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.

Annie Sayyed

I am the oldest of three girls, and my parents are from Pakistan where henna is a popular and creative way to express happiness during weddings and holidays. Even though my sisters and I were born in NJ, my parents raised us with as close to an authentic Pakistani childhood as possible. Read More>>

Shaquanda Harrison

Starting my own hair business was rooted in both passion and purpose. I’ve been doing hair since I was 12 years old, and over time, it became more than just a skill it became a part of who I am. I saw how much confidence and joy people felt after getting their hair done, especially when it came to locs and natural styles that truly celebrate our identity and culture. Read More>>

Diana Ramirez

I decided to start my photography business focused on music events because of my passion for music and my favorite part was to capture the beautiful vibe and energy the crowd and performers had to offer. Taking shots of people just enjoying themselves I personally think it’s the most natural pictures when they see them they can relive that moment again and save it in a better way than just a memory. Read More>>

Jasmine Martinez

Growing up I was always interested in presenting my best self and showing the world a nice smile. I went to school for Business Management and started my career as an operations manager for a Staffing company. This wasn’t my dream job but it taught me a lot about customer service and how best to run a business. Read More>>

Danielle Ng

My business was born from a need to survive my own unraveling and a desire to offer others what I wish I had when I was lost in the dark. Meditative Insights wasn’t built from a strategy or market plan, it emerged from stillness, from sitting with grief, from years of peeling back layers until I found something steady and true inside myself. Read More>>

Daniel Abraham

Starting a business was a natural extension of my values and personal experiences—particularly those shaped by dating in Charlotte. I’ve always enjoyed tackling problems head-on, and I wanted to create something that reflects my vision for a better, more intentional dating scene. For me, that starts with quality singles events. Read More>>

Katya Kulikova

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always loved photography. When I was 12, my mom gave me her old film camera. I bought a roll of film and started shooting — nature, my friends, my dogs, everything I saw around me. I took that camera everywhere and found so much joy in the process. In the evenings, I’d lock myself in a dark room to develop and print my photos — it felt like pure magic. Read More>>

Sara Casarez

When we developed our business plan in 2020, there were no other businesses in this area venturing in the mobile glamping industry. Being cooped up in quarantine solidified our love for nature and passion for camping and we wanted to share that love with our community. Read More>>

Allie Lochary

After over a decade of teaching Pilates in New York City’s boutique fitness scene, I moved back home to Charlotte and quickly realized that the kind of Pilates experience I was used to—personalized, intentional, and rooted in deep education—wasn’t easy to find. Most of what I came across were large group classes that focused exclusively on the reformer, often prioritizing choreography over real progress. I wanted to create something different. Read More>>