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.

Jennifer Bell | Small shop owner; clinical program manager; registered nurse;

Starting a business has always been a dream of mine and more recently, I have also wanted to increase autonomy in my professional life, and being a business owner definitely fulfills that! For all of my career until recently, I have worked for large employers in traditional healthcare and corporate roles and have not had a good outlet to express creativity either. Owning my own business fills that void of a lack of creativity and gives me the autonomy I have been craving. Read more>>

Warren Gross | Owner

Before starting Sperry Tents Colorado, we both lived and worked for Sperry Tents headquarters in New England. We spent spring and summer in Rhode Island and fall and winter in Naples, Florida, setting up Sperry Tents year-round. Sperry Tents grew on us when we had the opportunity to tour Sperry Fabric Architecture, which is the sister company that makes all Sperry Tents around the world. Walking into the big solar-powered barn and seeing fabric and sailmakers creating Tents with such focus and skill made us both realize how special Sperry Tents really are. We both love working outside with our hands and really enjoy working as members of a group towards a common goal, like lifting a tent. Read more>>

Brian Ball | Owner, Square State Skate

Square State Skate started as a weekend operation and was not initially viewed as a business. A friend and I just started doing skateboard lessons on Saturday mornings. Interest grew quickly, though, and we began adding programs, including camps over the summer and on school days off. For a long time, my primary job was working a special needs program with BVSD and Square State Skate was a supplementary gig. At the same time, I went back to school to further my education. I was able to use the business to set up an independent study to show the social-emotional benefits of skateboarding, especially in youngsters with emotional deficits and special needs. Read more>>

Paige Schmidt | Fitness Specialist

I have been in the fitness industry for almost a decade. I have worked in many different settings including wellness centers, corporate gyms, privately owned gyms, you name it. It was great in the beginning of my career because I was able to gain a ton of experience from working with individuals who had various goals and limitations. I was also able to gain a wealth of knowledge from other great trainers who were kind enough to take the time and educate me further. With that being said, I quickly realized that while working in these types of gyms I was hustling every day to get in front of new faces and gain new clients. I figured, if I am going to hustle, I might as well do it for MYSELF and MY business! Read more>>

John Wessel | Farmer and Ag Consultant

I always knew I wanted to start my own business and be self-employed. Self-employment has always been the great motivator for me because i am a very competitive person. There is no feeling like starting your own venture and knowing that the success of that venture is going to solely rely on my efforts and decisions. There can be great cost in that but also great reward. Being self-reliant and self-motivated bring me great pride as well. Read more>>

Adam Ross | Malasada crafter

We were looking to start a business that allowed us to be around our kids a little more. We can drop them off at school and pick them up. We are working from home so if they are sick we don’t have to worry about getting time off work. Also, being able to control the times and days we work has been great. Read more>>

Tuffli Nguyen | Co-Founder

Chris and I have both worked in Energy for 20 years which is how we initially met. We became fast friends as our love for our families, skiing, golf, hiking, wake surfing, and real estate created a special common bond. For years Chris had been mixing and concocting various flavored seltzer waters with different vodkas, due to a gluten intolerance. After many trials over the years, Chris was able to find the right balance of flavor and alcohol to create his Orange Creamsicle and Black Mamba vodka soda blends. In February 2019, Chris introduced me to his drinks during a ski trip in Vail. I instantly fell in love with the mix and drank them during the entire trip. Read more>>

Jenn Grindeland | Public Speaker & Trainer

I have to answer this question by starting with my story, because it is so deeply intertwined with why I started my business. My first brain injury was when I was 15, which left me stumbling though classes and social settings. I learned how to manage my symptoms and use my experience as a strength, and went on to get my bachelor’s degree in Psychology and master’s degree in Organizational Leadership, graduating both programs earlier than the traditional timeframe. As a working professional, I had two more brain injuries within six months of each other. I witnessed how confused my supervisors and peers were with how to handle my re-emerging needs that I was able to mask before. Read more>>

Devin Ershow | CEO & Co-Founder American Mash & Grain

I love whiskey. I think it is a magical spirit and the perfect blend of art and science. Whiskey has grown a lot in popularity over the last couple of decades and along with that growth the American craft whiskey movement was born. In 2010 there were less than 200 distilleries in America. Now there are nearly 3000 and at least one whiskey distillery in every state. American whiskey is more diverse now than maybe ever before and the idea of what American whiskey is and can be is evolving. We started American Mash & Grain to help elevate the profile of the American craft whiskey movement and to help tell the stories of these incredible small businesses that are changing the future of my favorite spirit. Read more>>

Maggie Robel | Property Manager, Real Estate Broker, Life Coach, Entrepreneur

My thoughts behind starting my own business varied a lot leading up to it. I was raised by hard working entrepreneurs, so I was exposed to the positives and negatives in being self employed. Some of the appealing parts (freedom, flexibility, endless opportunity, etc) were extremely appealing and seemed natural for my personality and knowledge. The less appealing factors weren’t enough to change my mind or give me a reason not to, so I went for it. Read more>>