It takes a lot more than an idea to build a business, but there can’t be a business without the idea. So we asked folks who’ve built wonderful businesses to tell us about how they came up with the idea in the first place.

Brittany Wyatt | Balloon Stylist & Entrepreneur

I started my business when the pandemic started in 2020. I saw an opportunity to help families and friends celebrate special events in a grand fashion…even from home! The need for beautiful party decor was on the rise and I decided to put my creativity to the test and learned to style and create balloon installations. Read more>>

Sammy Shams | President, Board of Directors

The Pillyr Foundation has had a couple different iterations. It started as an idea to crowd fund for community projects with an online platform and knowledge resource and eventually transformed into more of a project based foundation. Read more>>

Sierra Batten | Business Support Specialist & Workforce Placement

I’ve always had a passion for business and crunching numbers. In my third year in college for Accounting, I took several business courses. Learning the business aspects was intriguing and interesting to me. I said, I know a lot of small business owners don’t have access to this financial literacy. Read more>>

Mijha Godfrey | Founder of Jambo Books

When my first daughter turned 1, I decided to stay at home with her until she started school. It was during my time as a stay-at-home mom that the idea for Jambo Books took hold. My daughter received a membership to book club by mail as a gift from her grandfather. All of the books were from the 1940s-1950s time frame and all of the main characters were White. Read more>>

Karlyn Leblanc | Life Coach & CEO Black Girls Travel Therapy

After losing my niece in a tragic school shooting, which led to years of severe depression, I decided to take my life back. I started an organization called Black Girls Travel Therapy. Black Girls Travel Therapy is a group for black women 21 and over. We heal the mind, body and soul by traveling, fine dining, support black businesses, networking, giving back to communities in need, and creating a sisterhood. Read more>>

Jordan Brown | Owner of AquaBel, Community Organizer & Strategist, Zodiac Couple’s Therapist

I was 1o years old when I consciously knew I was an Aquarius (it’s documented). I was amazed at the information I was finding online about myself which resulted in an early understanding of self-awareness but also, being keen to observing others’ traits. Read more>>