Every day we have a choice. We can support an up and coming podcaster, try a new family-run restaurant, join a boutique gym started by a local fitness champ or we could keep giving away our money to the handful of giants who already control so much of our commerce. Our daily decisions impact the kind world we live in; if we want a world where small businesses are growing and artists and creatives are thriving then we should support them with our time, money and attention. We’re proud to highlight inspiring creatives and entrepreneurs each week in Hidden Gems series. Check out some of our latest local gem features below.
Lauryn Bosstick
There are fires to put out every single day, but that’s the game. All entrepreneurs know that it’s never a smooth road. Going from a solopreneur, doing everything myself, to having a team was a struggle for me. Also, the behind the scenes of running multiple businesses is not glamorous and I think people need to talk about that more. To build The HIM & HER Show we spent countless hours driving from San Diego to LA, recording all the time, not making a dime. Read more>>
Shelley Shroyer
Today, my journey as a photographer has come full circle, and it’s amazing to look back at how far I’ve come. After the birth of my second son, I felt an undeniable urge to dive deeper into the world of photography. I was determined to not only capture memories, but to truly master the craft. To fuel this passion, I enrolled in a darkroom class at the local college in Austin, ACC, where I began to refine my technical skills and immerse myself in the analog side of photography. This experience helped me appreciate the artistry behind the process and strengthened my understanding of the fundamentals. Read more>>
Becky Torres
Leaving behind familiarity wasn’t easy. The decision to step away from a place where I no longer felt growth was one of the most challenging choices I’ve ever made. But I knew staying stagnant wasn’t an option. I wanted something more for myself, my clients, and the community I wished to serve. I envisioned a space where beauty wasn’t just about aesthetics but about feeling good from the inside out—a place where self-care was sacred, empowering, and holistic. Read more>>
Moses Buzan
My family opened the 74 Man Store in October of 2021. Shortly after, I graduated from high school and went off to college. I found myself not fond of college and decided to help with our family business. I started off as a sales associate. As the business and my experience grew, I learned a lot and took on more responsibility to become the store manager. With no prior retail or business experience it has been a bumpy road as we’ve worked to figure out current trends, marketing, and how to conduct all the behind the scenes of a retail business. Read more>>
Mindy Porter
My grandmother, an antique dealer, had a huge influence on me. She taught me that great vintage pieces are timeless, and I spent many Saturdays at garage sales and flea markets with her, picking up things I probably didn’t fully appreciate at the time. But I learned a lot from being around her. You also learn that the time to buy the vintage piece you love is when you see it. Chances are if you love it, someone else will too, and it will be gone by the time you make the decision to buy it. This is my philosophy, which must be why I have stacks of mirrors and art in odd places around my house…you know, “one day” for our next home or for just the right project. PS, my husband does not subscribe to this philosophy. Read more>>
Etinosa Ogbevoen
My journey into content creation started as a personal creative outlet. I shared beauty, lifestyle, and self-confidence content on Instagram and YouTube, not realizing it would evolve into something bigger. Over time, I found that my ability to break things down, make them feel accessible, and connect with people on a personal level made my content resonate. That led me to work with brands, helping them tell their stories in a way that felt authentic and engaging. Read more>>
Divina Balazo
In retrospect, catering came very naturally because of my upbringing catering these Filipino gatherings. It wasn’t until later down the line, I ended up working as the production designer for New York’s most luxurious catering company, Olivier Cheng. Although I wasn’t in the kitchen or on the line, I would often leave the office to be in the commotion of the kitchen. I was always fascinated by what the chefs were creating and cooking up. Read more>>
Celine Crestin
Taking that leap wasn’t easy. As a single mother, I juggled a management position while working in real estate for 2.5 years before transitioning into real estate full-time. Once I made the switch, it felt like everything clicked. Helping people achieve the dream of homeownership turned out to be one of the most rewarding parts of my life. It’s an honor to play such a crucial role in someone’s story, and the bonds I’ve formed with clients are invaluable. First-time homebuyers hold a special place in my heart because they allow me to educate, guide, and really make a lasting impact on their lives. Read more>>
Emmanuel Adams
We started serving under tents, but after battling rough weather and losing several tents to the wind, we eventually made the move into our food truck. Every challenge has pushed us to adapt and grow. At the heart of it all, it’s our incredible customers—and the love we have for what we do—that keep us moving forward. Read more>>
Kate Holmes
I remember being very young in the backseat of my mom’s car, deciding in a moment that my life would be dedicated to easing the pain and suffering in this world. Like our deep values, trauma and pain enter us in moments like these: In small, quiet decisions. Each experience becomes a filter through which we interpret the world, and ourselves. One gift my parents gave me was an extremely open mind. I somehow sensed the roles and narratives were in many ways, chosen, and in some ways, thrust upon us. Read more>>
Cbas Mattar
To be completely transparent, it hasn’t been a smooth road on my journey. To be fair, I feel like that is the normal expectation once you embark on chasing your dreams. There aren’t a lot of “straight ahead” paths in the industry of comedy. There has been a lot of twist and turns, closed doors, unexpected opened ones. Read more>>
Chloe Millard
My career started in high-level corporate sales, but I quickly realized that traditional marketing was outdated and that the real power was in storytelling, personal branding, and digital influence. So, I took a leap, built my own marketing business, and never looked back. Today, I help brands tap into influencer marketing, and I coach women entrepreneurs on how to build profitable businesses and personal brands that give them financial freedom. Read more>>
