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.

Zac Walker | Owner

We started our business with a few key motivations: the desire to work for ourselves, make a positive societal impact, and achieve financial success. My first job out of college was a wake-up call. I nearly got fired within a week, realizing that thriving in the traditional job market would be a challenge for me. Read more>>

Cristina Madrid | CEO of HumanDigital Consulting

My decision to venture into my own business stemmed from a confluence of personal aspirations and a genuine concern for the impact of digital technologies on people. On one hand, I have always been captivated by the transformative power of digital solutions in society, business and mainly on people.  Read more>>

Taghi Naderzad | The Stable LA Fitness

I opened The Stable LA gym in June 2023 to create a community, of eclectic yet like minded individuals coming together , uplifting one another, towards a common goal of better health. Read more>>

Han Wang | Filmmaker

As a cinematographer, my art focuses on storytelling through visual language, using lighting and composition to create compelling narratives. I aim to capture emotions and atmospheres in films, providing audiences with an immersive viewing experience. My work is known for its nuanced handling of light and distinctive visual style. Read more>>

Steven Tyler Hunt | Steven Tyler Hunt | Co-founder & Creative Director of TANTA

Starting TANTA Clothing was inspired by my own fashion journey and the noticeable quality difference between designer brands like Gucci and Louis Vuitton compared to street brands like Fubu and Sean John. After moving to Japan for my career as a rapper and actor, I was at a business meeting involving many parties. Read more>>

Dennis Kehoe | Artist Blacksmith

The thought process behind starting our business was based on a very strong urge to fully own my time and future. When I worked for others, even if I liked the job, I felt trapped, stifled and limited in how much I could grow. Owning our own business feels as though our potential is limitless and the reins are fully in our hands. Read more>>

Amanda Hsiung-Blodgett | Bilingual Language & Culture Consultant and Award-winning Author

It all began with my desire to pass down my Chinese and Taiwanese heritage to my two mixed-race children, guiding them to embrace the cultures within our family, community, and beyond. At the same time, I wanted to show adult learners that Mandarin Chinese is not one of the most difficult languages in the world. Read more>>

Emberlynn (Renyin) Miao | Creative Director, Designer & Brand Strategist

Starting my own business was a journey born out of a passion for design, relentless curiosity, and a genuine desire to create meaningful impact. I’ve always believed in the transformative power of design and its ability to bring delight and elevate everyday experiences. For instance, have you ever noticed how a well-designed coffee mug feels just right in your hand, or how a thoughtfully laid-out grocery store makes your shopping trip smoother and more enjoyable? Read more>>

Kristen DeBenedetto | Executive Director and founder of Include Everyone Project SCV

We started Include Everyone Project SCV based on the need in our community. One day we were having coffee and the subject of theater camp came up. Rodney, one of the founders, was expressing his frustration that his son with Prader Willi Syndrome was not able to complete a local theater camp because they did not have the ability to accommodate his specific needs. Read more>>

Ricci Bester-Adams | Actress, Writer, Director, & Entrepreneur

My first love is acting, and where I want my career to end, but I took a long look at what my road to get there would be like. One thing I had to realize is you need to be available to pursue this line of work. I had other side gigs that were around entrepreneurship but never really took it seriously until that move. As time went on, it became more of something I could pass down to my children as a form of generational wealth. Read more>>

Polina Beregova | Hypnotherapist, Astrologer & Women’s Wellness Coach

From a young age, I always felt that more than meets the eye existed in life. I tuned into subtle energies, researched metaphysics, energy work, and various other energy interpreting modalities. I began to learn about cycles of life via Astrology, about Energy Healing through the lens of Quantum Physics, and about re-programming the mind through Hypnosis, or Hypnotherapy. Read more>>

Erica Trujillo | Co-Founder and Principal Designer

My journey to starting Needles House began with my background in interior design. I graduated from FIDM with a degree in interior design, and in 2017, when I became pregnant with my son Mateo, I transitioned to freelance interior design work. This shift allowed me to have a flexible schedule while doing what I loved. Over the next few years, I took on luxury commercial design projects, gaining invaluable experience. Read more>>

Allan Gonzalez Barquero | Chef

As a mature person, I wanted to have more time to enjoy with my loved ones and to be able to develop myself as a small businessman, to depend on myself to create a better future and quality of life for myself and my family. Read more>>

Arby Avanesian | Founder of empirical water

This is a story that goes way back, and it all starts with my what drives me. I am propelled by my discomfort with ambiguity, my need for control, and my desire for “perfect” experiences. These are weaknesses in my personality that stem from childhood. Through compulsive self-awareness, I’ve used these weaknesses as motivation to ultimately create good things for people to enjoy. Read more>>

Amra Hajdarevic | Founder and CEO Terra & Co.

