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.

Connected Camping | Music & Wellness Festival

Connected Camping organically started in the summer of 2020 as just a small group of friends that wanted to get away from the noise in the midst of a social distancing pandemic. We took it upon ourselves to find clarity through connection. We found a place of intimacy where we could shamelessly express ourselves and our true nature, in nature. Read more>>

Claire Drury | Owner of Paper & Bows Wrapping Co.

Growing up I was surrounded by an entrepreneurial mindset. As the owner of a successful small business, my dad regularly brought up his business during dinner conversations. Even when I was a kid, I enjoyed activities and games that incorporated this entrepreneurial mindset. Read more>>

Paul Owusu | Founder & Creator

Though starting Phreshly was purely accidental, I spent the early days of the pandemic indulging in new hobbies, including mixing cocktails. I shared these recipes on social media, and after a viral tweet, Phreshly was born. Read more>>

Brittany Sjogren | Loverly Grey- Digital Creator and the host of the Life with Loverly Podcast

In January 2016, I decided to start what I thought would be a side passion project at the time. I would spend my breaks at my corporate job going on a hunt for fashionable and affordable workwear. I have always had a strong love for shopping and fashion. I thrive on styling outfits multiple ways. Read more>>

Anderson Cotton | Fashion designer and Entrepreneur

When I started my brand in 2013 I was a junior in high-school I wanted to create a business not only to bring me a little extra money in school but I also wanted to express my creative talents with my peers and the rest is history. Since then we have have made strides to grow each year. Read more>>

Kaelie Birkett | Entrepreneur & Content Creator

I have always wanted to start my own business. The vision of starting my own business started in high school when I was in DECA. I was always inspired by entrepreneurs and small business owners. I worked for a small business during and after college. I really grew as a person during my first year out of college. While I loved what I was doing at my job, I was not feeling fulfilled. Read more>>

Nicole LeBlanc | Owner, Radiant Waxing

I was born and raised in Atlanta; I’m a true hometown girl! After spending a few years working in tech in Silicon Valley, I decided to come home to invest in my community and support women in Atlanta. I specifically chose to franchise with the Radiant Waxing brand because it’s the highest quality waxing experience around, and I truly believe that it fills a gap in the Atlanta market. Read more>>

Christopher Roblész | Math Enthusiast

Math N’ More was founded June 2020 during the peek of the pandemic to ensure scholars of all ages received adequate and equitable math education. I taught from 2009-2019, starting as a math intervention at one of the largest charter management organization in NYC to becoming an Assistant Principal in charter network in Atlanta Public School then becoming a Special Education District Leader for a NYC Charter School 2020-2021. Read more>>

Michael Gower | Maker

I wanted freedom. My desk job was destroying my mental and physical health. The lack of time to spend with my family and to pursue my real passions just didn’t seem right. I felt like I was always working and not getting anywhere in life. Constantly tired and mentally drained from just sitting at a desk doing meaningless work. Read more>>

Bridget and Cristian Coronado | Beginner Ranchers

Bridget’s grandfather is a rancher and owns cattle and horses in Mexico. She grew up around animals and dreamed of the day she’d have her own horse in our backyard. Cristian’s parents are also very family with the ranch life and have always praised the lifestyle. When COVID hit, we talked about moving to Mexico, thinking it may be easier to purchase land, to raise our own herd and start our homestead. Read more>>

Sabia Wade | CEO, Equity Consultant, Financial Activist, Mentor, Full Spectrum Doula, Author

I’ve always been entrepreneur minded. As a Black, non-binary person with disabilities, I have had a lot of negative experiences working for others. I knew the only way to create the life that I wanted, was to work for myself. I’ve tried many things over the years – some things didn’t work – others did and were very successful. Read more>>

Akilah Blount | Philanthropist

When I started the BEE Club in 2013, I was honestly just thinking about what I needed. It sounds cliche, but grade school truly has its way of challenging a young person’s sense of belonging, from beginning to end. In high school, I struggled to find places where I could be seen, heard, loved, Read more>>

Lorgio Nim | Artist

It was not something that I set out to start. Initially, I just started sharing my art on social media and I eventually started getting multiple requests from people asking me where they can purchase my work. It got to a point where it was difficult to ignore the demand, so I set up my site and started selling. Read more>>

Maya Ladson | Atlanta Makeup Artist, Licensed Cosmetologist, and Entrepreneur

Being a young black woman and starting her own business is a blessing! My thought process behind starting my own business was having generational wealth for my future family. Having multiple streams of income and being your own boss is very important to me. Read more>>

Eternity Hyppolite | Author | Creative Entrepreneur | Humanitarian

The desire was and is to solely make money doing what brings me joy. My thought process was incorporating all of my gifts and experiences to help other’s become the best version of themselves. In order to create spaces for artists and individuals seeking change to grow and build in community, there must be a starting point. My goal is to be that starting point. Read more>>

Turkessa Lucas | Lymphatic Manual Tech/ Body Sculpting Tech

I started my business because when. I moved to Marietta I had surgery in 2017 and it was so hard for me to find post op care so I started researching classes and qualifications to be able to provide these services because I would have to travel so far to get care, so I was I’m going to get the training and open up my own massage spa which I did in 2020 Read more>>

Dorothy Williams | Owner of Cre’A’s Love Butter LLC

I wanted to create a product that gave an all-in-one natural luxury feel while empowering women that have given up on themselves. Read more>>

Chris Brown | Owner of Moving Company

My thought process behind starting my own business was that I could get my time back, create jobs for others & create generational wealth! This is important to me as I’m about to start a family of my own. Read more>>

Taylor Marie | Property Owner & Talent Manager

I’ve always had a passion for Interior Design. I obsess over Pinterest more than any other platform because of all of the inspo and DIY ideas people provide on there! From Holiday decor to “Sprucing up your entire home with less tan $100” … It was during these leisure times that put a pep in my step and motivated me to begin crushing my goals as a property owner! Read more>>

David Handford | Owner of Smoky Mountain BBQ Company

Growing up in the Mountains of Western NC there is plenty of time to discover your passion in life. Business Owner David Handford, “BBQ Dave,”tried many occupations from construction to line work, just about a little bit of everything but nothing beat the thrill and satisfaction of smoking the best meats and serving them all over the US! Read more>>

Karlton & Shinny Sutherland | Certified Marriage Coaches

After 10 years in a marriage filled with dysfunction and slowly growing apart, we faced a major fork in the road -infidelity. Fighting the pressure to divorce and the recommendation to separate we chose to investigate why these things were happening. Up until that point, we lived a life claiming to be Christian but our movements were lukewarm, at best. Facing our current circumstances Read more>>

Courtney Dorsey | Certified Life Coach, Teacher, & Best Selling Author

As a black woman that struggled anxiety pre-Covid, mental health wasn’t the largest advertisement. I was raised in the church. I didn’t know anyone that went to therapy. As my personal relationship with God developed, my anxiety was still on the rise. During that time, I was struggling in my career, had a hard time finding a job in my field, and began living functionally depressed. Read more>>

Boardboy Music Worldwide | Recording Label

It started with just us following our dreams and then we started to realize the real world insisted that such a thing wasn’t that complex , We later came to the conclusion to start our own label and / powerhouse since everything was “in-house” anyway. Read more>>