It takes a lot more than an idea to build a business, but there can’t be a business without the idea. So we asked folks who’ve built wonderful businesses to tell us about how they came up with the idea in the first place.

Raye Wolfe | Sculpture Artist

I came up with the idea for my business when I was struggling to find joy and purpose in my life. It was about a little over a year after I graduated college with a degree in digital art. I had just quit my job in the digital media industry and was seeking fulfillment in my life, I was reflecting on what made me the happiest growing up, and that was sculpture art. I’ve always been inspired by cartoons, anime, and video games, so I merged my inspirations with my passion. Thus, “The Tall Grass Studio” was born. Read more>>

Gloria Rakowsky | Founder & Owner, Crafted Minds LLC

During this Covid-19 pandemic, I unfortunately lost my employment as a beer sales representative. Bars and restaurants weren’t buying kegs anymore and so I was left unemployed. I knew that I had marketable skills, as a former university professor and a beer industry professional. After a few months during 2020, I had the idea, “why not combine my love of beer with my love of teaching?” And so Crafted Minds LLC was born! Read more>>

Johnny King | Men’s Lifestyle & Fulfillment Coach

A lot of people who have been previously wounded by an event or circumstance, find that they develop a deep connection with creating value that is in alignment with their healing. My journey is no different. Having been raised by a work-aholic father and a mom-aholic mother, I struggled as a young adult to understand what it meant to be a congruent, whole and masculine man in society. So it was because of the personal pain I endured, along with the tragedies I saw that men were inflicting all across the world, that motivated me to support other men in their healing. Read more>>

Danny Combs | Founder

The idea of TACT (Teaching the Autism Community Trades) came from a place of looking to support my son with autism. The autism community is the highest unemployed group in the country at 90%. 1-44 children are diagnosed with autism and resources are limited and expenses are high. My family has worked in the skilled trades for generations and when I saw my son also had this talent and there was no avenue for him to pursue it, I knew I had to create it and pave it. That’s what we do at TACT. We build on the strengths and abilities of an incredible community and provide the opportunities for them to discover careers and independence. Read more>>

Elyssa Attwood | Cake Artist & Pastry Chef

Tortoise Cakes consequently made it’s slow yet determined debut when I decided to combine my passion & experience in the culinary as well as visual arts. I chose the name because it has ‘tort’ hidden in it; which makes me think of torte cake. A torte is a rich, multilayered cake, that is filled with whipped cream, buttercreams, mousses, jams, or fruits. These are the kind of decadent cakes I offer, along with cupcake minis and Italian macarons. I also thought it was different and simple enough to remember for my customers; I liked that it has a more androgynous vibe, because my clientele come from various backgrounds. Read more>>

Monique Plante | Jewelry Designer

I graduated from college in the Spring of 2020 right in the middle of the pandemic. After graduating I moved from Massachusetts to Colorado. I have always been a very creative person. My life growing up centered around performing. I was living in a new city with no access to the performing arts due to the pandemic so I started to look for another way to be creative. I met someone who designed polymer clay jewelry in the Fall of 2020. She encouraged me to give it a try! I fell in love with it right away. I have always had a strong interest in entrepreneurship. I studied fashion merchandising in college and learned a lot about opening and running an ecommerce and retail business. I started to feel more confident in my work and my designs so in March of 2021 I launched my website moniqueelisedesigns.com. Read more>>