Starting a business is a commitment and requires dedication, resources and sacrifice. We asked some of the rising stars in our community how they thought through the idea of starting their own businesses.

Jozlyn Knight | Family and Lifestyle Photographer

I have always loved taking photos, I remember carrying around my disposable cameras, taking pictures of people and things since I was 16 years old. My main muse was my baby brother who is 15 years younger than I. Once I got serious about it, I thought about how my family did not have family photos, it’s just not something we did. I thought everyone should have an updated photo, something to display, something to look back on, close your eyes and just remember that exact feeling you felt that very moment you were there snapping that photo. I knew I wanted to capture these moments and these memories for families because a person’s memory fades, these images are timeless and can be looked back on for generations to come. Read more>>

Tanner Johns | musician

I wanted to be free from the 9 to 5. I wanted to be my own boss. I wanted to make a difference in the world. By starting me own path I have found all of those things. However, I have had to overcome many hardships in my endeavor to escape the matrix. Read more>>

Jake Silva | Owner & Talk Show Host

Since 2019, I started podcasting as a host for my brand talk show called, “The Snake Sports Talk Show” that covers all sports news and gave strong opinions behind every news scoop. I had the pleasure of being a part of 2 podcast networks that helped me grow brand and thrive in the industry. During my tenure in those networks, I’ve learned and obtained many resources that helped sharpen my skills & have built many relationships with like-minded people within the industry. What got me to starting my own network, I have a strong passion for sports and want to be a game changer in the industry by building a platform full of individuals who share the similar passion, learning & diving into what the industry itself is all about and how to grow, diversify & succeed in one of the most rapid growing industries in the nation. Read more>>

Cameron Martinez | Colorado Wedding Photographer & Videographer

Working for myself has been a gradual shift over the years. I slowly started realizing that I work better for myself than for someone else. There is an immense pride I feel knowing that I’ve built this business and that it supports me and my family. I also wanted to make money doing something creative, and once I picked up a camera, there was no turning back. So, it’s been a mix of passion and purpose. Read more>>

Elizabeth Torgerson | Baker

Starting my own business, Elizabeth’s Sweet Treats, was a heartfelt journey that combined my love for baking and my commitment to my family. You see, I’ve been a stay-at-home mom for 19 years, and that’s been my most cherished role. My passion for baking is a legacy passed down from my grandmother to my mom, and then to me. Growing up, baking was more than just mixing flour and sugar; it was about creating memories and bonding. The Christmas cookie box tradition with my mom and sister is something I’ve carried with me throughout my life. These moments weren’t just about baking; they were about love, joy, and togetherness. Read more>>

Crystal Gillis | Adventure Elopement Stylist

I’ve been doing hair for nearly 20 years. I love it, I’m passionate about it, it fills my cup. But I also crave the outdoors. These two lifestyles haven’t always intersected, within the beauty industry I’ve struggled to find a space that felt authentic and welcoming to an outdoorsy woman, even working in Colorado. I thought I would find a whole swath of backpacking, raft guiding, rock climbing hairstylists and you know what? They just aren’t here. So, in my mind, a whole demographic of women who enjoy these things are also experiencing the alienation I felt from the industry trying to sell us SPF foundation and sweat proof hairspray that we apparently can’t live without. Which, spoiler, we can. Read more>>

Allyssa LeFevre | Bridal Hair and Makeup Artist

Hi there my name is Allyssa and I created Ally’s Beauty Bar because I saw a hole in the bridal beauty industry. I have a passion for not just makeup but hair styling too and there was little to no artist that offered both of these options and at a reasonable rate. As a past bride myself I knew how overwhelming it was to find vendors that where a great match with your personality, wedding aesthetic, needs, and budget. Finding an artist that can offer both hair and makeup for the bride and bridal party without being a large expense in your bridal budget was almost impossible. That’s when I created Ally’s Beauty Bar. Read more>>

Josh Landis | Massage Therapist, Personal Trainer, Holistic Bodyworker

I decided early on in my life that my health needed to always be a priority. I also knew that whatever I chose to do with my career, that I wanted to have direct impact on making peoples’ lives better. Becoming a health-based practitioner was a no brainer. What that looked like, I was less sure about in the beginning. I declared psychology as my area of study during my freshman year of undergrad, but I decided pretty quickly that I preferred to focus more on physical health. Growing up, I always had one injury or another stopping me from doing the things I loved to do. My relationship with sports was on-off because of injuries. As a freshman in college, I discovered a love for strength training and using it to support my body and make it more resilient and capable. I decided that exercise was going to be the way I helped clients. I decided to study kinesiology and never looked back. Read more>>

Courtney Sherman | Owner of Wild West Photo Booth

The idea to start my own business stemmed from a unique and visually appealing concept: transforming a horse trailer into a mobile photo booth for events. I’ve always had a passion for being a part of events and saw an opportunity to combine my love for horses with a creative and charming approach. The initial spark came when I envisioned the charm and novelty of a photo booth housed in a horse trailer. This was an idea cultivated during COVID. I had a vision for a unique photo booth horse trailer that could add a special touch to events. As an adult, my day job consisted of managing multi-family assets. Read more>>

Lauren Jagger | Balloon Artist & Event Stylist

I was always planning a party for one of my kid’s birthdays or a holiday. Friends would ask me to help with their parties and it was often suggested that I start my own business. Finally, one day, I took their advice. Read more>>

Jean Benoit | Teaching Artist / Curator

Following my dreams. The goal is to be happy at the end of the day and creating and teaching art has always been my passion. Read more>>

Anna Pausch | Artist & Printmaker

My thought process behind starting my own business was the freedom of exploring how to become a full time Artist. Structuring my day to day life that fueled my energy. Building a life of curiosity and exploration funded by my Art. Art is my core. There is an energy and curiosity that builds inside me that must be let out. No matter what is happening around me or in life, crayon on a menu to ink on wood. Today I am a Woodcut Printmaker carving my own explorations out of wood and then printing them on paper and cloth. Through my Denver Art community, everyday is invigorating and different. From carving and printing in the studio, to teaching at a non-profit and printing Letterpress. On the weekends traveling to Art Markets enables me to simultaneously explore new places, hike and camp. Read more>>