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.

Abba Gray

Being an artist has always been part of who I am. Throughout my childhood, my parents encouraged creativity from the start, there were always paints, scraps, tools, and random projects lying around. I loved working with my hands, bringing old things back to life, experimenting with new materials, and getting lost in the process. Read More>> 

Aimy Tu

I started my business during the process of planning my own wedding. That experience opened my eyes to the deeper meaning behind wedding design, which is it isn’t just about flowers, and a wedding isn’t just a single day. It’s a reflection of a couple’s journey, their culture, and their personality. I realized that many weddings looked alike, even though every love story is unique. Read More>> 

Crystal Heath, PT, DPT

My decision to start my own practice really grew out of a mix of intuition, mentorship, and the desire to create a space that felt more aligned with the kind of care I believe in. Read More>> 

Priscilla Iezzi

I worked as an employee for Orange Coast Magazine, and I loved my work friends so much. But I decided I wanted to be my own boss. As a business owner, I have to do most of the backend planning, which can be challenging as I wear all the hats. Read More>> 

Rise Riyo

In February 2019 I was physically assaulted and stalked by a former male coworker. Due to this incident I became emotionally and mentally traumatized while falling apart as my little daughter and husband helplessly watched me. I knew I needed to do something so I sought professional help. I was clinically diagnosed with depression, PTSD, agoraphobia, insomnia with reoccurring nightmares, and developed severe anxiety. Read More>> 

LP Monte Washington

My thought process was to get out of the hood and change lives. I have always been into fashion, but I was not as deep into creating and designing clothes until later. When I came home from prison, I realized I had to make a change for the better. Read More>> 

Chasejamison Spears

I started teaching yoga in the middle of the pandemic. I had just gotten my degree in Sociology and graduated into a society that felt like it was falling apart at the seams. I had to move back into my family house, whose walls hold a lot of big emotions. Read More>>