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.

Charles Wooldridge

That we should all live in artful environments and that art is relative at so many levels. The most critical being; heart felt decision making. This is where I have created “BANG”, and interactive art piece that initiates the ability to forgo such limited social constructs as winning or losing, pretty or ugly promoting the individual to a stage of being a creative able to solve issues that are typically boxed and set on the self.  Read More>>

Matt Goss

The local art scene was a bit conservative and I found it hard to display my classical nudes, let alone any more provocative pieces, anywhere other than a tattoo shop.
After hosting a few pop up art shows I had the opportunity to give a brick and mortar gallery a shot.
I wanted to focus on creating an uncensored and commission-free gallery.
That was over 10 years ago. Read More>>

Anton Antokhin

I learned about Neurographica in 2018, only three years after it was created in 2015 by Russian psychologist and artist Pavel Piskarev. At the time, a year-long Teacher Training required to get the certification was offered only in Russian (today it’s offered in 5 languages, including English). I was born in Moscow and lived there until 15 years old, so I spoke Russian natively and was one of the first few Americans (and definitely a first Coloradian!) to receive Neurographica certification when I graduated in 2020.  Read More>>

Caden Lowrie

I have been into sneakers and sneaker culture since early middle and high school. At first, collecting and shopping for sneakers was a hobby of mine. I think there was a strong connection between playing sports and being into sneakers. I would go shopping weekly at local malls, looking for pairs to add to my collection. For the most part though I used online or apps to get access to more exclusive pairs.  Read More>>

Princess Wallace

From a very young age I was a leader. I was very clear on what I wanted. I started buisnesses creating income to gain the money I needed to get to the next step in my career life. I thought at age 10, that if I started my own business, no one could ever tell me what to do. I stayed with that path. I took every lesson that was given to me and put it to practice. I did not let any opportunities slip past me.  Read More>>

Jasen Petersen

Honestly, it didn’t feel like I had much of a choice. After watching both of my parents die of cancer, it became clear that no one was really solving the core problem of why we get stuck in chronic disease in the first place. If the system wasn’t going to change, I felt I had to do something about it. Read More>>

Kenny Nguyen

I started in the industry when I was 23, working for a lawn care company that prioritized volume over quality. The work was fast, customer service was inconsistent, and employees were often treated poorly — undervalued and pushed to the side. It opened my eyes to how common that culture was in the landscaping world, especially among smaller companies. That experience stuck with me. Read More>>

LB Burkhalter

My personal journey in sober living fueled my desire to create something very different than what I had experienced. Before moving to Colorado, I lived in a run-down sober living in Louisiana where women and children were crammed into a dirty, unsafe home. I was judged for my pathway to healing, made to feel like I deserved that environment, and it only deepened my shame. When I relapsed there, I was woken up at 2 a.m., given 15 minutes to gather my belongings, and kicked out into the night with nowhere to go. Not long after, I overdosed for the first time. Read More>>

Holly Kuhlman

I started my own business as a part of a larger evolution of myself as a person. I wanted a way to bring the passions that have been burning in my subconscious to life. I felt that this would be a creative process and one that started with learning new skills. I have had the desire to make jewelry for a long time, but I had never attempted it. Read More>>

Amanda Guffey

The reason I started this business is because I wanted to showcase my variety of art skills in a way that would be both creatively fulfilling for me and allow me to be financially free from the 9 to 5. I’ve always believed that if you’re happy at your job that you’ll be successful in life because you spend the majority of your life working. If you’re happy and pursuing your passions, there’s nothing more successful than that. Read More>>

DaMario Mitzelfeld

My thought process behind starting my own business came from a lifelong passion for film and video. Over the years, I kept learning, growing, and eventually fell in love with photography too. At a certain point, I realized I didn’t want to look back one day and wonder “what if?” So I decided to take the leap and turn something I love into my own business. Read More>>

Kelsey Pfendler

I started prepping for this Solo Row last winter. I had dedicated almost two years previously to a team row I did with 3 other women. We launched June 8 2024 from Monterey California and rowed for 40 days to Kauai Hawaii. Upon arriving with my tea in Hawaii, someone had asked me if I would ever do another row, without a thought I said “in a heart beat” – this was true.
There were moments during my first row that my heart ached from realization that it would all soon be over. That all the work we had put in would live primarily in my memory. Read More>> 

Anita Daley

Starting my own business has always been a dream of mine. I envisioned something that would allow me to be creative, bring joy to those I worked with, and offer an experience that truly stood out. I wanted to build something unique—something that reflected who I am and what I love to do. This journey became my chance to showcase my skills, develop original recipes, and express my personality in a way that added fun and energy to every event.  Read More>>

