Are you thinking about starting a business? If so, we think you’ll enjoy reading about how these seasoned entrepreneurs thought about the question when they were in your shoes.

Brandi Voth | Founder of The Power Hat Co and The Power Project

When starting a traditional business, a person knows WHAT they want to do; they just don’t know why. However, I knew WHY I wanted to do what I was doing; I just didn’t know WHAT the heck I was doing! I wanted to build a business that would create economic empowerment for survivors of human trafficking. I sought ways to create entry-level employment opportunities that would provide gap income for individuals transitioning from a program back into mainstream life and, eventually, progressive positions for promotion within the company that would break cycles of poverty and exploitation by eliminating vulnerabilities. Read more>>

Eric Coburn | Senior Pastor

The Call of God Read more>>

Nico Murillo | Co-Owner Sheco Farm and Chef

Starting a business was born from a deep desire to challenge myself and pursue what once felt impossible. It was more than just a professional venture—a personal mission to dream boldly, embrace uncertainty, and strive for growth beyond my comfort zone. I wanted to build something greater than I could initially imagine, something that would push boundaries, spark curiosity, and inspire me to aim higher every step of the way. Read more>>

Matt Hunsicker | Owner and Managing Partner

It was the desire to meet a need in the community for a value driven 18 hour spot for everyone. It was also an opportunity to create a family entity that provided a career path experience. Read more>>

Ise’ah Bentley | Dallas Photographer & Cinematographer

I honestly have been working since I was 13 years old. I’ve had two or three jobs from the age 17 until currently and was raised by a single mother. I decided long ago that God has blessed me with so many talents and gifts, I just needed a chance or opportunity to develop them. Starting my own business was never the plan but I knew that I didn’t want to make anyone else rich. I fell in love with creating and capturing people’s memories and it all kind of just fell into place, by the grace of God. I started 5 years ago today and never looked back. Natural Light has always been my vibe so ironically I named my business Naturel Vibe Media. I specialize in Portrait photography and cinematography but I honestly do it all. I’ve worked with Nike, Bacardi, Celebrities, Weddings, Engagements, Lifestyle and Branding, YouTube & Tik Tok Creators, Sports, Restaurants, Models, Real estate agents, musicians and more. They tell you when you first start to find a niche and stay there to grow. I say learn it all so you can do it all and grow. Read more>>

William Jenkins | Founder/CEO & Director of Player Development

Starting my own business has always been about pursuing my aspirations as an entrepreneur—creating meaningful ventures while impacting others. Over the years, I’ve started many businesses, but Elite Hoops Academy™ is special. It’s the first one built entirely on my passions: basketball, teaching, and fostering a strong community. I started Elite Hoops Academy™ in Milwaukee, WI, blending my love for the game with my desire to mentor young athletes and help them unlock their full potential. When my family and I relocated to Prosper, TX, five years ago, I was struck by the lack of structured youth basketball training and development in such a thriving area. That gap inspired me to bring Elite Hoops Academy™ Youth Basketball Training and Prosper Elite™ Basketball competitive basketball Teams to North Texas and create a Organization that not only builds skills but also cultivates confidence and character. Read more>>

Pavan, Avnith, Anurag Nathani, Vijayram, Perekalapudi | GlioGrade Founders and Development Team

All of us have had some research experience, whether it’s creating a deep learning model that tracks Alzheimer’s disease progression or detecting skin cancer using artificial intelligence. However, we found that unless it’s groundbreaking or significant to the general public, research tends to stay theoretical years after its initial proposition. As proactive high school students, we couldn’t wait that long to manifest our impact–and the best way to do that was to deliver our ideas to hospitals directly so they could implement them on our behalf. Read more>>

Kay Harts | Baker, Writer, Creative

Starting my own business came from a mix of passion, necessity, and purpose. I’ve always loved baking! It’s my creative outlet and a form of therapy for me. Over time, I realized that I could turn something I genuinely enjoy into a way to support my family and bring joy to others. My thought process was simple: I wanted to share something meaningful while staying true to myself. Starting small and focusing on high-quality, homemade products felt like the perfect way to combine my skills, creativity, and values. Read more>>

Emily Nolan | Curl Specialist

The decision to start The Curl Collective was inspired by my daughters. I wanted to change the narrative of the hair industry into one that celebrates natural beauty all while inspiring confidence for women and young girls to embrace their natural texture. Seeing how many women struggle to manage their curls and feel overwhelmed by products that don’t work for their hair inspired me to create a unique service that not only gave them a beautiful haircut tailored to their hair, but that taught and equipped them to manage and even enjoy styling at home! The goal is to provide a solution that simplifies hair care, embraces natural textures, and empowers women to pass on a positive message of self-love to the next generation. It’s about building confidence, saving time, and fostering a love for natural curls both in the salon and at home. Read more>>

