New York, NY Sutta Saraphum found her passion for exciting foods while working in restaurants and cooking traditional dishes with her mother in Thailand. When she moved to New York in 2011, she was disappointed with the lack of authentic, flavorful sauces like those back home, so she created her own. Sutta founded SD Sauce…
One day in 2015, my corporate job was eliminated. I’d worked hard for over 30 years, and suddenly I didn’t…
Manhattan Beach, California Khiry Kemp founded Oppti to empower high school students by providing a digital platform that connects them with internships, volunteer opportunities, career skills training, and work-based learning opportunities in partnership with employers and school staff nationwide. Through Oppti, Kemp aims to facilitate career readiness and professional development for students, ensuring accessible and…
Fullerton, CA In 2010, Philip Gomez helped turn his mother’s dream of owning her own bakery into a reality by opening Patty’s Cakes and Desserts in Fullerton, CA. Through the power of digital tools and support from their community, Patty’s Cakes is one of the highest-rated bakeries on major review platforms and expanded to a…
Buffalo, NY When Mayra Luz Colon moved from Puerto Rico to Buffalo, NY, in 2010, she struggled to find foods that were both healthy and flavorful. She started making healthier versions of Puerto Rican spices and posting about them on social media, and the responses were overwhelmingly positive. Mayra created Healthy Rican, an online spice…
St Louis Park, MN While teaching middle school in St. Louis Park, MN, Michael Edlavitch discovered a need for effective, less expensive math resources that also engage students. School districts paid up to $7 per student for online math programs that didn’t produce good results, so Michael founded Hooda Math, a website offering free online…
Coral Springs, FL In 2011, Jason Cipolla left his long-standing hockey career to create My Personal Memories, an online personalized gift company based in Coral Springs, FL. Jason and his wife, Kristin, were inspired by their love for capturing life’s memories and putting smiles on people’s faces. Their heartfelt gifts are fully customizable and include…
New York, NY Ese Ofurhie of Bronx, NY, noticed that stories of perseverance and success often don’t get enough attention in the media. Ready to leave the corporate world, she launched ENSPIRE Magazine in 2012, a digital and print publication that highlights inspiring stories about overcoming obstacles, giving back to communities, and succeeding against all…