Starting a business is a commitment and requires dedication, resources and sacrifice. We asked some of the rising stars in our community how they thought through the idea of starting their own businesses.

Marina; Jackie Quintero; Gold | Whiskey N Donuts Comedy Producers (Marina Quintero & Jackie Gold)

To be honest, the opportunity was presented to us by a friend and we jumped at it! There are so many comedians in LA that you can get lost in the crowd, competing for stage time. So in running our own space, we were able to create a consistent stage for ourselves to develop and craft our material. It also provided us the privilege of booking who ever we wanted! Read more>>

Heather Warren | Personal Chef

Through my health and fitness journey I really started to build my own meals to cater to my health and wellness needs. I studied the nutrition values of food and how food was affecting my body. As people saw the shift in my body they began asking for my dietary advice and if I would be interested in cooking for them. Read more>>

Sara Zanville | Owner of BE KIND, REWIND and a Real Estate Agent

I run two businesses 🙂 I own a 90s/2000s event company called BE KIND, REWIND where we throw your favorite throwback events around town and I also am a Real Estate Agent. BE KIND, REWIND was started 7 years ago at one bar called The Virgil and has grown to residencies throughout Los Angeles. We throw theme nights at bars, we’ve hosted trivia events at bars and on zoom for corporate events, events with live cover bands, and game nights. Read more>>

Ana Sanchez | Mixologist

It all started in 2017, I was a new mom with many dreams, and one of them was to finish school. I went on an adventure of Bartending and got enough gigs to get me through school fast forward 2023 school is done and what is next? Why don’t I rebrand myself with Bartending. Read more>>

Thomas Corkran | Entrepreneur

The impetus behind Misfit Unlimited was a series of creative milestones that were built into a company. My business partner, Joe Plascencia and I had spent years creating cartoons and writing stories around dozens of animated characters. Over the course of a few years we had made a lot of cartoons that were geared toward promoting positive messaging for children. Read more>>

Raychelle Devilla | Green Coffee Buyer

Our pursuit for a Philippine Specialty coffee began during our cycling days. One of our partners was from the Philippines and grew up in a coffee town. Every time he returns from his visit, he would bring back coffee for us. It was a staple growing up. The idea of putting up a coffee house was always a plan. Read more>>

Alex Yeske | Interior Designer

After working for over a decade in the fashion industry, I wanted to do more meaningful work. I had always been drawn to interior design and I loved that you could create spaces that were long lasting and had an impact on people’s lives. I interned and worked for other designers and knew I wanted to have my own firm. Read more>>

Kalynn Youngblood | Photographer & Director

I wanted to be my own boss and live/work on my own terms. Although, I wasn’t prepared for all the hard word it would include, but I’m glad I made the leap. Read more>>

Janet Mona (stage name is Janet Mona) | Singer/Songwriter

I’m a singer/songwriter/producer, and I grew up admiring artists who were a part of the music-making process themselves. Their art hit harder for me once I knew they wrote the words and hadn’t hired someone to write it for them. Looking around, there aren’t many women in the sound engineering/production world, or at least, not many are highlighted and valued at the level they should be. Read more>>

Tina Ho | Senior Software Engineer (ex-IBM, ex-Apple, ex-Amazon) & Aspiring Startup Founder

I grew up in a family of immigrants. From an early age, I heard or witnessed the risks my family took. My dad took a leap of faith and traveled to America – a country where he knew no one and did not speak a word of English – for a better life. My mom stayed behind in Vietnam with three young girls. Read more>>

Tarik Rollerson | Choreographer & Creative Director

1Up Crew LLC is a hip hop organization based out of Oakland, CA. I started 1Up Crew to be able to create opportunity for dancers in the Bay Area. In the Bay Area, we have limited resources to build a career as a dancer, choreographer, and performer. I also want to make an impact on the community and teach the youth about hip hop culture and foundation street styles and build awareness to dance classes, labs, and sessions. Read more>>

Maria Natapov | Stepparenting Coach, Blended Family Strategist, Rapid Resolution Therapy Practitioner

I’m an immigrant, domestic abuse survivor and a divorcee myself, and I became a stepparent about 10+ years ago when my now husband and I got more serious. Five years into my stepparenting journey, my stepdaughter told us that she was being abused and neglected by her bio-mom and stepdad, that it had been going on for years, and that she was being silenced. Read more>>

Amber Lopez | CEO

After having a personal experience with domestic violence, I realized the majority of woman would not have a fighting chance in such a situation. With further research we realized the severity of the epidemic of violence on woman, and look to offer a solution for others who are at risk of experiencing the same or worst. Read more>>

Rob Ransome | Principal Broker of Ransome Realty Group

When I decided to start Ransome Realty Group, I was really at a point of thinking I had learned all I could from everyone else to that point. I had been a Realtor® for 13 years at that point and felt that I was ready to be the person that other agents could come to for advice and guidance. I was fortunate enough to be around some very knowledgeable Brokers throughout my years of learning the business of Real Estate and I wanted to try wearing the Broker hat myself. Read more>>

