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.

Jessica

We didn’t set out with the typical dream of owning a business—we were driven by the desire to protect something we loved. When CrossFit Tipping Point was at risk of closing, we realized we couldn’t imagine losing the incredible community that had become such a big part of our lives. The gym wasn’t just a place to work out—it was where people found strength, support, and connection. Read More>>

Jose Davilus

Starting Kids In Motion Academy in 2017 was truly a passion that was placed in my heart. I’ve always loved working with children, and I now realize that the time I spent working with children at church and even my teenage jobs at a kids’ gym were quietly carving my path without me knowing it. Those experiences planted seeds that later blossomed into the vision God entrusted me with to create a place where children could be nurtured, educated, and loved, while giving families peace of mind. Read More>>

Edward Fultz

I was born in the country of Panama, and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. After graduating from Morehouse college in 2015, I didn’t want to get a “regular job”. I knew I still wanted to pursue law school, but I needed a “classroom break.”

Fortunately, my mother taught me chess at the age of seven, and I loved it. I played throughout my early academic years. So when I thought about chess, it was a revelation like “Oh, I can teach other people chess”. Read More>>

Ty Autry

The simplest answer: I saw a need, and with the right resources, I knew we could get it done.

The longer answer is, I was coming up on starting my fifth year of touring “A Southern Fairytale”, my award-winning solo show. I was heading to Australia for two months, having a month-long break, then hitting the road for Europe and the United States with a tour of “At Birth”, another award-winning co-production between myself and Thalía Gonzalez Kane. Read More>>

Geuel Inirio-Aviles

My thought process behind starting my own business as an audio technician was driven by my passion for enhancing the audio experience for churches. I noticed a gap in the market for high-quality, reliable audio solutions tailored specifically for churches, and I wanted to address that need. Additionally, starting my own business gave me the creative freedom to implement my own ideas and make a positive impact on the communities I serve. Read More>> 

Princess London

I’ve wanted to be an Interior Desginer since the age of 8, so it first started as a passion. When I finally started my business I saw that there was this need for accessibility to design without the pretentiousness and higher costs associated with it. I started with a consultation model and moved into offering full service for clients that prefer to be more hands off with the process. Consultations make the design process more available to those that can’t put a large budget into a project initally, but would like a full plan before they phase the design process.  Read More>>

Tay Rose Dior

My thought process was simple: I wanted freedom, legacy, and the ability to create my own opportunities. I’ve always had an eye for beauty, fashion, and business, but I didn’t want to wait for someone to validate me or open doors for me. Starting my own business allowed me to build something that reflects my vision and values while creating multiple streams of income. For me, it was about taking control of my future and proving that with discipline and strategy, you can build the life you want on your own terms. Read More>>

Jessica Helfrecht

Atlanta is a city filled with incredible creatives in the visual arts, music, dance and film but there are not enough venues to support their artistic careers. I started Echo Contemporary Art to provide a space for Atlanta’s and the Southeast’s visual artists. Echo’s mission is to provide space for up-and-coming artists to introduce their work to the Atlanta Art Community. Echo primarily exhibits emerging and mid-career artists during month long exhibitions. Echo also has a gallery rental program and has hosted exhibitions for Spelman College, Morehouse College, Georgia State University and SCAD. Read More>>

Madisen

My thought process behind starting Snackbetch really came from a personal passion. I’ve always loved snacks and trying new things, and I found myself constantly sharing cool food finds with my friends and family. Eventually, I thought, why not put it all in one place? I started a page just for fun, and it quickly became clear that other people shared that same love for snacks and food culture. From there, it grew into something much bigger—a community where people can discover, enjoy, and connect over the same excitement I’ve always had. Read More>>

Mailia Stokes

I have participated in dance ministry for over 25 years. In doing so, I found that dance ministers want technical dance training combined with spiritual enrichment. Additionally, many adult dancers who are not on a professional dance track could not find studios in which they felt comfortable taking classes or that offered classes that fit their schedules. Read More>>

Bredell Strong Jr.

The thought process behind starting my own business was having financial independence and being able to give to charities I believe in. Coming from a background of being homeless makes you think not just about your situation, but others as well when you come out. I thank God for that. Read More>>

BreShawn Scott

Spiffy Threads was built on the idea of being different. For me, socks have always been more than something you just throw on. Back when I was in the military, everything was uniform, structured, and the same for everybody. There weren’t many ways to stand out or show personality, but socks became one of the few ways I could still express myself and stay true to who I was. Read More>>

Jonathan Foster

Honestly, I never even thought I would own my own business. 6 years ago while I was in the gym, the question came across my mind about what my gift was. I remember at church the previous Sunday the pastor kept saying operate in your gift. I remember like it was yesterday I asked God what my gift was. Soon thereafter he revealed it to me. I knew that I loved helping people but I didn’t know exactly how I would.  Read More>>

Sandra Santos

My thought process behind starting my own business came from a desire to create something that reflected both my personal journey and my passion. For me, Noir by Sandra isn’t just about fashion — it’s about elegance, confidence, and reminding women that no matter what they’ve been through, they can rise and stand tall. Read More>>

TL Lewis

At the time I had suffered a head injury at work, and it put a lot of things in perspective with the most important being that I could not leave my job to my family if my injury had been worse than what it was and being a number at a company no one would care about my family if in fact that was my end. I then thought about how much time I had given this job over my family with the understanding that, that would have been my biggest regret had my injury ended me. So, questions were how I could change this? Read More>>

Jaeyoon Perkins

I’ve always wanted to own my own business. When I was laid off from my previous job, I saw it as an opportunity to finally pursue my dream — so I took the chance and ventured out on my own. Read More>>