Kareem “ksapp” Sappington | Podcaster & Ceo of SimplyBallDroppin

My dedication to sports and entertainment. As a kid growing up I played 3 sports, Football, basketball and baseball and I exceled at them. So my knowledge that I have for that, I wanted to be able to voice my opinions on my own platform. So I started a podcast called Simplyballdroppin. Read more>>

Sergey Kotlyarov | Carp Angler & Entrepreneur

As many of us, I had a hobby that I had been passionate about – fishing, which is a common thing among men and women of all ages in the USA. The only thing that put my hobby apart from the vast majority of the US anglers is the fish specie I was after – carp. This type of fish doesn’t attract to much attention in America and sometimes considered a second-tier specie, to say the least. However in Europe and some other parts of the world not only do people catch carp for food but also organize tournaments and championships, so carp is considered a trophy fish! It’s no wonder considering that the weight of that fish can reach up to 50-60 lbs and even more – real freshwater monsters.
After testing the “European-style” rigs , baits, and tactics in American waters and having a lot of fun pulling those big fish from the depths of local lakes and ponds, I decided that the anglers, who are as passionate about carp as I am, or willing to switch to carp fishing, deserve to use some of the best bait that was thoroughly tested for many years in Europe. Read more>>

Johnny Lozano | owner and Certified Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Instructor at Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Euless, head coach at Lozano Boxing

After being the head boxing coach at another MMA gym from 2009 to 2022, I realized I didn’t want to keep working for someone else forever. I wanted to create something of my own…something that really reflected my vision and what I believe in when it comes to training and martial arts. I’ve spent over a decade working with all kinds of people, from kids and seniors to professional fighters in the UFC, Bellator, Legacy FC, Ring Rulers, and other promotions. There are three main types of gyms: those that focus on competition-style Jiu-Jitsu (with no strikes), MMA gyms that train amateur and professional fighters, and gyms that teach self-defense-based Jiu-Jitsu. The majority of students (roughly 70-80%) don’t want to compete. They want to learn Jiu-Jitsu for self-defense and personal growth. Read more>>

Alante Hamlett | Founder (AIP) Always In Profit

The idea behind Always in Profit came from a simple belief: that believing you can is way more profitable than believing you can’t. I wanted to create a business that embodied that mindset—a brand focused on real, sustainable growth and opportunity. For me, being “always in profit” is more than just financial gain; it’s about building something that empowers people to move forward, improve their lives, and feel confident in their potential. Always in Profit started from my passion for creating value and building wealth in a way that’s accessible and meaningful. My vision is for AIP to grow into services that meet everyday needs—whether through ventures that help people save time, increase financial stability, or improve their communities. My approach is simple: create, innovate, and profit. Read more>>

Duncan Black | Entrepreneur – Black New Media & Bishop Manor Rehearsal Studios

I was always a band dude who happened to be skilled with technology, so I started working in multimedia in the early 90s (right after high school) to pay for my drumming habit. My web design skills in the burgeoning dot-com era afforded me flexible jobs I could do from anywhere – and so I could have it all! My dumb luck and experience in web design/development and multimedia led me to work with major clients like Interscope Records, Warner Brothers, and Hachette Filipacchi Media, where I gained a strong foundation and deep understanding of what drives successful digital content and user engagement. Read more>>

Chelsea Conkel | Dancer/Choreographer, Owner of Ashton Dance

The thesis for my MFA in Choreography focused on how the creative process had to be adapted when the pandemic hit. Everything changed. People were afraid and disconnected from each other. The professional dancers I was working with were nervous about the future of their careers (either as performers or as teachers), but simultaneously, desperate for authentic connections that could match the energy we learned to thrive on within studio walls. As a result, my thought process shifted dramatically. The final product of the performance became less important to me, because that isn’t where the authentic connection develops, it’s where you put that connection on display. The performance is the result of hard work. For me, these days I find joy in the moments within a studio, when I am deeply connected to the class. I’m shifting my focus to the next generation as they learn to foster their connection to the process, and in doing so, my thought process shifts off of myself and onto being a guide for someone else. Read more>>

Heather Nichol | Owner and Operator

It all started as a way to generate secondary income when my husband decided to attend aviation school. I began bartending events in the North Dallas area during a period of rapid growth in venues seeking certified bartenders. Clients frequently asked me to add special touches to their events, and I never said no—I always found a way to deliver. Within two years, I had taken over our garage for my business and was managing up to five events every weekend. In 2016, I partnered with another bartending company, and together we moved into our first warehouse space. That partnership marked a turning point. The first year after merging, I made the decision to leave my corporate job and focus on the business full-time. Read more>>

