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.

Haven Lankford Dale | Hairstylist, Criminology Graduate & Entrepreneur

The thought process behind starting my business was a deeply personal and rewarding journey for me. From a young age, I found joy in experimenting with different hairstyles and helping friends and family feel confident in their appearance. Read more>> 

Tantri Mustika | Ceramic Artist

I have ALWAYS been a hard worker, I watched my parents and their parents work really hard when I was growing up. I guess you could say it’s just in my bones. I always got way too invested in all of the jobs I had when I was younger, I gave too much of myself to work and one day it crossed my mind: WHY am I doing this? Read more>>

Dylan Gerber | Creative Director, Copywriter

I grew up in the mid-Wilshire area (Olympic & Crescent Heights). As a kid, I remember driving up Fairfax past the CBS entertainment complex known as “Television City” on my way to pick up lunch at Canter’s before heading further up the street to my father’s ad agency, which occupied a half a block of storefronts just north of Melrose. Read more>> 

Jennifer Danielle | Content Creator & Travel Influencer

My business was created by accident as a result of turning 30 and wanting to make the most of life after the pandemic. I made a vow to myself that if I survived the pandemic. I would cherish life and see the world even if I had to do so by myself. Read more>> 

Corinna Ramirez | Co-Founder of Closing Babes

Our journey in starting this business was driven by a desire to uplift and empower women, inspired by the transformative impact of a skill I personally mastered. Without this skill, achieving self-sufficiency would have been an uphill battle. Recognizing the lack of women coaching other women in this space, we embarked on a mission to fill that gap. Read more>> 

Maria Robson and Suzanna Urszuly

Maria and I worked together in Tokyo as fashion models. We were always very interested in a natural and holistic life style and we definitely bonded over it.. We both created our own body oils, face masks at a time, just for fun. Read more>>

Marina Furko | Pawsome Tails

My journey into entrepreneurship was inspired by my beloved dog, Harley. About six years ago, when he came into my life as my first furry companion, it sparked a newfound passion within me. I immediately engaged deeply with the vibrant Dog Mom community, creating an Instagram account dedicated to him. Read more>>

Michael Williams | Writer , actor , director , producer and poet stage name is HALLA

My process was we as a people don’t own anything . I wanted to be able to provide for my kids kids kids. I wanted to be able to break a generational curse and also inspire people with my gifts. Read more>>

Jen Koffie | Women’s Health & Wellness Blogger/Content Creator

From a young age I learned that entrepreneurship was in my blood. My grandfather owned a lounge/bar back home in Ghana, which my mom would help take care of as a child (she is the eldest of 5, so naturally she took on more responsibilities). Read more>>

Mario Signore | Cinematographer, Producer, and Cannabis Company founder

I had been living in Los Angeles, working in the film industry for 22 years and I suddenly felt the need to do something totally new. I have always been an entrepeneur starting companies since I was a kid. Read more>> 

Alejandra Rodriguez | Artist

Creating my business I was at university. I wanted to have something on my own, something to create art and fashion. I was looking to create something that united my passions. I wanted something that represented everything about me, here comes Sencilla. Read more>>

Joan Melendez Misner | Spacecraft Engineer and Content Creator

To be honest, it all just stemmed from the fact that I didn’t see much female representation in the media (especially social media) when it came to Women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) fields. Read more>>

Nadia Mistry | CA Licensed Naturopathic Doctor and Wellness Consultant

Starting my own business, Mistry Wellness, stemmed from a deeply personal journey—a journey of rediscovery and healing amidst the challenges of motherhood. When my husband and I welcomed our first baby boy after years of pursuing our educational dreams, we were overjoyed. Read more>> 

Malenge Creative | Multicultural creative agency & event production house

Marta Castellano & Maria Aramburu, founders and creative directors of Malenge Creative, started as roommates back in 2018. Since then our approach is centered on leveraging our unique perspective, understanding the needs of our audience, and delivering curated experiences that celebrate Latinx culture in a dynamic and engaging way. Read more>>