Adilene Sanchez
I grew up in poverty but seeing how hard my parents worked to pull us out and be able to pay for my brothers and my education loan free ignited a fire in me to never give up. For the past two years I worked to scale my party rental business to a venue business. Last month I left my job of 5 years and dedicated myself to the business full time. I am married with two children 6yo boy, 2 year old girl so u have my hands full. Almost everything that my venue offers is done buy me including decor and rentals. I team up with local vendors periodically to build a community where we can all empower each other to grow. I am a very proud Latina business owner and I am not done yet! Read more>>
Jessica Braganca
Starting a new business or brand is always a little scary. I wanted to make sure everything I created felt authentic- a safe space where everyone feels welcome. Our first event is just 3 weeks away on April 5th, but it’s been months of hard work and even some tears to get to this point. I’ve poured so much into making sure that everything is perfect for our official launch. The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that you have to take a leap of faith and invest in yourself if you want to see success. Read more>>
Jodeci Florvil
Back before I ever started doing music, of course we all have our own problems that we all have to fight. Mines was gangs and drugs. So I would mix my lifestyle into the secular music. Being a single mother, raising an only child my mother wasn’t always able to keep her eyes on me. And those times I would take the opportunity to engage into the street life. During those times I lost a few close friends to gang related and drug related activities. Read more>>
Hollis Edwards III
Beyond that, one of my biggest inspirations came from the first time I ever got to be on a set. My dad was a cop for about 30 years, but he was also an actor on the side. He actually had a degree in RTF, but since he fought in the Vietnam War, he figured being a cop was the most stable thing he could do relevant to his experience. Read more>>
Jordan Alexis
So, I took another leap. I hired a life coach, sold everything, moved into an RV full-time, and tried to make it work. That experience was a blessing, because while I realized my marriage wasn’t repairable, I also realized I needed deep healing. Three months in, I asked for a divorce, fell in love with a woman, and dropped all of society’s conditioning. For the first time, I was fully free. Read more>>
Luis Ramirez
After my daughter was born I felt the need to find my own identity so we moved to Texas. Where I found it difficult to get the hang of Austin’s unique style of floristry. Eventually after a lot! of practice I developed my own style. A fusion of Japanese and American Floristry. Read more>>
Crystal
We go above and beyond and know that each individual client is special, unique and on their own journey. We aim to understand the full scope of our clients goals and ensure that they are in good hands. We listen before we advise. Every single person is on their on trajectory and each real estate goal for our clients is unique. We cater our services to meet you where you are at. We take pride in the work that we do and the services we provide and we would be honored to support you too. Read more>>
Jai Humble
Being On This Journey Has Been Very Interesting. I don’t believe anything is meant be smooth because obstacles and challenges is what builds your character. facing different challenges helps you view things in a different Perspective… More Then Anything Staying Consistent. Staying True To Yourself In The Process. Read more>>
Philip Harvey
As our set began, the band I was working with started playing a rendition of Michael Buble’s “Feeling Good.” I was stage left, and stood, and began into the microphone… but no sound came out. I looked across the stage at the kid on the mixer, frantically turning nobs a pulling levers. But, I thought, “the show must go on.” Read more>>
Jasmine Taylor
Definitely not smooth but still rewarding. Some struggles came from personal and business relationships getting mixed up with agencies. Some struggles simply came from not being casted because I am plus-size or too short or my foot was acting up that day or my tremors portrayed me as nervous and anxious. Some castings don’t like tattoos and of course I’m a tattoo model. It’s all a learning process in the end. Read more>>
Toilisha Carr
Additionally, the beauty industry can be quite competitive. Standing out among talented stylists was daunting, but I focused on continuous education and keeping up with the latest trends. There were times when I faced self-doubt and questioned whether I was good enough, especially when receiving constructive criticism or dealing with challenging clients. Read more>>
Wesley Pursley
I wouldn’t say it’s necessarily been the smoothest road. The pivot from culinary school to cosmetology school, just two weeks after graduating, was a bold leap that came with its share of uncertainty and challenges. Moving to a new city, adapting to a completely different industry, and building a business from scratch all required resilience and hard work. Each obstacle, however, has taught me invaluable lessons and helped shape the passion and success I have today. Read more>>
Heather Orsak
I was complimented by a vendor stating that I am more organized than most wedding planners and that planted the seed to what is now, The Perfect Day. I opened The Perfect Day while working a full-time job in the IT world. I continued both for 2 years until I realized that I no longer could sustain both as The Perfect Day was becoming far too busy, which was an amazing problem to have, especially since we just made it through the Covid pandemic. Transitioning from IT to a wedding planner is definitely an interesting path but I feel privileged to have been able to work in both worlds and learn so much. Read more>>
Brooke Pfeiffer
We will run Migration Mercantile & Cafe out of little bungalow in the heart of North Loop, where our community members will serve up coffee, beverages and tasty treats. The mercantile will have gifts for sale created by our community members and other artisans with autism nationwide. We are currently fundraising and building our first cohort, and hope to have our brick and mortar open by early 2026. In the meantime, we are beginning “Mini Migration,” and will be offering our products at pop up shops throughout Austin. Follow our instagram for updates and locations! Read more>>