Kelly Werner | Creative Entrepreneur

My motivation for starting Mission Single comes from my experiences as a single Christian woman. Millions of single women—whether they have never been married, are divorced, or widowed—often feel invisible in church communities that are primarily designed for families. As a single woman, I understand the complexities of living independently and the doubts that can arise about one’s worth when not fulfilling traditional roles. My singleness, a blend of choices and circumstances, does not diminish my ability to lead a full and meaningful life. I also champion marriage but am committed to supporting individuals and coming alongside churches to address the unique needs of singles. Read more>>

Tamara Shaw | Holistic Care Practitioner for Pets and People

I was excited about starting my own business and my main focus wasn’t about worrying about ‘starting a business,’ the paperwork was easy and creating something was exciting, my focus was entirely on what I needed to have and to learn to become more skilled. My focus was on helping as many animals as possible. I searched out the best in the field from around the world. I loved it so much that the more skilled I became inspired me to learning more. My passion guided me every step of the way. As soon as I had my first taste of helping an animal, I was hooked. No one could tell me that it wouldn’t work. In fact, I heard a lot of jokes about massaging horses. At a very early age I had decided to do what I love, and the money would follow. Even though I wouldn’t call it “work” I spent most evenings and weekends learning and working on animals. Bottomline, even if the numbers hadn’t worked out on my spreadsheet, and with all the nay-sayers, there was nothing that was going to keep me from following my passion. Read more>>

Meredith Blair | Entrepreneur and Fair Trade Advocate

My inspiration to create Artruism Imports began my junior year of college. I was taking business classes and seeking out an internship opportunity. I knew my ideal internship would be with a company that supported women and their creativity, but I was struggling to find an opportunity that felt right for me- and the clock was ticking. A friend introduced me to a local Fair Trade shop called Eternal Threads, and the owner agreed to mentor me. The opportunity fit the parameters of my ideal internship, but as it turned out, it fulfilled so much more- it changed my life. Read more>>

Nyla Bland | Marketing Consultant

Starting Peach Marketing was honestly a blend of divine timing and pure determination! After 12 years in multiple marketing related careers, I saw a gap that needed filling – service providers and corporations were struggling to maintain authentic connections while scaling their businesses. They needed someone who could blend innovative strategy with genuine relationship-building. From a young age, I deeply understood the importance of building something that not only serves others but creates the life you want to live. Moving to Dallas was a catalyst moment – new city, new opportunities, and the perfect time to fully step into my vision of helping others launch their next big thing. Read more>>

Emily Iva Floyd-lynch | Studio Owner, Movement Educator, Pilates & Gyrotonic® Instructor

I created McKinney Movement Center (MMC) to solve a problem & because I was tired of working for studio owners that didn’t have the teacher’s best interest or client’s in mind. I was tired of marketing for myself without the support behind me and was ready to launch a new movement. I wanted to create a studio that was unlike any in the area, one that client’s aren’t just a number – they are seen, heard, and taken care of based on their goals and needs individually. A space where community could gather and find hope in their life, unlock transformation, and our motto learn to “Move Smarter To Feel Better”, It’s our belief that if you can learn to be more intune with your body and mind – you can prevent further injuries and excel in life. Read more>>

Erica Lecross | Salon Owner & Educator

In 2018, after many years in the beauty industry and careful planning, I finally launched my curly-centered business. Growing up with curly hair, I recognized the need for a salon that truly caters to all textures, from loose curls to tight coils. My journey in the beauty industry allowed me to explore various services, but when I focused on curls, everything changed for me. Curls became a medium through which I could genuinely help people. My goal has always been to empower others and boost their confidence, and opening this salon has given me the platform to do just that. Launching my brand has brought me immense fulfillment, combining my passion for my craft with my desire to make a meaningful impact. Read more>>

Callie Caraballo | Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer & Owner of The Ultrasound Concierge

After being in a hospital or clinical settings for years, I was given an opportunity to help a midwife start her ultrasound department in my previous town. We decided we wanted to open up to the public to provide diagnostic ultrasounds and entertainment pregnancy scans. I saw how much more relaxed my patients were in a one-on-one setting that wasn’t such a scary, sterile environment. We got really busy with word-of-mouth referrals and I realized that this tailored care was what people really needed. They feel properly heard and cared for. Once I moved to Fort Worth, I knew this is what I needed to provide here. I am such a nurturer, and it is hard for me to work in a busy atmosphere doing twelve scans in a shift and not having the time to connect with the people I’m scanning. I bought my own machine over the summer, and started to look for a place for the business! It has really been such a whirlwind where everything has fallen into place, and now I can provide for my new community. Read more>>