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.
Beth Coffey
Texas is not merely a geography; it is a rhythm, one that has pulse-beat through eight generations of the Coffey family. Born in San Angelo and raised amidst the vast horizons of West Texas and the family ranch in Marfa, Elizabeth ‘Beth’ Coffey was an heir to a specific kind of cultural shorthand. Read more>>
Rick Soto
My path into this business was anything but linear. After graduating from the University of Texas, I moved to New York and worked in advertising, where I was exposed to a level of style and tailoring that completely reframed how I saw clothing. It wasn’t just about aesthetics, it was about presence, confidence, and how someone carries themselves in a room. Read more>>
Jennifer Johnson
I didn’t start my career in real estate—I started on the court. For years, after graduating from Texas A&M University in 1999, I became a high school volleyball coach and club owner, where I had the opportunity to lead, mentor, and develop young athletes both on and off the court. Read more>>
Eric Booth
I’m a colorblind photographer and filmmaker, but I don’t capture reality—I engineer it. Drawing from my background in mathematics and my roots as a musician and documentarian, I treat light as a physical medium to be bent, distorted, and reimagined. Instead of chasing photorealism, I design and build my own custom optical tools to manipulate light in-camera, creating highly calculated, non-standard visual experiences. Read more>>
Peyton Lamps
I started my business journey at a pretty young age. In high school, I began creating and selling succulent planters on Facebook Marketplace, which quickly turned from a small side hobby into something I realized I was truly passionate about. Read more>>
Abraham Isai Cruz Ramirez
Abraham Isai Cruz Ramirez is a bass-baritone opera singer and entrepreneur whose work spans performance, education, and business. Born in San Francisco and raised in San Antonio, he began singing at age 15 at Thomas Edison High School. Read more>>
Emeril Lester
I got started because of God. It wasn’t really a career decision at first it was more of a call and an idea that I couldn’t ignore. I felt a strong pull toward storytelling, especially visual storytelling that reflects real life, faith, and the tension people live in every day. I didn’t come from film school or a traditional creative background. Read more>>
Gerad Floyd
I’ve always had what I call a bit of a “starving artist” mentality—I knew early on that I wanted to build a career around something I genuinely love, regardless of where it might lead financially. I earned my BA in theatre with a focus on stage management, directing, and design, which gave me a strong foundation in logistics, production, and storytelling. Read more>>
Justin Clark
I was born and raised here in Austin, Texas. (7th Generation Texan) I was raised by a very supportive family (parents, grandparents, and great grandmother) My parents Deborah & Dave Clark were very successful country musicians for their band, Texas Fever. They played many nights of the week all throughout Texas. This gave me a love for being on stage at a very early age. Read more>>
Lindsey Andersen
FOUND. started very organically. I fell in love with textiles while on a solo backpacking trip in India. I have always been drawn to history and art, but my brand really took shape after I began sourcing antique and vintage pieces. What began as collecting turned into creating when I realized how powerful these textiles could be when thoughtfully mounted and framed as art. Read more>>
Ray Swartz
I’ve lived in Austin since I was 2 years old, and have been involved in creative and performing arts the whole time. I grew up playing music, but was always interested in expressing myself visually, taking cues from the vast creativity surrounding me. Everyone always says to ‘keep Austin weird,’ but I really took this to heart and am unashamedly myself every day. Read more>>
Tiffany Matthews
My career began during college, where I had the opportunity to intern at a public relations firm. It was there that I discovered my passion for the event side of the industry. This passion led me to open a dynamic rooftop venue in the heart of Hollywood, California, which included a restaurant, nightclub, and pool. Read more>>
Eli Roberts
As a kid, I wasn’t much of a reader. It wasn’t that I couldn’t read or found reading difficult, there just wasn’t anything I was really interested in reading. Read more>>
Alex Pasternak
Roughhouse Brewing started as a creative outlet in our 20s while working corporate jobs after college. We had gotten degrees, studied hard, and got great jobs in the Austin area. We just weren’t fulfilled. We spent our evenings and weekends dreaming of opening our own taproom. My husband Davy was very involved in the local homebrewing and brewery scene. Read more>>
Akeelah McDonald
I began my journey in cosmetology when I was 20 years old out of neccecity. I married young and became a housewife at 19 and I was miserable. Honestly I could have become a plumber or an electrician as long as it was a night school and started immediately. That was 14 years ago and I don’t regret the decision. Read more>>
Joshua Kight
I was a latchkey kid growing up at home alone from 9 to about 16 years old. Because of that I learned how to entertain myself by drawing. I also developed a rich inner life. I drew from comic books then when I graduated from high school I went to Old Dominion University and majored in Art Education. Read more>>
Lauren Eckert
I’ve always been drawn to creative expression. Growing up, I was deeply involved in theatre and dance—I loved the energy, the storytelling, and the ability to fully step into something and make people feel something. I also had a passion for makeup and even dabbled in tutorials. Read more>>
