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.

Emily Porche

I worked in online Advertising for various companies in the corporate world for about 8 years after college (Go Dawgs!). It was what I had my degree in, so it seemed like the natural route for work. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial creative drive in me. When I graduated from college and started working in Advertising, I also started a small family photography business as a creative outlet. When my oldest daughter was born a few years later, I started an ETSY shop on maternity leave that became very successful. When my youngest was born, I started a personalized screen printing t-shirt business for kids.  Read More>>

Sarah Wang

Growing up in a low-income household, I became increasingly aware of the effects of climate change, yet my family and I lacked the resources to adapt. That realization started in school, where I noticed that environmental education was either minimal or completely missing from the curriculum. Like many others, my school simply didn’t have the funding or support to prioritize climate or environmental science. This gap in knowledge didn’t just affect me—it made it harder for entire communities to understand or respond to the environmental issues affecting them. Read More>>

Naomi Glay

I’m a serial entrepreneur. Each of my businesses started from a different part of my story. PowerTalk  began with skills I used growing up, creating experiences, creating safe spaces in my basement. It was never about business. It was about meaning. The first topic? The modeling industry. Today, it’s a platform for healing and real conversations. Read More>>

Emily Warrick

After getting married myself and seeing how much ease a wedding planner brought to the process I fell in love with the idea of starting my own company. Almost eight years later I still have butterflies every time I send a couple down the aisle. It truly is a blessing to do something you love! I knew when starting my own company that I wanted to build something that I enjoyed doing over and over. Read More>>

Adrian Jean-Philippe

My journey to starting my own business really began with a childhood dream. I always envisioned myself being a boss one day—someone in charge, a leader. It was less about having a specific business idea at first and more about the belief that I’d eventually be a CEO of something. A big part of that dream was also being able to take care of my family—especially buying my mom a house one day. Read More>>

Fuquan Ferrell

I’m a firm believer that there’s risk in all aspects of life. No matter how safely you try to play your cards. Things can change for better or worse at a moments notice. That being said, punching a clock at some corporate office really didn’t sit well with me. You’re not generally given much creative freedom, the work goes to benefit someone else, and at the end of the day, you’re always expendable. Read More>>

Taiwo Joseph

When I started out, I struggled significantly with finding the right platform to access quality internship opportunities. That personal frustration sparked the idea of building a tech academy—a space where training and real-world experience were integrated and easily accessible to aspiring talents. I envisioned a solution that could bridge the gap between learning and opportunity, especially for underserved youth. Read More>>

Ufuoma Sheme

Peace Knitwear was born out of a lifelong passion for knitted garments—a love that began in my childhood. During my early school years, cardigans and other knitted sweaters were standard parts of our school uniforms. But even then, I believed these beautiful, amazing pieces shouldn’t be confined to just school settings. I saw potential in them as everyday fashion. Read More>>

Tierra

My journey into entrepreneurship began while helping my brother collect content for his projects. What started as simply lending a hand quickly turned into a passion. I discovered a genuine love for the creative process capturing moments, telling stories visually, and bringing ideas to life. That passion pushed me to take it more seriously, invest in my skills, and ultimately launch my own business. Read More>>

Maricela (Mari) Cunningham

I’ve always enjoyed helping people and I wanted to be available for my kids when they needed me. To be able to impact positively within my community and provide quality administrative services with heart. Read More>>

Can Daplan

Starting my own business was driven by a combination of passion, experience, and vision. Coming from a background in interior door manufacturing and frame production, I saw a clear opportunity to offer something unique to the market — products that combine durability, design, and functionality.

After years of building strong relationships and a reputable brand in Turkey, I realized that the U.S. market had a growing demand for high-quality, ready-to-install interior doors — especially ones that are stylish, affordable, and built to last. That’s how Dapdoor USA was born. Read More>>

Emanuel Stewart

I wanted to gain financial independence and stability. I also felt the urge to become an entrepreneur in an ever growing industry with no worries of how to start. Read More>>