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.

Alejandro Gonzalez | Restauranteur

Our thought process has been to offer delicious food, an outstanding wine and beer list, with personable service; moreover, with (hopefully) with the proper playlist in the background. Read more>>

Marty Wilson | Family and Individual Portrait Photographer

I started my business with the goal of turning a long-time passion of mine in photography into a professional business. I was always the guy in my family taking an excessive amount of pictures at our events. I always had my camera with me, taking photos of my family’s biggest milestones. I also wanted to demonstrate to my young children how it is never too late to try something new like starting a business. I also wanted to demonstrate to them how to run and grow a business for something that they have a significant passion for. It’s a lesson that they can apply to whatever they want to do in this life I think. Read more>>

Michael Coe | Artist/ Small Business Owner

It started during the pandemic, I was offered to have a spot at a vintage market and I had some old 80/90s pop culture items that I thought would sell well. After the market I really enjoyed connecting collectors with old items that might have been thrown away, that’s where the idea of Mikes Pog Shop came about. After that I would go to yard sales and flea markets and buy old, dirty toys and pop culture items, clean and refurbish them and wait for them to find their new home. Read more>>

Boris Bauer | Digital Consultant

It was a very organic transition. I came to the US as a fashion photographer and towards 2000 had built my own portfolio site, I received great feedback and colleagues of mine asked me to build one for them as well. It kind of took off. Then someone asked for an ecommerce site, email marketing became popular and within a short period I needed help and started hiring freelancers. I was at the right time and had a service offering that people needed. I was also getting disillusioned with the photography business. Read more>>

Angela Marysol Meza | Architectural Designer and California Native Plant Landscaper

Plants Por Favor sprouted from a curiosity that rekindled my human connection with plants. It began with caring for houseplants, blossomed into nurturing native plant gardens, and embraced everything in between. As I tended to these living beings, I discovered that by taking care of them, I was also taking care of my wellbeing. This profound feeling ignited a desire to share it with my community, giving birth to Plants Por Favor—a boutique garden center. Here, everyone can find all they need to embark on their own journey with the natural world, from essential tools to a diverse selection of plants, and even enriching workshops. Read more>>

Leah Varney | Photographer

Prior to my photography career, I owned a day spa and worked as an esthetician for over a decade. As a result, I’ve continued to have a self motivated mind set which is necessary to starting and running your own business. That being said, I didn’t necessarily go into photography thinking it would be my next business venture. I just loved taking pictures and people started taking notice. This organically led to inquiries about photo sessions and just kept growing from there. Read more>>

Eliza Niaki | Event producer

I wanted to create a career that felt good on the inside, not one that just looked good on the paper and inspired others to do the same. I wanted to create a space for my team to have a voice that could be heard. Being a woman owned and operated business, we write our own rules and inspire others to follow. We are proud to celebrate our diverse teams’ artistic abilities and how they create magic for our clients. At BEL, we are the best team because we all have the same amount of authority, just different types of responsibility. BEL Event Productions developed into a place where cant’s turn into cans, and dreams turn into plans. Read more>>

Erin Cutler | Founder of Mom’s Pillow, a nonprofit cause supporting maternal mental health

I believe we each have our own individual “missions” during this lifetime…and it’s related to the things that make us feel excited. For me, I find that in the wellness realm. I’ve lived it, studied it, and pursued a career in the space for almost a decade after leaving the corporate world. I also needed a community myself as a new Mom, and a project to challenge me! After not working for 2 years, I missed my role in building and scaling businesses as a freelance consultant. I have always enjoyed that process and I’ve always enjoyed the freedom and agility of being freelance. Read more>>