13 amazing individuals that decided to build their own path.

1. Homestead, Oakland, CA
13 Reasons Why I Became An
Entrepreneur

2. We asked 13 successful crowdfunding small
business owners, “Why did you become an
entrepreneur?”

3. I want the money I earn to be the whole dollar
instead of a nickel from someone else's dollar.
Success for me would be having creative license
and making a sustainable profit from my passion.
This Must Be Kismet (Convertible Kid's
Clothing), Chicago, IL

4. I always knew I didn't want a 9-5 desk job. I wanted to be
creative and my own boss. I always thought I had good
ideas. It feels awesome when others agree and enjoy
your products. My vision of success is living out my life
doing what I love and still have time to enjoy my life with
my husband, family and friends. Working constantly and
making tons of money isn't success to me.
Esta-Joy's Kitchen, New York, NY

5. Success is being
able to pay my
employees, myself,
and become a
necessary part of
my customers’ lives.
Dechets a l'Or, Queens, NY

6. I decided to become an entrepreneur after serving in the Peace
Corps and realizing that I needed market forces to create a
greater impact. Success looks like when I can go back to my
Peace Corps village and everyone there is eating moringa.
Kuli Kuli, Oakland, CA

7. I love being creative! Success is the ability to create :)
Gothic Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI

8. BridgeSet Sound, Philadelphia, PA
I have always
wanted to be an
entrepreneur.
Success is
seeing others
enjoy, appreciate
and support your
work.

9. I became an entrepreneur by simply
creating something I wanted for myself,
but for other people. Success will look like
a sustainable business with a great team.
Out of the Box Collective,
Chatsworth, CA

10. Live 2 Learn Differently Inc, Brandon, FL
Freedom and
control over
my time is
success

11. I decided to become an entrepreneur to build
something myself and fill a need. Success looks
like the business becoming sustainable and
affording me the ability to get out/take a step back.
The Fresh Connection, Brooklyn, NY

12. Farm to Fork Catering,
Louisville, KY
It was an accident.
Success to me is
having a profitable
purpose based
business where
clients, employees,
vendors, investors,
and the owner
(ME) are happy.

13. The Founding Moms, Oak Park, IL
I did it because I
felt compelled to!
Success is creating
a market to buy
your product or
service.

14. I became an entrepreneur to become the person that I want to be, to harness
my creative talents and skills and to build a replicable business built with
integrity that supports community and regional food systems.
TonTon’s Artisan Affections,
Talent, OR

15. I could not work a regular job due to my daughter's life threatening chronic
illness. I've been fired for having to leave and care for her and rush to the
hospital. I needed something flexible but something I could call a career and
not a job. Working for myself was the best decision I ever made.
8 Bit Bakeshop, Queens, NY

16. Entrepreneurship is thriving. A global
community is pushing it forward.

17. Kiva Zip is a community of people
crowdfunding 0% interest microloans to
small business owners
Banana Manna, Greenville, SC

18. The Kiva Zip
community envisions
a world where human
relationships are
restored into the heart
of the financial system
Photo: Flick (CC: mrhayata)

19. Neu Root Farm, Racine, WI
Small business owners are
economically empowered by
the strength of their character,
rather than financially excluded
by their lack of collateral

20. Project your vision. Build your future.
Social Club Grooming Company, Detroit, MI

21. Wild Haven Fiber Company, Milwaukee, WI
Learn more about Kiva Zip