Jason Hernandez
My name is Jason Hernandez, and I’m proud to call Bastrop County home. I grew up on the south side of Stony Point in Cedar Creek, Texas and one of my first jobs was working at Cothron’s Bicycles in South Austin. Over the years I was fortunate enough to work in 5 different bikes shops in Austin and DFW area pursuing two successful careers. Read more>>
Jalisa Harry
Hello my name is jalisa also known as sunshine, I think it’s important to share my story. Because it’s a prime example of what perseverance represent. I launched my business off of an opportunity that was given to me about six years ago, when I applied for a bartending opportunity. Of course. Walking into this establishment in Houston, I was immediately counted out. Read more>>
Jenn Tran
I’ve always had an interest in creating content. When I first moved to Austin, I decided to post my first TikTok showing how to make strawberry milk. I still remember how excited I felt when that video reached over 1,000 views. It motivated me to keep improving, so I started posting every day, and I haven’t stopped since. Read more>>
Stephen Apelian
I was born in Los Angeles to a father that was a builder and architect, I was under his thumb from as early as I can remember. Sadly, he passed away when I was only 6 years old however, he ignited the passion in me for working and creating with my hands. Read more>>
Monica Victoria
I was born and raised in Mexico by wonderful parents who supported every step I took. Their encouragement shaped the person I am today. I later married an incredible man, Carlos Victoria who is a financial advisor, he is my love, my support, and my inspiration. Together, we raised our son Charlie who has grown into a smart, driven young man. Read more>>
Alexia Lopez
Dress for Success Austin (DFSA) started in 2003 and in the last 23 years we’ve grown to serve over 19,000 women. As Senior Communications Manager at Dress for Success Austin for the last 3+ years, I’ve seen us transform into such a special haven for women to feel safe and seen. Read more>>
Mark Ferrill
I began my journey within the tax industry unintentionally. After completing a 21-year career in the U.S. Navy and later spending 15 years with Northrup Grumman as a Mission Assurance manager, I simply stepped in to help my father on a seasonal basis after he purchased a Liberty Tax franchise. I never intended to have a career in the tax industry. Read more>>
Lisa Perry
Coming from a career in large corporate America, where I led global operations, I had the opportunity to work with people and cultures from around the world. Through those experiences, I was introduced to the customs, traditions, and rituals of tea in a much deeper way, and I completely fell in love with it. Read more>>
Judith Simonds
At the age of twenty, I was a high school dropout and I was still living with my parents in Wisconsin. I was working at a local nursing home and trying to save money to move to Milwaukee. I had thought about college, but I needed my high school degree, I got my G.E.D. instead. Read more>>
Matthew Mahoney
I got into moving while I was a student at the University of Texas. The companies I worked for left a lot to be desired—there were a lot of questionable practices in the industry, and I felt like there was an opportunity to build something better and more honest. I started taking on small moving jobs while still in school. Read more>>
Brianna Munoz
I’m Brianna Muñoz, an Austin-based aesthetician and beauty educator. I live in South Austin, and my studio is located in South Park Meadows. My journey into the beauty industry began in December 2019, while I was a full-time student at The University of Texas at Austin, where I was majoring in kinesiology with plans to become a physical therapist. Read more>>
Mark Cravotta
I’ve been making things with my hands as long as I can remember. Jewelry, ceramics, textiles woven by hand on a loom, cars rebuilt from the frame up. Long before I called myself a designer, I knew how things were actually put together. I moved to Austin in 1985 and founded Cravotta Interiors in 1996. The firm started as a drapery workroom. Read more>>
Andrew Toldo
Raised in Hampton Bays, New York, my background was rooted in hospitality long before Lonestar Libations existed. From dive bars to fine dining restaurants across the Hamptons and into NYC, those early years taught me how to work with people, move fast, and stay comfortable in chaos. After finishing radiology school, Austin became home in 2015. Read more>>
VIE DUNN-HARR
My passion for creating began at a young age. I grew up in a joyful, imaginative home filled with projects—from stained glass and painting to building. My mother, who dabbled in painting, was also the first female journeyman engraver at the San Antonio Light newspaper. Read more>>
Daisy O’Connor
I grew up on a farm in rural Washington, raised in a conservative, home-schooled Catholic environment. As a child I saved money by selling sheep to purchase my first guitar, which I taught myself to play using chord charts from the internet in my unheated attic bedroom. At 16 I went to college, but music remained a private passion. Read more>>
Agnes Sullivan-Rabbitt
Rabbit Coffee Co. started as a small idea rooted in community, hard work, and a love for bringing people together. I’m Agnes, the owner, and I’ve spent over a decade building and leading teams in both the wellness and dental industries, where I developed a strong foundation in operations, leadership, and customer experience. Read more>>
Larissa Thompson
I’ve loved taking photos for as long as I can remember. (Ask my brothers and childhood friends about the “photoshoots” I staged with whatever film was left on my disposable camera after camp.) I’ve upgraded a little — okay, a lot — since then, and formally opened my photography business in 2013. Read more>>
