Valentina, the founder of Really Luxe, created a gift basket company that specialized in luxury gift bouquets. The business was launched in September 2020 and catered primarily to customers in Ontario, Canada. Their offerings included high-end products like Godiva chocolates, silk face masks, and elegant gift packaging. Despite facing financial constraints and the challenges of running a business during the COVID-19 pandemic, Valentina’s brand experienced notable success, growing through word-of-mouth, social media, and a strong customer service focus. Unfortunately, the business closed in 2023, but it left behind valuable lessons in entrepreneurship.

Gerber Labs, co-founded by Kyle Sheng in 2020, aimed to make custom printed circuit boards (PCBs) accessible to students, hobbyists, and small businesses. Leveraging a direct-to-consumer model, the company modernized PCB manufacturing with user-friendly processes. Despite its innovative approach and initial success, Gerber Labs ceased operations in 2023.

Kyle Chittock, the founder of Area 13 Ebikes, built a successful electric bike business generating $350K per month. Leveraging his passion for bikes and technology, Kyle grew the company through organic marketing, especially YouTube, without paid advertising. His focus on customer trust, innovative products, and genuine engagement has driven exponential growth.

Lexi Harrison founded Crowded Kitchen, a thriving plant-based recipe blog and photography/content creation business. Generating $17K/month, the business focuses on high-quality, creative content for food and beverage brands, achieving a social media following of 200K and hundreds of thousands of monthly website views. Crowded Kitchen’s offerings include recipes, social media partnerships, and visual content, with goals for continuous growth and diversification.

Hemp Crate Co., a CBD subscription box business, was co-founded by Ryan Culver and Lowell in 2019. The company offered curated CBD products on a subscription basis, providing affordable relief options for customers in the U.S. and Canada. Starting as a side hustle, the business grew to generate $50,000 monthly revenue but eventually ceased operations in 2024.

Shane Kovalsky co-founded Mystery, an innovative platform designed to create surprise experiences for workplaces, focusing on virtual events and corporate gifting. The business, which launched in 2019, evolved from surprise nights out to corporate engagement solutions. After achieving significant success, Mystery was acquired by Glue in 2023. The company’s journey highlights adaptability, teamwork, and the power of focusing on customer delight.

Ted and Lisa VanLiew founded Superworld Comics, a thriving business that specializes in vintage comic books and original comic book art. With 34 years of experience, they cater to nostalgia seekers, collectors, and investors, earning approximately $90K per month. Their journey started with a passion for comics, developed through innovative marketing and community engagement, and continues to grow through strategic use of digital platforms and conventions.

Dave Chesson, the founder of Kindlepreneur, successfully built a book marketing software called Publisher Rocket, which generates $120,000 in monthly revenue. His journey began with self-publishing books on Amazon and evolved into creating tools to help authors succeed. Despite lacking technical skills, he overcame numerous challenges by hiring the right programmers, launching with an existing audience, and continuously improving his product. His approach emphasizes strong customer support and innovation.

Arnob Mukherjee and Nishant, childhood friends turned co-founders, launched Olvy, a tool for creating dynamic and engaging release notes. Olvy integrates feedback features to help businesses understand user sentiments and improve product updates. After a successful Product Hunt launch, Olvy garnered significant traction, generating $2,000 in revenue while prioritizing customer feedback and product refinement.

Momentum Coffee and Coworking, co-founded by Tracy Powell and Nikki Bravo, combines a café and coworking space to empower underrepresented entrepreneurs in Chicago. Established during the pandemic in May 2020, this venture generates $17,000–$20,000 monthly revenue while fostering community development through affordable, accessible coworking spaces. Despite challenges, the founders remain committed to scaling their mission.

Ellen Yin, the founder of Ellen Yin Media, launched a successful online membership program called *Cubicle to CEO*, aimed at helping coaches and service providers make their first $10K month without a large following or daily social media posting. Since its inception in 2018, Ellen's business has grown from a $300 client project to a 7-figure revenue company. Through strategic marketing, partnerships, and a focus on digital products, she has created a sustainable business model that has allowed her to impact thousands of entrepreneurs globally. With a small but efficient team, Ellen’s goal is to scale her business further, transitioning towards a media company that provides equitable access to mentorship and community.

shurjoPay, founded by Fida Haq in 2010, is an online payment gateway that has transformed Bangladesh's e-commerce ecosystem by providing a solution for online payments. Operating under shurjoMukhi Limited, shurjoPay serves over 600 merchants, ranging from small businesses to large enterprises, and processes a monthly transactional volume of around USD 1.5 million. The company addresses a major gap in the country's payment system, offering merchants the ability to accept payments via cards, mobile wallets, and other digital instruments. Through persistence and innovation, shurjoPay has grown to become a key player in Bangladesh’s fintech industry.