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.

Lili Alice Walker Stiefel | CEO of The Mixed Space

I love creating and building community. I started to notice I have knack for putting together systems for strategic and structural improvement. I made opportunities to increase my tool set and adaptability, the businesses came naturally from there. I iterate. I do things over and over again and make them better each time around. I wanted to do my own thing my own way and be my own boss. Read more>>

Ray Brown | Radio Show/Podcast Creator and Host

I didn’t really start the show from a business viewpoint, but rather as a response about the topic of birdwatching from a radio talk show audience. So, it began as a hobby, and then grew into a small business, although still with the main goal of promoting birding and conservation. Read more>>

Jeff Sipe | International touring & recording drummer

It is my belief that you, myself and everyone are a unique gift to humanity. Being so invites us to be creative and original works of art unto ourselves. Being original means following your heart, following your heat means aspiring to something beyond your present self. Taking responsibility for this gift is the act of creating your own reality. Read more>>

Lauren Vredeveld | San Diego Family & Motherhood Photographer

When I first decided to start pursuing photography as a career, it was for the typical reasons you would think – I love taking photos, so why not turn my passion into my own business? As soon as I really started digging into starting my own business, I really started realizing *why* it meant so much to me. As moms, we tend to be the memory maker AND moment taker. We are rarely, if ever, in front of the camera with our kids. But it is so important to be in those photos for our kids! Read more>>

Samantha Pantazopoulos | Co-founder, Vizer

I’ve always loved creating things – whether they’re designs, recipes, or products. My dad is a small business owner, and I have so many childhood memories of us working together on business projects. I always felt building a business was in the cards for me. But I knew when starting a business, my reason why was exceptionally important. I wanted to start something that could serve a lot of people, build community, and create value. Read more>>

Jeremy LaBahn | Business Owner / Operator

Before starting this business, my and wife and I owned a rental company in San Diego. We were thinking of new way to expand outside of our industry when our best friends wanted to start a Home Staging Company. We decided to partner up and together we started our business! Read more>>

Mark Brown | International Keynoter & Executive Speaking Coach

My thought process was unique because my situation was a bit unique. I’m highly risk-averse, and solopreneurship was not even remotely on my radar. I had a full-time job as a professional speaker in a company that created the position for me. I was doing meaningful work, helping improve the culture in middle/high school communities across North America, and I enjoyed the consistency of a solid bi-weekly paycheck. The company decided to eliminate the position in 2015…for budgetary reasons, Read more>>

Selassie Ahorlu | Control Engineer & Event Curator

At the young age of 10 years, I got all the neighborhood kids together to clear out some bushes to use as our soccer field. I was passionate about the game of soccer. After successfully clearing out the bush and playing our first game on our new soccer field, I realized two things; I enjoyed the satisfaction of solving or overcoming a challenge and relished the joy of bringing the community together. I become the “organizer” in the community and also at school. Read more>>

Tyler Kalisiak | Former Professional Athlete & Nutrition Specialist

When starting my career in the nutrition space, I was 1) Trying to figure out how to create a good residual income monthly and 2) doing it with a need that my targeted customers would be drawn to, that in turn, would allow them to hit there goals/wants.. Read more>>

Greg Makrigiorgos | Senior copywriter

I work in tech and have been at a couple “startups” (with 10+ years of being in startup mode). Everything has been unstable to a point. I got tired of working at these companies that grow quickly and shrink quickly if goals aren’t met. After doing it for so long, and having enough experience, it felt like the right time to build more flexibility into my schedule and work freelance. I get the best of both worlds where I can set my own schedule to a point, but also choose what companies and ventures I put my time into. Read more>>

Alfredo DiNunzio | Chef and Master Pizza Maker

I had started several restaurants over the 40+ years since I moved from Italy to San Diego when I was 18. I’ve also run several other small businesses. But my heart has always been in the restaurant business. I attended culinary school years ago, and my wife and I have many recipes that have been passed down for generations. Many ask me why I started a restaurant at my age. The reason is that I love to cook and I love when people enjoy my food Read more>>

Davis Mogoa | Photographer and nurse

I wanted the freedom to work from anywhere at anytime since I like to travel Read more>>

Darryl Johnson | High Performance Coach specializing in Self-Protection and Fitness

I have always had almost a ‘compulsion’ to create something. I absolutely love the concept of creating a vision, then bringing it to life. Although I can certainly operate under someone else’s guidance and leadership, very few things bring me more joy than being the captain of my own ship…………..whether the seas are rough or fair. 🙂 Read more>>

Pedro Hoyos | Co-Owner of Destileria Agua Caliente.

