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.

Louis Kuo | Guitarist/Tour Manager/Instructor

I’m a musician who graduated from Musicians Institute. But during the pandemic in 2020, the world shot down for few years, and it was a tough period for all musicians, cuz we can’t play music with anyone in live. Therefore, I tried to do some music arrangement, and music business stuff since then. Read more>>

Sophia Suganuma | Social Entrepreneur and Climate Activist

As the child of immigrants, I have seen first-hand the challenges that language accessibility can pose. On a broader, more global scale, language currently acts as a barrier to both education and awareness. Looking at climate education specifically, while 80% of the world does not speak English, most scientific information about the climate movement is written exclusively in English. Read more>>

Dorothy McMahon | Movement Instructor, Health Coach & Vegan Chef

To help people live healthier and more vibrant lives. When we take care of ourselves we take care of those around us and make the world a better place. Healing always starts with the individual and I have such a huge passion for helping people through their healing journey’s when it comes to nutrition and movement. Read more>>

Brad Richardson | Co-Owner | Ambush Candle Co.

Ambush Candle Co is a husband and wife team. We started our company after a spell of creative uncertainty. Everything we’ve created seems to have stemmed from our spontaneous Grand Canyon road trip in 2018. Read more>>

Alexandra Yashar | Occupational Therapist, Somatic Practitioner & Parent Coach

As a kid, I was obsessed with music, writing, and painting – I was a super creative kid. I was also really fascinated with the mind and with science. Along the way and somewhere between my childhood and young adulthood, with complex trauma, anxiety and depression, I lost connection to that part of myself. Read more>>

Catalina Huerta Cardamone | Hairstylist/ business owner

Being a business owner for about 5 years now, it’s nice to think back as to what made me take the leap to go into business for myself.
Honestly, I wanted to make my own schedule and work hours that allowed me the freedom to be there for my clients and also take time off. Read more>>

All Things Plastics

1) As full-time nurses and best friends, we envisioned creating a brand that merges our nursing expertise with our specialty in plastic surgery. Recognizing that the world of plastic surgery has long been misunderstood as taboo, we aimed to debunk and normalize these discussions. Read more>>

Robin Emtage | Makeup & Hair Stylist, Photographer, and Founder of SILKTÁGE Tropical-Inspired Beauty

Starting SILKTÁGE was a journey rooted in my passion for natural beauty and my fascination with unique tropical ingredients. My thought process was driven by several key factors: Read more>>

Tracy Reola | Entrepreneur/Holistic Nutritionist/ Licensed Massage Therapist

The journey to spread awareness of preventative care involves educating people globally about the best and worst foods to consume. Through my social media platform, I aim to provide information on healthy vegan and other nutritious foods through videos. Read more>>

Jacqueline Klein | Speech and Language Pathologist specializing in Feeding, Oral Motor and Myofunctional Therapy

Well, funny enough- I was on my way out of the speech world. I was in virtual schools while distracted by social media and not giving my full potential. The passion was gone. I was 8 months pregnant with my son and sold all of my speech stuff and gave up my tenure and school based position. 17 years to say goodbye to. Read more>>

Shawna McGee | Fashion Designer/illustrator

My process for starting my business was pretty organic. I lost my job during the pandemic and began painting. I then decided to print my paintings on kimonos and scarves and that’s how the business started. Read more>>

Alycia Rainaud | aka Maalavidaa – Graphic Designer & Digital Artist

When I started Maalavidaa in 2016, I don’t think I considered it as a business opportunity, but merely a way of expressing my emotions visually. I reckon I started taking it as a serious profession after I got approached by my first couple of clients. Read more>>

Todd Gewant | Chiropractor and Author of a book series: What I Wish I Was Told found at www.whatiwishiwastold.com

I made a promise to God minutes before going under for my 3rd of 6 surgeries to keep my left arm on me, that I would give back forever and help people heal if he just lets me keep my arm. When I woke and felt my arm and hand were still mine, I told my Mom when she came into the recovery room: Read more>>

