Choosing to be a pastry as a career meant that, to some degree, I would always be doing what I wanted, but having my own business meant that I could pick and choose each project I would be working on.  Read more>>

Marlene Salomon Ceragno | Professional gerontologist/ founder of the Adult Care Brief Bank

Technically, the Adult Care Brief Bank is not a business, it’s a grassroots project that came out of a need for an elderly family member who had outlived her money. I think many non-profits, movements, businesses come out of an unmet need and people thinking ‘if not me who’, will help fix the problem. Read more>>

Canyon Castator | Artist

Q1:Mohilef Studios was started due to pure selfishness. I’d moved to LA from New York and was desperately looking for a studio. I was living downtown, and I didn’t have a car- I wanted to find a studio that I could make my daily commute to on foot. Read more>>

Robert Alexander | Production Sound Mixer

From the onset of my career in film, I’ve always aimed to start my own business. I thrive on diving head first into my endeavors, meticulously exploring every detail and nuance while continuously pushing boundaries. Read more>>

Skylar “SCKY REI” Reed | Illustrator/Creative Director/Artist

My thought process about starting my own business in multi media comes from a lack of opportunity and the drive to create for myself because I’m not necessarily a top candidate for corporate America. Read more>>