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.

Joy Chikwekwe | Video Editor and Creative

I have been editing videos and creating content for over 8 years, but I always considered it to be more of a hobby than an area of expertise. It wasn’t until a few years ago when I realized that people were reaching out to me for advice, services and to collaborate on projects all because of this so-called hobby. This really inspired me to dig deeper, think about my experiences and find a way to fill a hole in the industry. Having high quality video content is now one of the most important things that a creative or a business owner can do. Read more>>

Laura Payne | Baby Sign Language Expert

I am a Teacher of the Deaf and have known sign language since the first grade. After my daughter was born in 2018, I resigned from the classroom and joined a local moms’ group. One conversation lead to another, and before I knew it, I was teaching almost 20 moms how to use sign language with their babies! Read more>>

Beth Winterburn | Abstract Artist working primarily with inks + acrylics

Really, I’d never intended to create a business of making and/or selling art. I have a Fine Arts degree, and I simply missed creating; and so, I began making work to satisfy my own cravings. Instagram was in its early days – more of the journal-keeping/sharing style and blissfully void of ads or marketing. I began posting as a way to keep a journal of my own work. Over time, I began to get requests to purchase the work that I was making and posting, and a business was born. Read more>>

Roberto Carlos Garcia | Poet, Essayist, Storyteller, Publisher, & Educator

I wanted to provide poets with an opportunity to publish, ideally, their first poetry collection. And for that opportunity to exist without charging a submission fee. Read more>>

Abby Reyna Alex Reyna | Personal trainers & gym owners

more than a gym. We didn’t want to become just another warehouse gym in Houston. We talked about it for years, and decided that it was time to make the dream a reality. We both had stable jobs before opening Reign Athletics, but we did not feel fulfilled. Read more>>

Lesley Villarreal | Lifestyle and pet photographer

I think my thought process was the fact that I never wanted to follow the rules. I always wanted to work for myself. I didn’t want to have to answer to anyone if I wanted to take a day off or go on vacation or wasn’t feeling well. I started my own housekeeping business young and that ruined me from ever getting a job where I had to have regular hours. I just always figured out a way to hustle and work for myself. Read more>>

Kendra Brown | Marketing Strategist Helping Businesses Grow and Automotive Retailer

Starting my own business was the answer to two goals in my life, one as it relates to me and one as it relates to the world. Personally, entrepreneurship provides me autonomy and flexibility in my professional life. I also wanted to build businesses that served a mission in the services it provides as well as to the people working within the company. I want to build a place that inspires from within and drives progress for individuals and other businesses. Read more>>

Kevin Torres | Mechanic and Entrepreneur

The thought process behind starting my own business was being able to give myself the chance to live the best life I can for myself and my family. Read more>>

John Johnston | Executive Artistic Director, Classical Theatre Company

After training on the East Coast at Boston College for my undergraduate degree and the Catholic University of America for my Master’s degree, I returned to Houston, and before long, began working in the professional theatre community here. This was almost 20 years ago, so much has changed since then, but at the time, there was a dearth of professional theatre here. My training was what was considered “classical,” which basically means that I studied and trained the great classical plays and forms of western theatre. Read more>>

Sheronda Akpaitim | Balloon Stylist

I always thought I would never own a business, and I wouldn’t want the burden of building something from scratch, but God laughs at the plans you have for yourself. I went to a baby shower with my child and saw the joy that the balloons brought her, plus the fact she didn’t want to leave with out getting a balloon. So I thought to myself “I can do that, and better too”. So the idea was born to be an event balloon decorator and a great one! Read more>>

Dawn Schwab, DC | Chiropractor and Owner

We wanted the opportunity to provide quality chiropractic and ancillary health care services to our patients without the restriction that can come from working under someone else. Owning a business is certainly more rewarding, but can also be more challenging, especially with the amount of time required to grow and sustain. However, the opportunity to care for people they way we want to is worth the challenge. Read more>>

Maribel Seets | Esthetician

For me basically the “be your own boss”phrase started it all for me. Mainly because I have young children and I want to be able to be available for them when they need me either for medical reasons or any other things that I could have come up they are my number one priority so being able to create my own schedule has really helped me so much to be there for them as well as my husband and family. But along with that I really enjoy helping other people enhance their natural beauty with the services I provide and possibly even help other people start their own career teaching them my skills. Read more>>

Kimberly Williams | Fashion Designer

I wanted to create something that represent gender- neutral human, something that stood out on a shopping experience something that was about a lifestyle. Too often, humans are told who and what to be and force to follow rules that was made up by someone hundreds of years ago. We live in a world where traditions are obsolete and people are fighting for freedom of express. Is that really a crime. Read more>>

Hector Luna | Co-owner of El Mictlan

El Mictlan is a family owned business, with that being said our family had always been very United. We always get together through thick and thin, in those gatherings the one thing we always share is love for food. Our chef Miguel usually is the one to bless us with his delicious food when we get together as a family. We always talked about how successful we’d be if we started a business in the food industry, the talk and the vision has always been there, but we all have separate life’s so it wasn’t easy to make it a reality. Read more>>

Rocky Giesler | Business Owner & Makeup Artist

Great question. Ultimately, my dream was to always have my own business. In 2018, when I got pregnant with my first child, I really started thinking about the future and wanted to start investing into it not only for me, but more so for my children. Read more>>

Monica Santiago | Salon Owner + Dog Groomer

I knew at a very young age that entrepreneurship was something I wanted to pursue! While working for a large company in the business world, I realized I couldn’t find anyone I could trust to care for my own dogs. In the pursuit of looking for a groomer for all three of my yorkies, I opted to try grooming them myself. In doing so, I fell in love with trying to make them look as adorable as possible. The rest was history. I quickly finished my schooling to become a groomer and immediately knew I wanted to open my own salon so I could ensure it was welcoming and somewhere dog owners felt safe to bring their babies. Read more>>