When I was pregnant with my daughter, I was determined to find a clean, natural whitening toothpaste. After trying several grocery brands and not getting the desired results, I decided to create my own toothpaste. This challenge led to the birth of Terra & Co. I started on a small scale, manufacturing toothpaste for friends and family, and testing it on Amazon. Read more>>

Vince Minniti | Podcaster, amateur screenwriter

My process behind starting my podcast was that I wanted an outlet to explore my creativity as well as learning new things from my guests. I wanted to do something enjoyable and self directed. Most importantly I wanted to give a platform to those who deserve it, regardless of popularity. Read more>>

N. Roy | Head Micro-Consultant & Problem Solver

This is actually my third venture to date. I’m always driven to start a business in an area that I’m passionate about area where a profitable niche can be carved out. When the two pieces come together I know that my passion will keep me motivated to push through the hard work and eventually it will lead to a profitable venture. With this particular business, More Business Less Problems, my motivation was the area of problem solving. Read more>>

Meredith Yinger | Film Director & Owner of She TV Media

By the time I graduated from LMU, I was committed to creating change within the media. For the stories and people that were overshadowed, left behind, or pushed down, I wanted to highlight them. I wanted to shed light on dark areas of our society and world and I realized the best way for me to do that would be through documentary filmmaking. Read more>>

Rykeis Tyson | Music Producer/Executive

I started my own business because I figured out that no longer have to be lied to I no longer have to be swayed into situations that doesn’t fit my future, and I can retain ownership with intention, protect my intellectual property. Read more>>

Christina Coronado Karla Rojas | Moms / Health office coordinator and Surgical Tech

We embarked on this business journey on a spontaneous whim, driven by the desire to be our own bosses and create a space that we could genuinely enjoy. As cousins, the prospect of sharing and having fun together added an extra layer of motivation for us. Read more>>

Krystal Gonzalez | Personal Trainer & Lifestyle Coach

When I was younger, I knew I wanted to be rich and my own boss. I wasn’t sure when it would happen or how it would happen, I just knew. However, now that I am older, being “rich” means something a little different, and being my own boss holds a much heavier weight with more responsibility. Read more>> 

Ehrich Van Lowe | President & CEO of Resurrection Media, LLC.

My thought process behind starting Resurrection Media was simple. I wanted to create something that was fun, that I could use to help others on their journeys to success, and that we could make a nice living together. My company is immersed in all things horror: games, quizzes, live and virtual events, podcasts, short films, and of course, feature films. Read more>>

Erica Montgomery | Family & Portrait Photographer

To be honest, starting my business wasn’t a planned decision—family photography actually found me! I began by casually snapping and posting candid photos of my three children, and before I knew it, others were asking me to capture their families in the same natural style. I remember feeling incredibly nervous during my first family session.  Read more>>

Patricia Muthra | Registered Nurse & Business Owner

It was in the heights of covid and I was 11 yrs into working as an oncology nurse. I saw how the fear of the virus mentally and emotionally crippled and dis-empowered a lot of my patients and their family members. I saw how they felt, lost, angry and hopeless at times that they couldn’t do anything outside of getting their treatments and staying locked away because having a low immune system meant they could get really sick or die.  Read more>>

Ria Kim | Tattoo artist

Starting my own business as a pet portrait tattooist was a natural progression for me, driven by a deep passion for both tattoo art and animals. My love for pets has always been a significant part of my life, and combining that with my artistic skills felt like the perfect way to create something meaningful. I wanted to offer a unique service that not only celebrates the bond between people and their pets but also allows me to connect with clients on a personal level. Read more>>

Lisa Schyck | Creator and Founder of book series Glimpses of the Joshua Tree Dream

The Joshua Tree Dream is a for-profit business endeavor designed to promote and support artists, musicians, and nonprofits in the Hi-Mojave Desert. As I got to know more people and organizations, I discovered the many challenges they were facing: artists struggling to get work and make a living, and nonprofits struggling to raise funds. Read more>>

Fernanda Muhlbradt | Founder of Women’s Marketing

When I started working in marketing agencies, I noticed how women-led businesses were treated differently. In briefing meetings, women-led businesses were often underestimated and considered “easier”. There was always a joke among the men about how “the client was PMSing”, and all of this always bothered me. I wanted to create an environment of respect and appreciation, where women and their businesses could be treated with the seriousness and professionalism they deserve. Read more>>