My First Moves

Starting a Business

How Sweeten Built Trust Into the Home Renovation Process

Home renovation startup Sweeten created trust as the foundation of its business -- and now it has $1.5 billion worth of work in its pipeline.

Fundraising

Millennials Can't Get Enough of This Tableware Brand

Kathryn Duryea didn't want Ikea dishes, and she didn't want fancy china. And she bet other people her age felt the same.

Growing a Business

Why the Founders of Senreve Built a Fashion Brand in Silicon Valley

Fashion is all about insider status, but to truly innovate, these founders wanted to break away from the pack.

Growing a Business

Larabar's Founder Stocked Shelves at Whole Foods to Learn About Retail

By starting at the bottom, Lara Merriken got a quick education to food-product sales and marketing.

Growing a Business

How This Founder Raised Venture Capital -- Before She Built Her Debut Product

Interior designer Nicole Gibbons knew she could create a better interior paint brand. She also knew she couldn't bootstrap the process.

Thought Leaders

She Sold Botox in Beverly Hills. Now She's Changing the Industry's Face

Nicci Levy wanted to create a better experience for women who got medical skincare treatments. Three years later, Alchemy 43 has locations on both coasts.

Thought Leaders

She Was Rejected On Shark Tank. Then She Used That To Her Advantage.

Melissa Butler knew her line of brightly colored lipsticks would be a hit. So when the beauty industry ignored her, she kept moving forward.

Thought Leaders

This Founder Built a National Business By Helping Kids Get Into College

Neha Gupta's College Shortcuts helps kids and parents navigate the paperwork and stress of college admissions.

Thought Leaders

When Their Investor Bailed, These Female Founders Launched Their Company Anyway

Riawna Capri and Nikki Lee bootstrapped a single hair salon in Hollywood. When a client requested a braiding style, the stylists decided to 'own' the trend.

Thought Leaders

How Coachella and an Old Postal Truck Helped Launch Ice Cream Brand Coolhaus

The founders of the beloved sweet treat started small and scrappy -- and now they're ready to take over the ice cream aisle.

Operations & Logistics

How This College Dropout Created a Fast-Growing But 'Culture-First' Hollywood PR Agency

As founder and CEO of Metro PR, Tess Finkle has built a business that serves its clients and employees alike.

Thought Leaders

How This Founder Built a $90 Million Skincare Business With No Beauty-Industry Experience

To create Rodial, Maria Hatzistefanis threw herself into a crash course on beauty manufacturing.

Thought Leaders

'Fast' Furniture? This Founder Spent Years Forming Her Business Idea -- and Launched When the Timing Was Right

To create her on-demand furniture company, The Inside, Christiane Lemieux fused cutting-edge technology with the famously slow-moving interiors industry.

Social Media

How Getting Laid Off Empowered This Entrepreneur to Start Her Own Award-Winning Marketing Agency

Katie Witkin co-founded AGW Group after working in traditional marketing roles -- and identifying opportunities that were being overlooked.

Thought Leaders

This Founder Ditched Investment Banking to Help New Moms -- and All Women -- Feel Confident

Shamanth Pereira was a young mom who struggled to regain confidence in her body after giving birth. So she built her own solution and launched Invisibelly leggings.