Conner Horak-Flood

I knew I wanted to start my own dance company a few years into my performance career. A good chunk of my professional career was at contemporary ballet companies, which involved creating new works with different choreographers. Typically, this involves collaboration where, as a dancer, I make suggestions or am allowed to follow my impulses to see if they’re in line with where the choreographer wants to go in their work.  Read More>>

Ryan Wooderson

I’d been practicing since 2012 and grew tired of how I was required to treat patients and use my skill set in private practices or hospital-based clinics. I wanted to treat people the way they deserved and in a way that utilized the full depth & breadth of my knowledge. Not only that, I wanted to build a system with as few barriers to care, and with as many styles of providers as possible – basically the antithesis of our country’s healthcare system. I still believe this is the best way to deliver healthcare of any type – primary care to rehab – with as few barriers as possible and in the most comprehensive way. Read More>>

Christie Los

For me, it really came down to a choice. I could go work for another agency and risk falling into questionable practices that I have seen too often in digital marketing, or I could build something of my own, where the focus would be on education and setting the client up for long-term success. Too many agencies cut corners, hide behind jargon, or push services that are not really in the client’s best interest, and that never sat right with me. Read More>>

Ariela HaLevi

My thought process was really a soul process. My business was born out of my own personal journey of healing and transformation. I had gone through deep grief, health challenges, and the loss of my mother, which shook me to my core. At the same time, I was struggling with autoimmune issues that made me realize I needed to approach healing differently, not just through traditional therapy, but in a way that spoke to the body, spirit, and ancestral soul. Read More>>

Brady O’Gara

I don’t think there was a single lightbulb moment. It was more like a slow build. I’ve always been drawn to the idea of owning something, creating it from the ground up, and having the freedom to shape it. Even before I knew what kind of business it would be, I knew I wanted to build something that felt personal and meaningful. Read More>>

Christopher Waldron

I have always had my own business when it comes to my Djing. But my thought process on starting my book which is called “The Illustrated History Of Some Of Colorado’s Best Dj’s” was I had this idea that had never been done before and I wanted to create something that people would hold on to forever. Also do something that brings my industry together, no matter what crew or genre they play. Read More>>

Chi Nguyen-George

I’ve been working in accounting and finance for about 10 years. It’s very structured and analytical, so I realized I needed a creative outlet for myself.

It led me to explore writing, designing, and creating planners. I love combining the two worlds to create something structured, easy to use and yet beautiful. Read More>>

Aiya Staller

As a sensitive, creative, inquisitive queer human who is acutely aware of both the suffering and beauty around us, I feel called to use my skills & abilities to support others and inspire them to step into their own healthy creative power. I believe that when more people feel empowered to engage with their gifts & strengths in communities, our world becomes more diverse, welcoming, attuned, and beautiful. Better for everyone.  Read More>>

Kirill Morozov Gian Barros

The thought process mostly brought up the idea to have something of our own and show a different perspective on street wear shop through our personal experiences and interests.As well as, give Denver community something unique and individual to their own preferences and taste. Two different views helped us create our store, and we keep continuing to learn through many different customers that come to our shop to make future experience unmatched. Read More>>

Anastasia Francis

When we relocated to Colorado in 2017, I brought with me extensive experience from working with renowned floral and plant establishments in Boston. This inspired me to launch my own venture, Plants Y’all, with the goal of sharing my passion for greenery while also enjoying the flexibility of setting my own schedule. This flexibility allows me to fully embrace the outdoor lifestyle that Colorado offers, all while leveraging my expertise to bring beautiful plant designs to life. Read More>>

Sarah Blue

My thought process was born out of necessity and a desire to create. I’ve always loved working with my hands and constantly have projects going on—working on my house is my fav hobby—so even after I stepped away from my career as a welder and metal fabricator in 2020 (a job I loved as the first female Production Forewoman for a Northern Colorado sign shop), my hands needed busy-work. The pandemic led me to a difficult decision to step away from my career to care for my son, who lives with Prader Willi Syndrome, a choice I made with no backup plan and with a great deal of fear, but I knew it was the right thing to do. Read More>>

Grace Boudoin

Starting Good Gracious Mobile Coffee was never just about coffee—it was about creating a space for connection, comfort, and community. The idea stemmed from my personal journey of finding joy and healing in the first house my husband and I bought in Mississippi, a place that became a symbol of warmth, healing, and belonging. When life circumstances landed me in Colorado Springs, I wanted to bring that same sense of home to others, and coffee felt like the perfect way to do it. I saw a need for more than just a caffeine fix (which is also important!) —people crave moments of kindness, familiarity, and shared stories. Read More>>