Skip to content

Small Business Profiles

Mt. Vernon-Based E-Commerce Business Grows with Digital Tools

Mt. Vernon, NY As sons of an entrepreneur, Charles Chakkalo and his brothers always dreamed of becoming business owners. They started Joey’z Shopping while in college, an e-commerce company that offers houseware ranging from cake stands to curtains, providing hard-working Americans with high-quality, affordable houseware. Charles and his brothers live by their company’s motto: “Nobody…

Online Tools Deliver Thai-Inspired Sauces to Customers Nationwide

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…

Empowering Students to Overcome Boundaries with Oppti

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…

If You Can Dream It, You Can Achieve It: A Baker’s Digital Journey

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…

Nutritious Foods are Fun and Flavorful with Healthy Rican

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…

Online Math Games Make Learning Fun and Accessible

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…

Empowered by Technology: My Personal Memories Creates the Most Heartfelt Gifts

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…

Spreading Positivity through Digital Storytelling

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…

When Life Gives You Lemons: Lucy’s Online Success

City of Industry, CA During a family trip to the United States, husband and wife Miguel and Kathleen Diaz noticed that high-quality lemon and lime juices, staple ingredients for many different cuisines, were hard to find. Sensing a business opportunity, they moved from Guadalajara, Mexico, to Southern California and started Lucy’s in 2003. In 2018,…

Sign up to get the latest news and resources for your small business

We respect your Privacy
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.