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.
Kate Waldis Dwyer
My “my first camera” story isn’t quite what you’d expect. It wasn’t an old digital camera I found in my parents’ things or disposable camera from CVS. It may be a very niche experience indeed that my first “camera” was the Photo Booth app on the MacBook computer I was given for schoolwork in middle school! Read more>>
Lori Claxton-Anthony
We met 8 years ago while working as massage therapists for a luxury spa in California. The original concept for Bungalow 7 Wellness Collection was to create a space where our guests could spend the day and receive a complete suite of wellness services that would literally leave them transformed when they went home. Read more>>
Dolphin Brown
I didn’t set out to build a career in digital art — I signed up for a video elective in eighth grade and became fascinated by moving image and how color and motion could shift the emotional temperature of a room. That fascination never left. I earned my BFA from SCAD and spent years in professional video production. Read more>>
Sarina Moore
I started creating instinctively—long before I had a plan or a business model. Art was never a hobby for me; it was an innate response to my environment and a way to survive and make sense of the world. What began with painting evolved organically into tattooing, floristry, and eventually building a space where multiple creative disciplines could exist together. Read more>>
Karen Crosby
In 2008, I met with a group of Georgetown High School athletes that had a desire to serve others. They wanted to be more than just athletes; they wanted to give back to their community. After meaningful discussions, thoughtful planning, and determining a set of goals…The Locker was established. Read more>>
Kearstine / Tyler Ayala / Bearden
Like a lot of bartenders and servers, our story didn’t start with investors, fancy titles, or a perfectly written business plan. It started with late nights, sore feet, learning on the fly, and falling in love with the chaos of hospitality. Read more>>
Erika Henriksen Community Manager at Open Air RV Resort Harker Heights
Oh, I just love telling this story because it really was one of those meant-to-be moments! I actually started out as a school teacher here in a small town in North Carolina. My husband was serving in the military, and like so many military families, we were always on the move. Read more>>
Justin Borja
It all started when my father bought my first DSLR camera when I was seventeen-years-old. I had no intention of getting into photography, but my father always pushed me to try new hobbies and expand my comfort zone. Turning eighteen and becoming a freshman in college, I had to figure out what to do with my life. Read more>>
Lajuana Williams
I started my journey with a passion for creating safe, nurturing, and high-quality early learning environments for young children. As a mother and educator, I saw firsthand the need for a space where children are not only cared for, but truly taught, supported, and prepared for lifelong success. Read more>>
Piper Nelson
My parents instilled in me the need to give back to our community. A teacher and a therapist, they encouraged us to volunteer, took us on church mission trips, and modeled how to take care of others. Read more>>
Eugenia Rivera
My journey into early childhood education has always been rooted in a deep passion for children and their development. Over time, that passion grew into leadership, and today I serve as the Director of Bright Steps TX Daycare. In this role, I oversee daily operations, build strong systems for safety and structure, support our staff, and ensure that every child receives intentional, high-quality care. Read more>>
Sydney and Jason Popovich
Our story really starts with the land itself. Before there was ever a racetrack, there was Stoney Point Farm—our family’s property for over 70 years. Long before the roar of Formula 1 engines came to Southeast Austin, this was just a quiet stretch of pasture on Elroy Road. Read more>>
Jacob Bowker
I’ve spent more than 20 years in media, marketing, and advertising — starting in traditional TV, radio, and print, where I learned the fundamentals of brand positioning, audience psychology, and mass communication. As the industry evolved, so did I. I transitioned into digital marketing and social media, building performance-driven systems focused on measurable growth. Read more>>
Chris Canter
I grew up right here in Austin, so this city has always been home for me. Even when my wife and I were living out in San Diego for those four years, we always knew we would find our way back. We finally made the move in 2024 and coming home really sparked something in me. I spent about ten years in the corporate world. Read more>>
Mandi Moore
