We reached out to some of our favorite entrepreneurs and asked them to think back and tell us about how they decided to start a business. Check out their responses below.

Chaz Siangco

My thought process behind starting my own business, Derobio Legacy, was deeply rooted in my passion for preserving and evolving Pulahan-Derobio Eskrima. Growing up, I was fortunate to learn from my great-grandfather, Great Grandmaster Braulio Tomada Pedoy, my father Grandmaster Christopher Siangco and other incredible mentors in my family. I saw firsthand the power of this martial art—not just as a form of combat but as a way to instill discipline, confidence, and adaptability. Read More>>

Lyda Hanson

I started Suntide alongside my brothers Wyatt and Spencer while we were in college. During my senior year at UC Berkeley, I noticed people were looking for simple, on-the-go, low ABV drink options but were tired of the countless iterations of seltzers that had taken over the market. This gap in the RTD market made me think about what I and so many others were missing – a casual but delicious canned beverage suited for all sorts of events, from tailgates to brunch to backyard BBQs and everything in between. I’ve always loved mimosas and noticed that there were no nationally-recognized RTD mimosa brands on the market. We knew this was our opportunity to create something truly unique that we knew everyone would love – and thus Suntide was born. Read More>>

Chisom Kingston

Starting Mafia Scheme was a process fueled by both passion and purpose. It wasn’t just about creating clothes—it was about building a movement and shedding light on the societal schemes we all face daily. The journey started with an idea: everything in this world is a scheme, a system designed for most people to struggle while a few stay ahead. I wanted to create something that not only reflected that reality but also empowered people to think, move, and strategize differently. Read More>>

Gavenraj Sodhi

Maddie BioGenetics started with my daughter, Maddie. Seeing her struggle with a rare condition, navigating the maze of doctors and treatments with numerous misdiagnoses… it hit me hard. We needed better answers, faster. And I knew, with my background in chemical engineering, that technology, especially AI, could be a game-changer. I’m not a doctor, not a researcher. But I’ve always been a problem-solver. And I figured, if I could bring my engineering brain together with the medical expertise of doctors and scientists, we could see things from a different angle. We could find solutions way faster than if everyone just stayed in their own lane. That personal drive, mixed with my tech skills, it’s what got me started. It’s about finding real solutions for real people, like my daughter. Read More>>

Reinaldo

Hello, well the process that has led me to decide to create my own company has possibly been a consequence of having had many experiences working for other people and in different areas, in all these jobs I did not get to feel one hundred percent satisfied because the creative part that is intrinsic to me could not develop it.
After many years working for other people and in different areas I have always felt the need to develop my ideas and my creative capacity to 100%, not being able to do so has become over time a burden, a problem, I have always felt that something was missing, that I was incomplete and in the hope of finding that something is that I am on this path. Read More>>

Mayra Gonzalez

My thought process behind starting a business was full of uncertainty.
What if this is not a good idea? what if it doesn’t work out? what if no body rents from me? Every week there was a new “what if”. But over time those negative thoughts turned into What if I do this differently to get the most positive outcome.? What if I join expos and get my product out there?, What if I now offer a new item? Ultimately the thought process is something that only you can create in your own mind, whether you make that a positive thought or negative thought is up to you. Read More>>

Jelena Gazivoda

Before starting my own school, I taught at SUNY New Paltz, where I was deeply involved in academia, particularly in developing curriculum for students majoring in ceramics and 3D media. I taught a variety of classes, including 2D design and drawing. Over the course of 12 years teaching at universities and later community colleges in California, I gained a strong understanding of how to create curriculums that resonate with students. I believe a solid foundation in these areas, along with consistent practice, is essential for younger students.
However, my experience at SUNY New Paltz was incredibly rewarding because it allowed me to truly bond with students, track their progress, and support them through to graduation. It gave me a strong sense of fulfillment, something I found lacking when we moved to California. Read More>>

Ali Daniel Posco

It honestly wasn’t a super intentional or calculated decision, it was more of an organic unfolding over many years. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit, even as a kid, but it wasn’t something that was nurtured growing up. Even though my parents are incredibly supportive and not only encouraged me but gave me my first business loan later on, they came from the traditional mindset of “go to college, get a stable job, and work your way up,” so starting a business never even crossed my mind as a real option. It just wasn’t in my realm of possibility and even the idea of it sounded way to scary for “someone like me” to do. I was way too afraid to put myself out there, do something different and fail. And the only people I saw starting businesses were older men, not young women. Read More>>

Leisa Reid

By my late 30’s I had a well established career as an executive leader for a university. I had rebuilt what I had lost in the 2009 economic turndown. Buttttttt, something still didn’t feel right. My soul was calling for something bigger, more meaningful, more….what was it?

Around that time, I was approached by a personal development company to be in charge of their business development. All I had to do was speak to as many groups as I could in the local area about the power of mindset and invite people to enroll in a weekend workshop. I decided to say, “Yes!” to the opportunity, and, at 40 years old, I changed my career path, took a huge leap of faith and became a professional speaker. Read More>>

Mole D’Vine

It really came down to, “I don’t want to go through life with ‘What ifs”. It was during quarantine back in 2020 where I had nothing better to do than order in food, get drunk and watch RuPaul’s Drag Race. I had always been curious about the idea of a drag queen, or a man playing a woman, Tyler Perry’s Madea, Mrs. Doubtfire, White Chicks. As far back as when I was 11 and going to the circus with my family in Mexico, there was this clown playing a woman and had balloons for boobs; sitting on my dad’s lap and pointing said balloon to his face. I was so enamored yet intrigued. Back to 2020, after watching every single season up till that point, I thought to myself “what if I did that” or “I should try that”. Read More>>