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.
Victorious Thompson
I grew up as a military brat, moving often and learning early how to adapt, build relationships quickly, and take responsibility for myself. Service and structure were part of everyday life, which eventually led me to the United States Air Force Academy. Read more>>
Mary Kay & Kim Bowden & Wilson
Our journey began with a shared desire to create something that felt personal, meaningful, and enduring. As twins, we’ve always approached creativity collaboratively, and 11 Juillet grew out of that partnership and a desire to redefine what luxury could represent. Read more>>
Kendra Blair
Shannon and I have known each other for nearly three years, and our story really began during a 14-hour wedding shift where we were both bartending at the same outdoor bar. We talked the entire day, and from the very beginning it felt aligned with one of those rare moments where you just know you’re meant to build something together. Read more>>
Timothy Deleon
Early in my career I was blessed with the opportunity to travel the us and educate with a platform artist position I had obtained , in 2018 I decided to branch out on my own from JCPenney salon and open salon Deleon . Fast foward 8 years later not only do I have salon Deleon but I’m now also a succeful real estate agent here I the austin area growing my Perosnal portfolio with rental properties . And all of this is possible by me opening my lil salon suite . Read more>>
Brittany Smith
Blissful Weddings & Events was born out of a passion for serving others and bringing beautiful and memorable events to life. We have been in the industry for over a decade and have served hundreds if not thousands of couples and clients for their special events. Read more>>
Stephannie Trudeau
Tiny Texan Exchange started with a simple idea: kids are expensive. How can we help local families have everything they need for their little ones at affordable prices? And how can we be part of the community our son, Sterling, will grow up in? I have always wanted to own my own retail store, and from there the idea began to take shape. Read more>>
Scott McKane
In 2010, I became interested in owning bees, and after attending a beginner’s beekeeping class Jan 2011, I started my journey of becoming a beekeeper. As my adoration and admiration for honeybees grew, so did the number of my hives. In three years, I was up to 55 hives, had started doing colony removals from structures, swarm relocations, crop pollination, and beehive sales. Read more>>
Joel Marrero
For me, cars have always been more than a job—they’re a passion. I got my start at a small family dealership in Boston, where I learned the value of hard work and keeping vehicles running right. Read more>>
Colter Gaswint
Slab City Jigs came to fruition during the pandemic. During lockdown while going stir crazy I took up the hobby of tying crappie jigs with a vice at my kitchen table. It started out as just tying them for myself and friends and expanded to Facebook marketplace and eventually starting an online business. Read more>>
Chenshu Lu
I started Little Sprouts Play Land to create a welcoming place for families from all backgrounds—especially those who are new to town and searching for connection, familiarity, and a sense of community. I wanted a space where kids could simply have fun, and parents could easily meet others and feel at home. Read more>>
Matthew Smith
I began my career in roofing in 2016 when I helped launch my first roofing company, gaining hands-on experience across sales, operations, and project execution. Through consistency, work ethic, and a customer-first mindset, I quickly became the company’s top salesman and a trusted point of contact for both clients and team members. Read more>>
Tanya Stamos
My life has always been built around two things: my kids and service—and I carry both with deep pride as a United States Navy combat veteran who served from 1998–2001. For many years, it was just the three of us—me and my two children. I was a single mom doing whatever it took to create stability and opportunity for them. Read more>>
RUDY MARROQUIN
Clear concise and realistic communication is paramount. Detailing and taking the clients on the journey that is building their dream home is key to clear up any struggles. If the line of communication are clear and we are able to connect with our clients on a deeper level then struggles become minor. Read more>>
Sarah Gonzales
I got my undergraduate and graduate degrees at Texas State University previously Southwest Texas State University- San Marcos. I literally have a degree from both! In February 2007 I got a contract position with Waterloo Counseling Center. Read more>>
Raye’vn Harper
