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.
Caroline Lee
I started as an artist and photographer. That’s still the foundation, even if it doesn’t look like it from the outside. Photography taught me how to read a room: the tension underneath the surface, the truth in someone’s posture, what a person is actually feeling versus what they’re presenting. That kind of attention never left me. It just migrated. Read more>>
Omar Estrada ( Skull )
My story as an artist really starts in childhood. I grew up in a family of artists my parents were always encouraging us to be creative so making things was just part of life. Being a kid in the ’90s Saturday morning cartoons were huge and they absolutely fueled my imagination. Read more>>
Cat Quintanilla
Well briefly, a native East Austinite and Rainey Street kid of the fifties, graduate of UT with a BFA in graphic design. Operated an advertising design shop for 25 years then defected to fine art as a sculptor, mainly stone. Have operated a carving studio since then also teaching at The Contemporary and SW School of art. Read more>>
LeeAnna Benavidez
My journey to founding Sensory Style Co. has been shaped by both my professional experience and my personal life. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and spent nearly a decade working as a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant, supporting individuals across a wide range of ages and abilities. Read more>>
Jerica Bornstein
I got into psychology almost by accident — I took an AP Psychology class in high school and loved it, which led me to major in psychology at the University of Georgia. Once I was there, I realized pretty quickly that I didn’t want to be a therapist, but I got involved in a research lab studying self-control: why people resist temptation, or don’t. Read more>>
Stan Martin
Not sure where to start. I grew up with cameras in my life as far back as I can remember. My grandmother and my Dad were always taking pictures of me growing up, so it was a natural thing for me. For my Highschool graduation, my dad gave me my first professional camera, I still have it and it still works. Read more>>
Craig Coleman
It all started back in 2006. A friend invited me out to Don’s Fish Camp one afternoon, and I came out, met Don, and spent the day just hanging around the place. I fell in love with it almost immediately. Read more>>
Angel Toné
My name is Angel Toné, and my journey in music started with a deep passion for storytelling, creativity, and expressing real-life experiences through sound. I’ve been obsessed with music since I can remember. Growing up, music was always more than entertainment for me—it was a way to process emotions, connect with people, and create something meaningful. Read more>>
Heather Stringer
The first jewelry I ever made was a board of hideous Swarovski crystal earrings. And because I’m a numbers person, I wrote the cost of every component in code on the back of each one. This was 2006, in Austin, the summer before I moved back to Hawaii. I’d just walked away from a full-ride scholarship to grad school for Environmental Economics. Read more>>
Pray Sharma
Dance has always been my first love. I’ve loved dancing for as long as I can remember. Growing up in Hyderabad, India, I was inspired by Bollywood—especially Sridevi. I was fascinated by how she could tell a story through her expressions and movement, and I spent countless hours teaching myself the dances I saw in movies. Read more>>
Fatima Grano Salazar
It all started when I hired a content creator for my wedding in Mexico back in 2025. It was a relatively new concept, and I struggled to find options, but I thought it was something really cool and original. So after my wedding, I decided I wanted to give it a shot as well. Read more>>
JASMINE SHARP
Jasmine, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today. Staying Sharp in life for our Sharp Team is about how we make people ‘Feel.’ In our case, how we make them feel during and after a great class. Read more>>
Stacia Evans
Today I work as a women’s strength coach and personal trainer in the Greater Austin area. I help women build strength, improve mobility, and feel more confident in their bodies through every stage of life. I genuinely love the work I get to do, even though it wasn’t the career I originally thought I’d have. Read more>>
DJ Bright
Started DJing in 2022 when I got a DJ controller as a wedding gift from my wife. I self taught myself with the help of YouTube watching other established DJs I have gone ahead to play at nearly all types of events and venues in Austin ( big or small) . Read more>>
Roxane Brousse
I was born and raised in the southwest of France, where I grew up above the auto repair shop my parents owned. Surrounded by the sounds of engines, the smell of grease and a constant flow of people coming and going, I think that’s where my fascination with human nature began. Read more>>
Marcus Jewett
My journey started in Houston, where I studied communications and spent time working as an on-air personality in the Houston market. I’ve always had a love for storytelling, connecting with people, and creating energy through sound and music. Eventually, life shifted. I became a family man, focused on my career, and stepped away from the broadcast world, but I never lost my love for music. Read more>>
Lindsey Dennington
