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.

Will Kalkman

I come from a working class family. I am from Michigan and most of my grand parent’s generation worked as car manufactuers and my parents generation worked in retail or labor jobs.  Read More>>

 Andrea Pascual

My thought process behind starting my business came from a deep desire to express myself through images rather than words. I graduated as a journalist in Venezuela, but after immigrating and starting over in a new language, photography became my voice.  Read More>>

Camisha Lemons

My thought process behind starting my own business was simple – I wanted to help others. I wanted to be a voice for those who were underserved, underrepresented, and overlooked. For the person who felt like their situation does not matter, I wanted to be an advocate for them. Read More>>

Ebony Williams

I decided to start my own business because the way the legal community was struggling to embrace the work from home method was disappointing. Lawyers were being punished and threatened to return to the office if they did not perform how the powers that be wanted them to, I personally experienced this. Read More>>

C Ellen Hart

The first imperative was to build a sustainable practice supporting my painting and artistic development. I already believed in Art as a communication skill, and the necessity to connect with a viewer. I loved meeting and talking with others about art, and getting feedback showing the validity of my expression. Read More>>

Marilyn Segundo

Yellow Apron Baking Co. started the moment I realized a few things were true: I LOVE baking with my whole heart, folks love a treat made with love, and most families don’t have the time, or desire, to make quality treats from scratch anymore. Read More>>

Slummy Charms

Initially there was no process behind my company. I’ve always had an admiration for assisting others and providing them with resources to be successful. At first, I didn’t have a name, price or thorough idea of what I was offering or who I was offering it to. Read More>>

Cody Riley

My thoughts were if I can work the insane hours and put in the effort it takes to survive in the oil and gas industry for 12 years, then I can put that same amount of work and dedication into building something and helping people Read More>>

Archie Richmond, Shemetre Richmond NA

Archie and Shemetre Richmond’s mission was shaped by decades of experience in environmental safety, facility management, and consulting while developing customizable janitorial and environmental support services for businesses and residences, prioritizing safety and compliance. We aim to build long-term relationships through trust, exceptional performance, and responsiveness to client needs while integrating facility services with strategic, performance-based solutions by Investing in EPA-approved technologies for effective results. Read More>>

Laura Jorden-Krolczyk

That’s a great question — and one that every entrepreneur answers a little differently. First, make sure the business you want to start is something that your good at and something that you care about. Second, make sure there is a market for the business and in 10 years you can still see people using your product or requiring your business services. Read More>>

Solomon Peretz

When looking at other MSPs in the area I find so much struggle. Clients are struggling to get quality and timely support. MSPs are overloaded and overworked and struggling to address the needs of their customers in a timely and effective way. Read More>>

Mike and Cathy Rape

Before the Covid shutdowns, we ran a live event based production business. Making mead was a beloved hobby that we enjoyed together in our free time. We had a dream of starting our own meadery some day during our ‘golden years’. When live events came to a screeching halt during the pandemic, so did our livelihood. Read More>>

Vernell Moore Jr.

Risk is Key actually began as a school project. We were assigned to study an entrepreneur we admired, and I chose Ralph Lauren. The more I researched his story, the more inspired I became. Looking at his example and at the brands my classmates and I were wearing, I realized I could create a brand that could be inspirational, relatable, and fun. Read More>>