Lori Cheek had never been more nervous in her life. She walked down the shark-lined hallway and into a stare-down with the five harshest investors in the world. Determined to take her idea to the next level, she told them her invention would change the world.

Porters Bar & Grill in Boston is a lively neighborhood watering hole for concert-goers and sports fans alike. In 1999, Scott Nogueira and two business partners opened the pub, located near TD Garden (home of the Celtics and Bruins).

Felicia Jackson buckled her 2-year-old son securely into the backseat of her car. She never imagined the fear that would strike just moments later. When Felicia looked back to see the toddler choking and distressed in the backseat, she froze.

Laura Barta believes every kid should have a chance to experience the world, even if it’s from the comfort of home. When her searches for multicultural toys came up short, Laura took matters into her own hands. She created her first play set in 2015, and today Whole Wide World Toys, Inc., offers products for kids to create enriching play worlds.

When Virginia mom Casey Burke Bunn forgot her daughter’s mittens on a ski trip, she put a pair of socks on the tot’s hands. The socks stayed on all day, the girl’s hands stayed toasty, and the resourceful mom turned her idea into a successful startup.

A self-proclaimed beer nerd, Jose Quinones of Englewood, Colorado, isn’t just obsessed with finding rare beers and building his cellar collection. He brews his own almost every week. Inspired by the American craft beer movement and his love of homebrewing, Jose decided to turn is hobby into a business.

Cynthia Jamin started hand-sewing dresses at her dining room table. Eventually, business exploded and today TwirlyGirl is a multi-million dollar business.

In four years, Chantel Galloway went from selling wedding dresses out of her 500-square-foot apartment to showing a collection at New York Bridal Fashion week. From humble beginnings with one sewing machine (Chantel and her husband Tyler), the Chantel Lauren brand is now distributed by 25 retailers around the globe.

Living in the shadow of the Wasatch Mountain Range is just one of the perks of doing business in Utah for Eli Kerr, CEO of Gnarly Nutrition. “At Gnarly we want to live life so that work, home, play, and our social lives are all integrated. We love that we live in a community where we can do this,” shares Eli.