Treenet Collective really took form when my co-founder, Kane, fell in love with rock climbing and highlining. In those communities, people weave these massive, portable nets called ‘spacenets’ and rig them right in the middle of canyons to create multi-person hammocks hundreds of feet in the air. Kane was fascinated by them. Read more>>
Kenny Hills
My journey began in 2010 when I left Seaside, California, and moved to Los Angeles with nothing more than ambition and a passion for working with dogs. Within my first month, I landed a job at a boarding facility, but I quickly realized it wasn’t the right fit. Read more>>
MJ Sanchez
Before COVID, I worked in the corporate world. When the pandemic changed everything, I decided it was time to bet on myself. I started my own business selling purses, and after a few years I transitioned into body contouring. While I enjoyed entrepreneurship, I always felt like I was meant to do something in social media. It just felt right. Read more>>
Sunayana Weber
My own rough start with breastfeeding my older son led me to learn as much about lactation as I could. I helped my friends, and they started giving my number out to their friends – I knew I had to explore my newfound passion. It’s More Than Milk began as a side hustle and quickly turned into my calling. Read more>>
David Neeld
I’ve always been drawn to creating—growing up in the Midwest with a wanderer’s spirit, I was the kid exploring railroad tracks, old buildings, and sketching the world around me. That love led me to earn a BFA, where I immersed myself in painting, primarily in oils and acrylics. After graduation, life had other plans. Read more>>
Rita Marie Ross
I arrived in Austin TX in 1983 looking to get out of the cold winters in Sandusky OH on the shore of Lake Erie. One of my good friends from OH had moved to Austin and convinced me it was a great place to live. 43 years later I am still here and continuously keep meeting interesting people and collectors! In the early years. Read more>>
Melynda Gero
I have had jobs involving young children much of my life. While I’ve had some other jobs as well, these were the majority: babysitter, day camp counselor, day care teacher, tutor, school cafeteria worker, and most of my working years as a public-school teacher in first grade. Read more>>
Michelle Gagliani
I started my wellness journey after going through a really difficult season in my life. My dad passed away in 2019, and before he passed, he was very sick. Watching someone I loved go through that changed the way I looked at health, wellness, and how important it is to take care of ourselves while we can. Read more>>
Liz Martinez-Nelson
My background is actually in entertainment. I started out as a casting director in Los Angeles, working mostly on scripted TV shows for the CW. When I started a family, I took a long hiatus, and after a few years as a stay-at-home parent, I knew that I wasn’t going to go back to the grind in the same way. Read more>>
Darelyn Harper
My journey started with a passion for beauty, self-expression, and helping people feel confident. What began as an interest in hairstyling quickly became something much bigger. Along the way, I’ve faced setbacks, financial challenges, and moments where giving up would have been easier, but I stayed committed to my goals. Every obstacle taught me something valuable and pushed me to grow both personally and professionally. Read more>>
Meghana Vantipalli
My story doesn’t follow a straight line, and I think that’s what makes it worth telling. I grew up in a small town called Bodhan in Telangana, India. Read more>>
Abigail Trejo
MY journey has been anything but traditional. I’ve spent more than a decade working full-time while trying to find my purpose with a dream to build something of my own. Along the way, life has brought incredible joy and profound loss, experiences that have shaped who I am and how I serve others. Read more>>
Brandon Kuhl
I’ve never been someone who followed a perfectly mapped-out path. My story has been built through curiosity—following creative interests wherever they led me. From gaming and technology to photography and content creation, I’ve always been fascinated by the way stories can be told through visuals, experiences, and human connection. Over time, those interests became more than hobbies. Read more>>
Hector Alvarez
What started as a temporary fill-in for a friend became a full career shift. I’ve always had an eye for telling stories through photos. My first experience with a professional camera was at a powerlifting meet in San Antonio, when my jobs creative director asked me to help out on the day he competed. Read more>>
Joshua Santisteban
I started as a producer (sparkybeats), as I got off work I worked continuously to produce unique beats for unique artists. After reaching my goal of working with more than 20 artists I have now moved on to be an entrepreneur. Starting a lotion brand co-owned by my wife called “RedeemedRemedies”. Read more>>
Jimmy Crowley
The Home At Last Band formed in Georgetown, Texas during the early days of the pandemic in 2020. In a way this was a blessing, because we had nowhere to be and honed in on an amazing playlist of Steely Dan, Doobie Brothers, and Eagles tunes. Read more>>
PJ Diamond