Roderic Martez | Photographer, model, content creator, MBA Candidate

Recently I was laid off from a job I had been employed with since my junior year of college. Even though I was not the fondest of my role, it provided a quality of life and level of stability I was comfortable with. Read more>>

victoria magrane | creator

i guess there was not even a process, I just kept on doing what i did as a child to have fun and keep my mind connected with creativity. But i do remember well when i decided to take this playground to real business. Read more>> 

Sergio Romero | Certified Life Coach & Content Creation Coach

Creating Prosperous Pathways began from a compelling desire to impact the world and address the challenges of my upbringing in poverty, where my mother heroically raised five children alone. Our experience of homelessness for three years deeply influenced my pursuit of financial literacy, seeing money as a powerful tool for change. Read more>>

David Wiss | Registered Dietitian Nutritionist & Mental Health Scientist

I have worked clinically with people for 11 years through my private practice, Nutrition in Recovery. It became obvious that I developed a niche for helping people with mental health challenges, such as disordered eating, addiction, anxiety, trauma, and ADHD. Read more>>

ACQUANETTA WILLIAMS | Purpose Coach, Entrepreneur, and Advocate for Confidence and Empowerment

My journey into entrepreneurship was born from a personal crisis that transformed into a meaningful ministry. From a very young age, I faced challenges that would shape my future in profound ways. Read more>>

Gregg Binkley | Actor, Acting Coach, Author

I had been fortunate enough to have quite a few successes as an actor and eventually I reached one of my main goals – to be a series regular on a national network show. After the show (“Raising Hope” on Fox) was cancelled, I went through a period where my motivation slowed down and my career stalled. Read more>>

Sara Langley | Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

During the pandemic we really started to see the nationwide decline in childhood mental health and the associated crisis that started to unfurl. At the time I was at home on my maternity leave and started to reassess what I wanted my contribution to the health of my community to look like. Read more>>

Laurie Okamoto | Nature Inspired Jewelry Artist

Initially, Chiisai Leaf started as a hobby while I was still in college. I used to make wire wrapped/beaded earrings, all of which would end up in an untouched pile on my desk. There was something wonderfully methodical and mindless about twisting the wire and combining different colors, and it was great stress relief from school. Read more>> 

Amber Earl | Ceo

The thought process behind starting “Just Winging It” was me getting back to where I came from. It’s imperative to know that I started making hot wings with my mom as a 12 year old kid in Memphis, TN. Read more>> 

Xelestiál Moreno-Luz | Artist, Culture & Media Strategist, & Non-Profit Director

It is painfully apparent that transgender women of color are forced to work in underground economies and under the thumb of LGBTQ+ capitalism. Starting my consultant work as Non-Binary Mami LLC, working as an interdisciplinary artist, and developing a nonprofit initiative called Saturn’s Wish was a no-brainer because I wanted to be in control of my own narrative. Read more>>

Bonan Li | Fashion designer & Artist

“As an artist with a distinctive vision and approach to fashion design, launching my own business grants me the freedom to express my creativity without limitations. This independence encourages me to explore unconventional ideas and concepts that defy the conventional norms of the fashion industry. Read more>>

James “Screal” Eberheart Jr. | Serial Entrepreneur & Visioneer

Starting my first legal business Hopz Mgmt LLC, was not just about entrepreneurship, it was a deeply personal journey that honored the memory of my best friend, Lamont “Hopz” Calhoun Jr., who was tragically murdered when we were both 20 years old. Read more>> 

Benny Reese | Vintage Haberdasher

I wanted to provide something different, something fun, mainly for men that wanted to get dressed up. Growing up going to vintage stores in the 90s and 2000s, it was very difficult to find a Vintage store that had a significant amount of menswear. Read more>>

Andy Horwitz | Feature film Producer & CEO of Big Swell Entertainment

Before starting Big Swell Entertainment, I spent 15 years at Atlas Entertainment; one of Hollywood’s biggest production companies. During my time there, Atlas produced 5 of the top 100 grossing films of all time which gave me opportunities to work side by side with some of the best and brightest in the industry. Read more>>

Morgan Wilson | Traditional painter & unconventional artist

I don’t know that I ever consciously made a decision to start a business. When I was a kid no one ever asked what I wanted to be when I grew up; it was obvious all I wanted was to be an artist. My mother loves to tell the story that at age 5, when pressed, I would say ‘I just want to be the boss.’ Read more>>