I’ve always looked for new and interesting projects. I had being working in an innovative telecom Project for 17 years, widely involved in the corporate and government Market in Mexico. While traveling to several parts of the world to visits vendors, expos and clients (USA, England, Spain, India, China), we noticed that a movement to shift from industrial produced Distilled Spirits to better quality craft ones was going strong. Read more>>

Andrew Sungtaek & Oliver Hawk A: Ingersoll & O: Holden | A: Co-founder, admin/business management & O: Co-founder, onsite/installation specialist

The idea behind starting Expert Art Service was that we believed we are capable of much more when we learn to work together. We took this basic concept and applied it to each of our situations. I was working as an employee of a big institution, Oliver was working as a freelancer and gig worker, and we both had frustrations with work dynamics and how things were being done. We combined the networks we had as artists, branded ourselves with a name people could trust, and started getting the word out. Read more>> 

Kaitlin Boissonneau | Witch and Shop Owner

I have always been into creating things to give my loved ones. I used to make feather earrings and wooden beads bracelets as a kid. And then one day I was like why don’t I sell the stuff I craft. Give a little part of me and good energy to others. Read more>>

Ishara Henry | Photographer | Videographer | Visual Artist

I always wanted to work for myself and be my own boss but I always had a difficult time envisioning what that would look like. I didn’t grow up seeing people own businesses, especially not people who looked like me. I’ve been doing photography since high school and it’s always been something I’ve loved doing. People have always loved my photos also. I noticed one day that I had all of these gorgeous photos on my computer that I’d never really shared with anyone so I decided to post them to Facebook to test out people’s responses and also confirm if they were as good as I thought they were. Read more>>

Helen Aitchison | Author and director of Write on the Tyne

I’ve spent my whole career working in health and social care. After completing my degree in Criminology and Sociology, I worked at a refuge for women and children fleeing domestic abuse and sexual violence. After a few years, I returned to university to study social work. My career then involved working with adults with life limiting conditions, working with the police to support high risk victims of abuse and then progressing to senior management for a national charity in the UK. I spent fifteen years in this role, Read more>>

Fidencio Reyna III | Founder & Operator Mission Minded: Moving, Deliveries & Junk Removal

I have always wanted to work for myself, and when I came across a service in the marketplace where I could be confident in my capabilities, I just continued to double down on myself and create a brand that people can truly trust to get the job done. The name “Mission Minded” came from my wife, she would always say, “you are in Mission Mode”. Which is true, I needed a daily task, I needed to feel purposeful. I believe, or I should say, I KNOW there are many of us that need this in our lives. I come across men eager to work, all the time. Work is good for our soul! Read more>>

Melissa Smilow | Nutritional and Energy Healer, Reiki Master, Intuitive Counselor

Everything I currently offer in my business is a direct result of my own healing journey and the profound transformation I had while working with other healers. For awhile I was a fitness, dance and Pilates instructor. I realized that although I could help people physically heal, there was a strong emotional, energetic and holistic side of things that wasn’t being addressed. As I worked with both a Nutritional and Energy Healer, my body felt stronger, Read more>>

Stephanie Reynolds | Personal Trainer/Studio Owner

I’ve been a Personal Trainer for a long time, a little over 15 years. I’ve worked for some great people, helped other people open their gyms/studios that had been very successful. The pandemic kinda of forced me to go out on my own, which was always a goal of mine anyway. So I just knew that it was finally my turn to turn my passion and my methods into reality. Read more>>