I’ve always loved school spirit, creativity, and the kind of tradition that brings people together. In high school, Friday night lights were everything to me. I was the girl showing up in homemade shirts decorated with fabric‑pen designs, glitter, and all the personality I could pack onto a T-shirt. Read more>>
Xiomi Oviedo
Please Stay Coffee began in our small 900sqft duplex. It was 2024, my husband and I had lived in Austin for 3 years and I was struggling with building community and as someone who loves and thrives being around people and engaging with people my mental health was declining. Read more>>
John Edward, Jose Alfonzo, Uzcategui
John Alfonzo: Meat Your Heart began as my personal vision in 2021, rooted in bringing flavors from my background to Austin through a food truck and a lot of hands-on work. Those early years were about building the foundation, understanding the city, and creating a brand people could genuinely connect with. Read more>>
Ruth Weldegebrial
My name is Ruth, and my journey in hairstyling began when I was in the 10th grade. I was born and raised in Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia. Even while I was still in high school, I was already working as a hairstylist in one of the top salons in the city. Read more>>
Deepicka Mehta
Our journey began with a deep love for storytelling and human connection. We were always drawn to the way a single image could hold so much emotion, culture, and meaning. What started as a creative outlet quickly became something we felt truly called to pursue. Read more>>
Melissa Mark
My journey into photography started in the music industry. I studied marketing in college with one goal in mind: work in music. I threw myself into it completely, landing three internships — one backstage at a music venue stocking artist riders, another at a music PR company helping book concerts, and a third at a radio station. Read more>>
Anne Weatherby
I was a stay at home mom for over 30 years. I cared for my girls plus 85 foster children. I was a realtor for one year in California over 30 years ago. Both mine and my husband’s families were involved in real estate but I got involved by watching a close friend succeed. Read more>>
Deonta Davis
COMMITMENT TO COMUNITY Make A Way Wellness, founded in 2020 by Deonta Davis, is dedicated to stabilizing neighborhoods, reinvesting in underserved communities, and supporting marginalized populations. Inspired by Deonta’s personal experiences with poverty and incarceration, the organization aims to provide individuals with the resources and support needed to overcome systemic barriers, achieve their goals, and reach their full potential. Read more>>
Bernie Calcote
In 2008, I responded to a Craigslist ad from Melde Construction looking for a carpenter’s helper. I was told if I showed up for a week, I would get a $1 per hour raise. Leon Melde was the owner and founder since 1980. I went on to become a project manager for him, then onto becoming the General Manager up until 2016. Read more>>
Mary McKeown-Christie
What started as a way to help organizations “get unstuck” evolved into a repeatable, results-driven approach to growth—helping B2B SaaS, professional services, and communications firms scale revenue, clarify positioning, and align marketing with real business outcomes. Read more>>
Kerry Thorpe
Early on, I was eager to get my products into people’s hands. I hadn’t fully defined who my customer was, so I tried to speak to everyone. And when you do that, you end up diluting both your message and your product. Not everyone is my customer and accepting that was a big turning point. Read more>>
Virginia Parker
After graduation I had a short stent as a realtor before selling pharmaceuticals for 15 years, but luckily the board could see my genuine passion for protecting the river, and they trusted that I would learn the topics needed to do the job well. Aside from being lucky enough to have my dream job, I’m grateful that my children get to see me doing something purposeful that I love so much, and I hope it will inspire them to choose to work in a field to which they feel so connected. Read more>>
Grace Reyer
Max Yancy, a longstanding friend and radio programmer, surprised me one day with a text – ‘You want to open a record store?’. I was in the middle of a bittersweet departure from my current job. I sent back: ‘I’m burnt out, broke, not too experienced with business management. Other than that, sure!’ Like all good ideas, it started over meeting for beers. Read more>>
Smitha Bobby Thomas
My love for sarees began in childhood, watching my mother drape her own with such perfection and grace. I was always fascinated by how a single piece of fabric could so beautifully transform a person. Whenever she undraped a saree and set it aside, I would secretly wrap it around myself, walking around with the pride of someone who had achieved something extraordinary. Read more>>