Amber Schnitzius | Ceramic Artist & Owner of Rekindle Pottery

My decision to open my own business was born out of a desire to pursue more creative interests and a longing to escape the exhaustion and burnout I experienced in my corporate job. Opening an Etsy shop in 2017 marked the beginning of my ceramics side business, and when the opportunity to collaborate with a boutique shop in LA arose in 2018, my venture started to grow. Read more>>

India | Tattoo artist

My mindset and focus have always been geared towards pursuing my dreams. I knew I would only fully dedicate myself to my work if it was something I was passionate about. After discovering the art through which I enjoyed expressing myself, my focus shifted towards maintaining consistency and originality throughout the entire process. Read more>>

Sagar Ghosh | Chef-owner

The overall theme of my first and also my second restaurant was to feature and share the food of my heritage and work experience, I created this broad menu with This broad menu with my long time chef-partner Sourav Biswas. Both of us were born and raised in Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), the Bengali region known for refined flavors sophisticated street food. We attended hospitality school there, too. Read more>>

Sienna Armstrong | Photographer, Writer, and Musician

I am a firm believer that some people can’t make it as employers, some can’t be employees, and some can’t be self-employed. I fit into the camp of just never feeling like I could work for another person without holding the reins. Being self-employed isn’t for everyone, but it works for me, the way my mind works, and my lifestyle. Read more>>

Ty Christopher | Chandler & Momtie

My thought process behind starting a business was providing for nieces and sustaining our lifestyle after being laid-off. Life as I knew it had changed within 24 hours. I couldn’t return to a 9-5 career after agreeing to be my nieces and nephew guardian, so starting a business was the only thing that came to mind. Read more>>

Evelyn Perez | Florist

I began my business during the pandemic in 2021. At the time I was unemployed, and my bills were accruing. I attempted to resell new/used clothes although it was not enough. I was then encouraged by my boyfriend to sell flowers as I have always been drawn to flowers and had previously taken a free floral course. Read more>>

Joshua Coley | Stand Up Comedian and Producer

When I moved here from Seattle to do stand up comedy, it was right after the pandemic had lifted and masks and Vax cards were everyday items so there weren’t a lot of spots that were doing open mics or live comedy in LA at that time. I couldn’t wait to do comedy so I remembered talking with a bunch of comics one night after a rare open mic about it and I worked at a bar with a large outdoor area so I decided why wait for someone else to produce this thing that I want so badly now. Read more>>

Austin DeLeeuw | Co-Founder & Bartender

As the co-founders of BarBoys, our journey towards starting our own business was an exciting and fulfilling one. It all began during our college years when we first met and discovered our shared passion for hosting events. We always had a great time planning and throwing parties for our friends, and it quickly became apparent that we had a natural talent for creating enjoyable and memorable experiences. Read more>>

Alicia Liu | Chief of Flavors

The pandemic was actually serendipitous. A complete Covid story. As many, we all cooked our way through the pandemic. My daughter loves ice cream so we decided to buy a small maker and make ice cream at home. When I realized there was SO much whole milk, heavy cream and sugar, I decided to make a “healthier” version with organic oat milk and plant-based ingredients. Read more>>

Natalie Albertson | Owner, Winemaker

I never sought out being a business owner. Owning a business just came along with pursuing my passion of making wine. I discovered that I wanted to make wine and the logical way to continue making wine was to sell it, not just for friends and family to enjoy. Starting Wildflower Winery meant that I would be able to continue my obsession/passion with fermenting grapes into wine. Read more>>

Alli Ramirez | DJ, Visual Artist, Entrepreneur

A major influence of my journey to start my own business was the rave/music festival scene. If you have never been to one I highly recommend going because it is truly life changing. It provided me a safe space to come home to myself at a very early age. It put me on a path of self discovery in the most unexpected ways. Having a place to be completely yourself, to connect with others in a deep and meaningful way, and to find peace in the present moment; really puts you in a different headspace. Read more>>

Lizzy Mac | Company Partner, Commercial Print Model, Coach

The thought process behind starting my own business was like… a conversation with my younger self. I’d always been a high achiever, or maybe just super competitive.  I grew up with a really bad chip on my shoulder as the youngest of five, born fifteen years after in a dysfunctional household.  There was love, but there was also pain. Read more>>

Brandy A. Robinson | Pilates Instructor & Studio Owner

In 2007/2008, I began to pay more attention to my fitness and overall health. During my time away while I was studying as an undergrad at Hampton University, I gained the dreaded “Freshman 15”. I was eager to get rid of it, I was not happy with how I looked, but more importantly, how I felt. Read more>>

Max emerson | writer, director, performer

It never really felt like a choice. I had a couple of internships in college, and the thought of being some older moron’s cash cow never sat well with me. Read more>>

DooWop Byrd | Multidisciplinary Artist

Being a multidisciplinary artist, I have always been interested in starting a business. Something that reflects my personality and unique style. I feel that I have a lot to share with the world and starting my own business was a fun way to do that. Read more>>

Gurdip Kaur Jaspal Singh | Independent Fashion & Costume Designer

GypsyKorn Atelier is a startup independent fashion establishment founded in 2021 by me, Gurdip Kaur D/O Jaspal Singh. I founded this business driven by a personal need I encountered in the Malaysian market. As a passionate advocate of punk culture with a distinctive aesthetic taste, I faced a considerable challenge when shopping for designs that truly resonated with my style preferences. Read more>>