Homestead, Oakland, CA

13 Reasons Why I Became An

Entrepreneur

We asked 13 successful crowdfunding small

business owners, “Why did you become an

entrepreneur?”

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

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

Success is being

able to pay my

employees, myself,

and become a

necessary part of

my customers’ lives.

Dechets a l'Or, Queens, NY

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

I love being creative! Success is the ability to create :)

Gothic Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI

BridgeSet Sound, Philadelphia, PA

I have always

wanted to be an

entrepreneur.

Success is

seeing others

enjoy, appreciate

and support your

work.

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

Live 2 Learn Differently Inc, Brandon, FL

Freedom and

control over

my time is

success

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

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.

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.

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

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

Entrepreneurship is thriving. A global

community is pushing it forward.

Kiva Zip is a community of people

crowdfunding 0% interest microloans to

small business owners

Banana Manna, Greenville, SC

The Kiva Zip

community envisions

a world where human

relationships are

restored into the heart

of the financial system

Photo: Flick (CC: mrhayata)

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

Project your vision. Build your future.

Social Club Grooming Company, Detroit, MI

Wild Haven Fiber Company, Milwaukee, WI

Learn more about Kiva Zip