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.

Abraham Stopani | Workshop Operator

When Grace and I started looking a business opportunities we knew we wanted to do something fun and different. We were introduced to the idea of AR Workshop and knew right away that it would be a great fit for Colorado Springs. The idea of bringing people together to make beautiful things and sort of hosting a party every evening really spoke to us. Read more>>

Sheli Baez |

My grandma likes to say that I was “born to perform” so I’ve always been drawn to the arts. However, it wasn’t until my first job out of college at a Television station that I realized I could have a career in VoiceOver. After years of training and prepping, I decided to take it on full time and give myself the chance to dedicate my full attention to my career. Read more>>

Morgan Holpuch | Custom Woodworker

I initially started a general construction company when my wife and I lived in Portland, Oregon. I have worked for many contractors in years past and was never fully happy with the way that they treated employees. It felt as though they were treated as tools, rather than who they actually were as
people that contributed to the work and function of the industry. For my personal life, I also wanted to have a little more flexibility in my schedule as our family was growing at that time with the birth of my son. Read more>>

Harsha Chathuranga | UI/UX Designer | Web Designer | Graphic Designer | Illustrator

The thought of starting my own business had always been in my mind. I wanted to put all the knowledge and skills I had gained into something unique. As a designer, I am naturally inclined toward creativity, innovation, and problem-solving. So, running my freelance design business was not just about being my boss but also about having the freedom to explore new ideas and create something unique. Read more>>

Natasha Peeples | Possibility Coach, Skincare&Hair Consultant, Podcaster, Author, Speaker

I am always seeking how best to serve the people in my life and my community. As a full-time active duty military member, everything I do is literally in service of others. My history and love of entrepreneurship started 25 years ago and I never stopped. Owning my business provides me with my own creative outlet, it’s a chance for me to shape my own way of helping people, and it forces me to grow in ways I never thought possible. I currently own four businesses, and I sought to design an experience or a resource that aided others in my own unique way. Read more>>

Hannah Plush | Plant Medicine Facilitator, Mental & Spiritual Health Coach

Through my own mental health struggles I found microdosing. It completely changed my life. As someone who has been in the mental health profession, I knew it was something I wanted to share with others. The concentrated relief that individuals are getting from combining structured programs with plant medicine is huge. I feel honored and so grateful to share this healing modality with others. Read more>>

Pete Meltzer |

I had worked for other people in outdoor clothing stores in Breckenridge for nearly 20 years, so I had a lot of experience. My wife, Jenny, is extremely creative and has amazing style and taste. Circumstances in our lives and my work environment got us thinking about our own shop. After a lot of encouragement from Jenny, we made the choice to leave my job and open the Mountain Goat Clothing Company. Read more>>

TJ Jones | Owner and Head Instructor of Vertical Journey Martial Arts

Originally, I (TJ) began teaching martial arts as a side job in addition to my full time work. As the program began to grow, I realized that this could become a full time business that would, in theory, allow me to spend a lot of time around my wife and kids while also impacting the lives of others in a direct and visible way. Martial arts is an amazing tool for helping people to grow and become better versions of themselves. Read more>>

Alec Spear | Farmer/Founder/Owner

My thought process when I started my farm was born out of the desire to help my community through nourishment. The way I see it, most people in my local community are deprived of basic nutritional needs systematically. I want to combat this by making organic, locally grown microgreens, fruits, vegetables, and mushrooms more accessible. Read more>>

Nicholas Paschal | CEO of Alpine IQ

I was in the midst of selling another business and my brother was working at Tilray. I had been exposed to the space in the past through ancillary partners but not directly. I started asking questions about data compliance at LP’s and how they would manage cross-provincial problems in the marketing world. We found a lucrative gap and we engaged our engineering teams to build what Alpine IQ is today. Read more>>

Charlie Gray | Creator of Flair Affair Entertainment and Artist Mgr.

Flair Affair Entertainment begin as a university summer project back in 2010 for CSU-Pueblo TODAY. I was a senior Mass Communications/Broadcasting student who happened to be the video/audio editor for the publication. I was attending a summer session when I came up with the idea for what was at the time a series designed to showcase people and their talent. Initially, the program focused on local talent in Southern Colorado and made its debut on July 19th of that year via the university website and social media arm. Read more>>