Ant Woods | Health Coach & Model

I was very excited to start my own business as I appreciate the freedom and creativity involved with being an entrepreneur. Both of my parents had traditional jobs, So I’ve been blazing my own path so to speak. It’s been extremely fulfilling challenging, but I still the right choice for me. Read more>>

Eleanor Sison-Derbigny | Creative Designer & Photographer

I have always loved capturing special moments which started from my phone, then to Polaroid, to portable printer, to now our own Photobooth and Event Capture business. On the morning of January 3, 2018, God gave me a vision of Simply Photography and He made it happen. Read more>>

JoAnne McGrath | Artist

Truthfully I wasn’t thinking about starting a business. During the pandemic, like a lot of us, I spent a lot of time on YouTube just watching content that interested me. I found myself watching a lot of furniture flipping videos. Read more>>

Dodo_Urbain aka. Urban Naps | Artist

The project was first conceptualized in 2021. I asked myself how I could leverage my artistic practice to highlight the ongoing struggles of marginalized populations and the increasing issue of homelessness in our city’s landscapes. Read more>>

Brienne Wasmer | Interior architect, entrepreneur, and yoga, meditation, and pranayama instructor

My journey into a life of health and wellness started over two decades ago when I discovered yoga in my late teens. A few years later in college at the University of Oregon, yoga served me well by helping me to reduce my stress level during a demanding design curriculum, which resulted in my earning a degree in Architecture and a Masters in Interior Architecture. Read more>>

Xinyu WO | Creator&Artist

In 2021, I graduated from SVA MFA Fine Arts without any money. I had not yet become a full-time artist, so I took a full-time job helping others do business. I had never thought of having any “full-time office job”; I had always wanted to work in a creative field. Read more>>

Eva Antoniadou | Founder of Hey Girl! Cosmetics, Spiritual & Business Consultant, Cosmic Energy Healer & Teacher

Starting my own business was driven by the desire for independence and the freedom to work on my schedule. It all started when I was working as a Makeup Artist. I took the liberty to shape my days according to my unique rhythm and priorities. Read more>>

James Tyler Shaw | Filmmaker and Film Curator

It all really started with me feeling alienated from Los Angeles movie culture. What I’ve always loved most about cinema is it’s fringes, the wildest and weirdest parts, and here everything is so Hollywood-centric that it seemed there was no place for people like me. Read more>>

Connie Kwok | Illustrator & 2D Animator

I mostly started selling my art because I love the process of merch making. It’s something I would dream of as a kid. Growing up I mostly worked digitally so having my work into a physical product feels very special to me. There is something about seeing your own work and having people wanting to buy them. It just feels real in the way. Read more>>

Alissa Laurie | Photographer

My thought process behind starting my own business was knowing that risk comes with reward and in the moments you feel like you aren’t being rewarded you’re probably learning something very important and with that comes the growth. Read more>>

Jamaal Rashad | Advisor & Consultant

I’ve been an entrepreneur for as long as I can remember. Whether it was walking door to door to wash cars as a kid, building a sports tech platform to shift the power dynamic to college athletes in my early 20s, or starting a Los Angeles-based Physical Therapy business, I’ve always been good at identifying opportunities. Read more>>

JUSTIN TULUS | CHEF & OWNER OF STOPBYE FOOD TRUCK – THE ORIGINAL INDONESIAN FUSION

FROM A YOUNG AGE I WAS INTERESTED ON OPERATING MY OWN BUSINESS. MY FAMILY OPERATED A SMALL FAMILY RESTAURANT IN MY HOME COUNTRY OF INDONESIA, DURING MY COLLEGE YEARS I TRAVELED TO AUSTRALIA, TAIWAN AND ENDED UP HERE IN LOS ANGELES TO PURSUE A CAREER IN THE CULINARY FIELD.. Read more>>