Deciding to start a business is an unusual decision. It’s often considered irrational and yet for many it’s the best decision they’ve ever made. So we asked folks to think back to when they were starting their businesses and to tell us about their decision making process.

Helena Quesada | Chef-Owner of Hell Yeah Helena

“Hell Yeah Helena” happened by chance, honestly! During the pandemic, I wasn’t getting enough hours at my restaurant job, so I decided to sell Cuban sanguiches out of my apartment. The response was overwhelming! When pop-up events were selling out quickly and consistently, I realized that this could be more than just a side hustle. I got excited about creating a brand that reflects my colorful culture! As the demand and community support grew, I was motivated to take the leap and turn my passion project into a full-time business. Read more>>

Tiffany Reyes | Tiffany Reyes | Owner of Mermaid Kove LLC | Custom Products | Creative Director

My journey to starting my own business began with a passion for teaching. From a young age, I knew I wanted to be an educator. After earning my Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education, I began teaching in my own classroom, but I felt there was more I wanted to explore. Driven by this passion, I pursued a Master’s in Education with a focus on family and community sciences. Over the next 16 years, I taught students of all ages, from birth through 12th grade, including special needs students in both elementary and high school settings. Read more>>

Abe Camacho | Pastor

The journey to starting Local began during one of the most challenging times—the pandemic. My wife, Crystal, and I had just transitioned from a church where we had served for 15 years. As we looked around, we realized how disconnected and confused people felt. We had experienced the power of community within the church, but we were struggling to find a place that truly felt like home, a community built with us in mind. Read more>>

Nicole Christianson | Creative Director and Artist

The process of starting my own business began in 2020 during the pandemic. With my job at a San Diego theater costume shop shut down, I suddenly had the time and energy to explore creative pursuits I had long neglected. Like many other people, I was finally able to pause and think about what I wanted my life to look like. While I LOVED my theater job and the beautiful things I got to make, it drained all my creative energy, leaving nothing for myself. The lockdown allowed me to reconnect with my passion for art, something I hadn’t done much of in the 14 years I spent in theater after earning my BFA in fiber arts. Read more>>

Chris Liv Livingston | Steel Contractor Own

I actually didn’t start this business, I bought it January 1st 2023 after working a normal job at University Mechanical for 15 years! But I knew I would be good at owning a business because of my work ethic. I have always been a bit conservative when it comes to big hard decisions, but I went for it on this decision and it has been the best decision of my life besides the decision to ask my wife to marry me! Read more>>

Yannick Claerman | Boomerang maker

As a nature fanatic and social geographer I’ve always had a profound interest in artifacts made with natural materials. It wasn’t until 2020, during lockdown, that boomerangs rather randomly crossed my path. While forced into social distancing, Youtube suggested a video on “how to make your own boomerang”. Perfect timing, I remember thinking. Read more>>

Ewelina Aiossa | Topical Skin clean cosmeceutical skincare line founder; International beauty expert and brand incubator

My deep-rooted passion for skincare, combined with over a decade and a half of experience in the beauty industry, ignited my entrepreneurial spirit. Having worked alongside renowned cosmetic chemists, dermatologists, scientists, and industry leaders, I gained invaluable insights from both multinational giants like L’Oreal and emerging indie brands. Read more>>

Buki Domingos | Buki Domingos & DSOUL. Black owned music, entertainment, and more.

Buki Domingos & DSOUL started bringing music, culture, and entertainment to events that empower, elevate, and acknowledge black folks locally and beyond. Read more>>

Sydney Miller | Artist & Clothing Designer

My journey to starting my own clothing brand began with my desire for more unique and expressive clothing to wear to music festivals and my everyday life. I found that many of the clothes available didn’t fully fit my style or express who I am. Also, being a college student on a tight budget, I couldn’t afford to buy the eye-catching, unique pieces I wanted. So, I decided to take matters into my own hands and started painting designs onto clothes I already had in my closet. By adding my own artistic flair, I was able to transform them into pieces I truly loved and was proud to wear. This love for creativity and self-expression naturally evolved into my business, where I now get to share that vision with others who are looking for clothing that is unique, handmade, and bold. Read more>>

Jade Tyler | Digital Sewing Pattern Designer & Marketing Consultant

I’ve always dreamed of somehow turning my passion for all things DIY into a business. I’ve been sewing since I was 12, and over the years I’ve sewn countless patterns from various brands. One day, it just clicked for me – why not start my own line? So, the progression to releasing my own line of digital sewing patterns seemed like the natural next step! Read more>>

Dr. Stuart Grauer Teacher, Writer, Surfer | Dr. Stuart Grauer | Teacher, Writer, Surfer

My thoughts ranged from very personal to broadly social. On a personal level, as a young teacher and principal working in European international schools, I was incredibly inspired by a few key teachers who had founded successful, small schools in beautiful locations. The idea that you could start a school is not something that comes up in college or career planning. I was stunned. I loved teaching, but there were entrepreneurial and expeditionary sides of me that were bursting to get out. Once I began at The Grauer School, every part of my mind, body, and spirit was completely challenged. Read more>>