Betty Escalona | Director at VMP

I would like to start by saying that I am an immigrant from Caracas, Venezuela. I am a journalist, radio host, and photographer specializing in video production. I came to Houston for medical purposes related to my older daughter and everything started in 2018 when I first got my work permit and wondered what to do and what to offer from me to our community. I started developing a plan to provide a good service not just to make a living but to offer service to enrich our community. That is how this dream started, getting a camera, lights, mic, tripod, and a loyal computer to make it happen. Read more>>

Nigel Swift Chandler | Level 2 Certified Fitness Instructor & Lifestyle Coach

I had a vision and God ordered my steps for me to run my own fitness business. I was working two corporate jobs prior to starting SwiftTime Fitness LLC. One of those jobs allowed for me to learn the logistics of running my own business and the other actually opened the door for my dream to become a reality. Starting out I didn’t know all the hurdles I would have to overcome one major hurdle was becoming a full time fitness entrepreneur during COVID. Read more>>

Pauly Steez | Fine Artist

My father always had an entrepreneurial mindset I could tell; from the moment I could comprehend. Along with working a full time job, he created other streams of income through cutting grass, or home construction. This heavily influenced myself to always think like an entrepreneur and that always kept me with fresh ideas of how to bring something to new market. When it came to my artwork, I knew from the beginning I would love to have a company that either sells or creates art for the consumer. Read more>>

Angie Dunn | Educator, Influencer & Insurance Broker

I have seen real hardships as a child. I come from a working-class family that did not have a lot of education and surely did not understand how to budget or save for retirement. I wanted to really make a difference in someone’s life. I wanted to provide old school one on one customer service. I would not have been able to provide this if I was working for a big corporation. No one should be seen as a number, and it seems the large companies have all moved to using a Robo calling system instead of a real customer service agent. Read more>>

Sam Smith | education/ parent advocate

I saw so many parents and students were getting mistreated by schools and school districts. I told myself I had to do something to make a difference. I became a parent advocate to help parents and students who having issues with a school or school district Read more>>

Gaby Lopez | Balloon Artist

I actually work in Education. I started as a bilingual teacher and now have the opportunity to work with bilingual teachers, students and their administrators from all over my district. I was helping set up an event for principals in our district and was assigned to help put together a balloon arch. I have always been a creative person and love to do things that allow me to create and express myself creatively. So naturally, I fell in love with balloon artistry immediately. Read more>>

Sarah Neal | Boutique owner & photographer

I have always loved photography and fashion ever since I was a kid. I own two of my own businesses: Angelic Rose Boutique (an online boutique) and Sarah Neal Photography. While I am a college student studying dental hygiene, I wanted to do something I loved as a career as well. Whenever I go shopping, I always get upset or mad because nothing ever fits right, there’s never a variety of size options, and it can be discouraging. Read more>>

Jayla Brown | Clothing Line

I always wanted to operate a small business, therefore my initial thought process was to launch it when I was still quite young so I could experience running my own business. My entire life should not be spent working for someone else. The fact that I own a business allows me to give back to my community because, as a small town with few stores, Read more>>

Ro Smith | Author

Being a lesbian woman of color, it has always been imperative to be seen within the pages of books. Reading stories that I could resonate with was something I craved. I remember being a teen, going to bookstores and searching through countless books, hoping to find one that stood out. It never happened. Today, there are more black lesbian authors out there creating beautiful stories, but still, the pool is scarce. I aspire to join them and grow that number by writing stories that break heteronormative roles and debunk stigmas around sex and alternative lifestyles. Read more>>

Touché Harvey | Co-Owner of Doves Restaurant & Lounge

I’ve been an entrepreneur for years, so starting a business isn’t new to me, I’m always looking for something to invest in and expand my portfolio with. Deciding to open Doves with my business partner, Fred, was something that came naturally to us, we both love to go out and eat and have a great dining experience. To put our ideas together and come up with this concept, specifically, was a lot of fun, and we’re looking forward to everyone coming and checking out this one of a kind spot. Read more>>

Courtney Myers | Entrepreneur, Model ,Creative , Body-Positive Advocate, Founder of HGS Healing Girl Season, Lover of life

I love to create things, but the most important thought was how can I help women feel more beautiful and confident about their bodies? When I created Beaded Bae I wanted women to feel secure in their skin no matter their shape or size. It’s about being comfortable and embracing your femininity because it’s just that, yours. When waist beads originated in Africa they symbolized sexuality, beauty, fertility and maturity. When women wear Beadedbae waist beads they feel gorgeous, free to express themselves, liberated, and confident. Read more>>

Pablo Tello | Owner of Tello’s Tacos & Barbecue

I always had a passion for cooking but it did not cross my mind until one of my cousin’s graduation. You see when we have any celebration or get-together I would alway offer to cook. That day a relative asked for a tip jar, I was like no need to tip just to enjoy the food. Personally I just wanted to share my food one taco and BBQ at a time. Family is one of the main reason I started this business, I know there is a lot of competition out there but I embrace it and thrive to make my food taste like you have never tasted before. Read more>>

Antonio Arocho | Chef/founder

When COVID hit I kinda didn’t know what to do. I had just lost my job. That was my 4th and final time I’ll ever get laid off. I had always told my grandma that I was going to do something for her in life. Didn’t know what it was but then it hit me. She always wanted her own restaurant but we unfortunately never had the funds to do so. Coming from a small/poor town from Puerto Rico. So I gathered all her recipes together and came up with a concept and a menu. On a Sunday I called a friend/mentor of mine that owns a food truck and restaurant and told him about my idea, he shot me down telling me how it will never work. Read more>>