I’m a multidisciplinary, multi-medium, self-taught artist, designer, and jeweler originally from Columbus, Oh; born and raised relocating to Austin in 2020 to work in the museum community & falling in love with the weird creative energy of the city birthing Raye’vns Nest. Read more>>
Kim Whitman
Procraftination started as a fun creative outlet, something I worked on in my spare time while juggling everyday life. Before I knew it, friends and neighbors began asking for custom pieces, and those small, personal projects quickly turned into something bigger. As the requests grew, so did my vision. I found myself drawn to creating apparel and gifts for schools, teams, fundraisers, and local events. Read more>>
Dillon Lange
Lange Roofing ia a family-owned business with roots in Central Texas since 1993. Lange Roofing was built from the ground up, starting with honesty, craftsmanship, & treating everyone’s home as if were our own mothers. Jaysen Lange was the founder and worked very hard to build and establish Lange Roofing in Central Texas. Read more>>
Jeanie Snyder
What started in 2018 as a simple investment quickly grew into something much more meaningful. When my husband and I bought the property, we had no clear plan – just a lot of hope and a willingness to see where it might lead us. We began with two vintage airstreams, transforming one into a small gift shop and the other into our first Airbnb. Read more>>
Florence Maillot
I decided to launch my own Marketing Business because I knew there was something more out there for me. For a long time, I felt stuck in a loop—questioning if the work I was doing was truly the best it would get. I had invested so much into my education and career, yet I felt I wasn’t reaching my full potential. Read more>>
Hope Torres
I am originally from North Dakota and was transplanted to Texas in 2006, been here ever since. I am a United States Air Force veteran (SSGT/E-5) where I was a flight weather forecaster, where I provided weather forecasts for aircrafts and support their missions. I had been stationed in South Korea (ROK) for a year and deployed to support OEF/OIF. Read more>>
Micah Scott
My story with addiction began when I was fourteen years old. What started as experimentation quickly turned into addiction and alcoholism, shaping the way I lived and the choices I made for years. From the outside, parts of my life may have looked functional, but internally everything revolved around drugs and alcohol. Read more>>
Kelly Thyssen
I started as an Animal Control officer in 2005. Throughout my career I had noticed a great lack of quality training for Animal Control Officers (ACOs) and Animal Welfare Professionals in general. In 2014 I created Humane Educators of Texas with a mission to provide quality, interactive training for ACOs, Law Enforcement, and all Animal Welfare Professionals. Read more>>
Brandon Hoyt
Circle H Handyman LLC started with the drive to be my own boss and create a great experience for customers. I spent many years in the construction industry punching the clock for someone else. Read more>>
Lexie Hudson
If you had told me a few years ago that my business would be built during nap times and late nights, I probably wouldn’t have believed you – but that’s honestly where a lot of the magic happened. Read more>>
RONAK PATEL
My wife and I got married nine years ago, and together we have four amazing kids. We currently manage a country inn in Lampasas, Texas. I’m originally from India, and my wife is American—she’s an incredible cook and baker. This food truck is our first step into the food business, driven by one simple goal: I just want everyone to experience my wife’s amazing cooking. Read more>>
Anna Mayeux
Annie Eats started from simply knowing that I feel my best when I eat my best. I’ve had stomach issues since I was very young and dealt with conflicting diagnoses. Some doctors said I had PCOS while others said I had leaky gut and inflammation. To feel better, I wanted to focus on lifestyle solutions rather than medications. Read more>>
Kiranmayee Yanala
My Journey in Dentistry: Early Life and Education: I grew up in India before moving to the United States to pursue higher education. My academic journey led me to Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston, where I earned my Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree in 2010. Professional Journey: After graduating, I lived in several different states across the country. Read more>>
Paighton Corley
I became Executive Director of Hill Country Humane Society in my mid-20s, at a time when the shelter was facing major challenges; limited resources, high intake, and a system that hadn’t evolved in decades. Over the last few years, I’ve focused on rebuilding from the inside out: improving operations, investing in staff, building partnerships, and shifting the shelter to a lifesaving, community-focused model. Read more>>
