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.

James Pelz | Creative Director, Founder

Starting my own business was always present at the back of my mind, it just took the right moment to lean in. When we (my business partner and I) decided to make the leap there were a couple of factors that made the timing right. First, the experiences I had accumulated at the large shops was great—being able to stretch my creative abilities and pick up complimentary strategic skills at the time was a fantastic way to grow. Read more>>

Lin and Mike McKay-Shafer | Chocolate Confectioner/Pastry Chef

We were both employed at a university working outside of our degree program. It just wasn’t satisfying to us anymore but it also afforded us the time to really investigate what would make us happy in the future. We knew we wanted to create something. We wanted to master an art or craft; something we could grow with over time. We also wanted a business model that would successful. Then we found chocolate by happenstance after a frisbee injury. Read more>>

Mellisa Rasor | Photography & Single Mom

I was inspired to jump into photography following the birth of my first daughter in 2011. After seeing images on adorable babies in seasonal setups, I thought to myself “I can do that!”. At first I partnered with a local photographer doing set design and marketing. I’d create the mini sets and advertisements to match that he would use to promote and grow his business while gaining free images of what I thought was the cutest baby in Fort Collins. I slowly merged into lighting assistant, session scheduling, customer service, and photo editor. Read more>>

Susan Carolynn | Lifestyle Social Media Content Creator

I started posting on social media—YouTube in particular—my junior year of high school as a creative outlet. Growing up, I loved taking pictures and videos in a casual setting. As a younger teen, I religiously watched lifestyle YouTubers (which many would argue was the golden age of YouTube). I had always wanted to emulate what Bethany Mota, MakeupbyMandy24, Alisha Marie, and MyLifeAsEva were doing. And at sixteen, I took the leap into creating my own lifestyle YouTube videos. Read more>>

AdéWé Stovall | BTCFest Founder

I did not intend to start a business. I love music; I grew up in the performing arts, so naturally I have a lot of friends who are creatives. I wanted to go to coachella, which did not end up happening my first year due to the pandemic. I was frustrated with the increasing things I could not do, and I was searching for something I could. I studied event management in school, and before I could even get into those concentrated courses, I thought, “how hard could it be?” Read more>>

Elena Pollard, MA | Integrative Homeopath & Product Formulator

When I had my first son Trace, I decided I wanted to use only natural products with him. I began researching how to make them at home. My first batches I made too much, so I gave some to family and friends. They kept coming back for more as they worked so well! So that’s how Soleluna Botanicals was born! Read more>>

Lexi Carlson & Luci Suiter | Airbrush Tanning & Permanent Jewelry

We both knew early on in our friendship that we wanted to be business owners. We both have a drive and love for the beauty industry, which is what formed our passion for airbrush tanning and permanent jewelry. Being a business owner always seemed like a distant goal we both had, but it almost felt like only a dream. When life was slowing down for the winter in 2022, we decided it was a great time to take the leap and learn how to successfully open a business. Read more>>

Pernille Vedersø Bussone | Global Community Captain

Cycling Without Age, a global social movement, started when Ole and Thorkild met each other on a bench in front of a nursing home in Copenhagen. They found out they enjoyed exploring their neighborhood on a trishaw. Since their first ride, other residents wanted to try too and now people are riding in 39 countries around the world. It was not a planned process, but the simple idea of offering a ride in a trishaw to someone with limited mobility, sparked something with changemakers across the globe. Read more>>

Jennifer Lewis | Owner of Rocking Horse Therapy and Rehabilitation llc

Horses have always been a major part of my life. I always wanted to do something with horses as a child growing up. I took.a different career path as i grew up, i still wanting to work with horses but wasn’t sure what I wanted to do where I could make a living. I had read about the aquatred for horses , and thought that would be very valuable asset to this area. With out climate it makes it hard to keep a horse in shape, and to get ready for spring events. Read more>>

William Bravo | Artitst & Audio Engineer

starting my own business was a result of many moving parts needing a home. I have always been an entrepreneur and bad in a cubicle (at least in the 9-5 position.) My desires to become involved in the music industry were serious but i felt hindered by cliquishness of the venues i was working at. Read more>>

Emily Downs | Owner & Sonographer

We recognized a need for access to high quality veterinary ultrasound exams. Ultrasound exams are highly dependent on the operator and it is extremely important that sonographers have the training necessary to take images of complex disease processes. Our sonographers are all nationally credentialed by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS). This registry is the gold standard in human medicine and requires years of full-time training, solely in ultrasound. Read more>>

Cameron Duplessie | Automotive Enthusiast

Starting my own business was driven by a passion for automotive detailing and a desire to provide top-notch services to car enthusiasts. I saw a gap in the market for high-quality detailing, combined with ceramic coating expertise. This motivated me to create a business that not only offers exceptional car care but also educates customers about the benefits of ceramic coatings in preserving their vehicles’ appearance. Read more>>

Kellie Tinnin | Employee Engagement and Talent Development Expert

I was contemplating starting my business for some time. I wanted the opportunity to learn about other industries, what made them successful, and I also knew that there was a large change management and employee engagement opportunity within the organizational landscape. I was working for a mid-sized membership association and my role had become a bit stagnant, there was no where for me to move up the ladder. Read more>>

L. Alexandra | Tarot Reader, Astrologer & Spiritual Practitioner

Honestly, I was kind of bamboozled into it. I had been doing freelance editing intermittently for a while, but quietly tended a passion for divination via tarot and astrology for years. One day, a friend posted that he was looking for someone to work a gig at the bar he DJed at. I commented saying that I wasn’t good enough but wished I could. He never replied but a few days later I got a text message from an unknown number saying my friend had referred me. Read more>>

Kael Morse | Photographer

From a very young age, I was always told by my friends and family that I had an entrepreneur mindset. We all have had those projects In school where we have to “create a business” with certain restraints such as a budget or time limit. I always loved these projects and got really into it and thought about as a “what if?”. I knew I would need background knowledge if I was ever going to start my own business at a young age, and so I took every opportunity I could with the classes my high school offered. Read more>>