Ideas aren’t everything, execution matters greatly, but starting often requires an idea and so we asked folks to think back and tell us the story of how they came up with the idea for their businesses. We’ve highlighted some of our favorite stories below.

Kenzi Hatley | Hairstylist

As a hairstylist, I’ve always wanted to provide a relaxing, peaceful, yet different experience for my clients. With the beautiful views and sacred grounds of the property, I knew this was where Wildridge would be born. It’s why people come to Colorado, to get away, to explore. Wildridge is exactly that. Read more>>

Johnnie Heider-Kuhn | Certified Clinical Herbalist, Holistic Nutritionist, Certified Kambo Practitioner

Heart Alchemy Integrative Wellness was born on a road trip back from Salt Lake City with my close friend and business partner, Makaela Bamonti. We had just completed an incredibly difficult training program to learn how to safely work with the South American shamanic folk medicine, Kambo. During this week, a deep bond was, and we uncovered new and exciting ways to add texture to our work with clients. Once we realized that our complimentary healing arts practices shared a common theme – to help people feel more vital, more resilient, and more heart-centered while achieving their wellness goals – it made a lot of sense for us to start a healing practice together. Read more>>

ace sanchez | Curator & Designer

My business was inspired to create everything I wanted for me, and to make it accessible to the people also with the same interests. I wanted to create an entire network of the amazing people, places and concepts I have in my universe. I wanted to feed the people who have fed my light in some way or another. I worked a plethora of events to get my knowledge and put my foot in the door. I prayed for guidance and followed my real interests and heart. Read more>>

Katie Caschette | Medical Aesthetician & Certified Laser Technician

The week I turned sixteen, I began working in luxury retail, an industry that has been dealt blow after blow since the Great Recession of 2008. I eventually left the fashion world for the beauty industry and dedicated ten years to a national beauty distributor as a Sales Director & Educator. My position, which required me to be on the road full-time, ceased to exist at the outset of COVID. Large-scale beauty conferences, national trainings and events, and flying across the country to meet buyers in person and present seasonal product launches for now are a thing of the past. Read more>>