I like to say: I’m west coast born, east coast raised, and shaped by the world. Being bi-racial, I come from two completely different worlds and perspectives. My dad taught me knowledge is power. My mom taught me gratitude and instilled the value of service in my being. Read more>>
John Kelly
– 46 years in the exercise industry. Conducted over 100,000 training session sessions. – concurrently 22 years in education. Taught economics at the University of New Orleans. – In 2006 moved from New Orleans to Austin in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina with just a gym bag, a computer, a folder of financial records, and my dog. Opened Kelly Personal Training in 2006. Read more>>
Allen (AJ) Johnson
I’ve always had a dream to play music and make food, so I’ve worked with the intention to do so my entire life! Every job I’ve worked with the mindset that it will be training for what I would like to do one day! Read more>>
Glenn Towery
My name is Glenn Towery I am a veteran of the Vietnam war, a combat veteran who had to fight to be recognized as such for many years. My story is not unlike many Black veterans who served during that terrible time in the military. Civil Rights of Black service members were routinely violated, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was barely. Read more>>
Violet Vela
I was inspired to write my first poem at eight years old after being amazed Poe’s The Raven. From that point, I enjoyed writing poetry for fun and would sometimes oscillate between songwriting and secret little short stories. However, poetry was and still is my main love. Many years later in college, I would come to appreciate the poetry of Dr. Read more>>
Kathryn Legendre
Without sounding too cliché, my passion for music and writing has been a common thread in my story. As a kid, I wrote songs inspired by The Chicks and Shania Twain, and was involved in orchestra playing violin until high school. In my high school and college years, my passion for music took a different creative route, cultivating design, branding, and marketing skills. Read more>>
Roslyn Jones Lopez
Everyone comes into real estate from a different path. Before becoming a REALTOR®, I spent 12 years in the corporate world working in IT consulting and project management. My career took me throughout the U.S. and Canada, where I developed skills in communication, organization, negotiation, problem-solving, and relationship building that I still rely on every day. Interestingly, my original plan wasn’t to leave corporate America. Read more>>
Krysta Jeffrey
I’m a pastry chef with an extreme passion for creating new and complex flavors. I originally went to culinary school at le cordon blue in Scottsdale Arizona. Read more>>
Natalie Lord
My father, Gary Clarke, has been an actor his whole life and I have followed in his footsteps from a young age. I didn’t go to college upon graduating high school in 2019, a difficult decision at the time, but one I’m incredibly grateful to have made now. Read more>>
Kirsten Welsch
I started ATX Color Studio after experiencing firsthand how confusing personal style can feel when you are trying to figure it all out on your own. I had taken every online color quiz I could find, and I kept landing on “Summer” because that was the result I wanted to be true. Read more>>
Graham Ebner
Depending on how you slice it, I’m a 6th or 7th generation Texan. I grew up outside of Houston and my dad had a couple of horses so I spent a lot of time riding and mucking stalls and such, always in a full cowboy get-up. Read more>>
Kerri Lesh
After a love affair with studying and traveling throughout parts of Latin America and Spain beginning in high school, I developed an appreciation for languages, particularly those that have been minoritized. I first learned about the Basque language, Euskara, in the late 1990s and have never lost interest in it. Read more>>
Julia Morgan
It all started after I graduated from the University of North Texas with a bachelor’s degree in Art and Design. I always knew I wanted a creative career. At first, I thought that might be interior design or photography, but becoming a florist was always in the back of my mind, I just wasn’t sure if I could actually make it happen. Read more>>
Herdie Besofly
Well I always been Herdie, then Herdie Byrdie, Herdie.B for short then boom Herdie Dot Besofly and Besofly was born 2020. I started by making instrumentals / beats and eventually started rapping/ singing only because I struggle to find anyone to rap to my beats. I couldn’t rap to save my life. I still like music and making music though. Read more>>
Pallavi Susarla
My journey has been anything but conventional. I was born into a family deeply connected to music as the daughter of renowned music director Vidyasagar, but I always wanted to build an identity that was uniquely my own. I’m a Telugu girl raised in Chennai who moved to North Carolina over 16 years ago. Read more>>
Inti St. Clair
I didn’t take the straightforward route to photography — or to much of anything, honestly. I started out as a chef. Trained hard, helped launch a restaurant that did really well, and worked myself into complete exhaustion in the process. When I finally had time off, I did what any burned-out person does: I got in a car and drove with no real plan. Read more>>
Kevin Leyes
Honestly, my story starts a long way from any of this. I grew up in González Catán and later Pontevedra, two working-class neighborhoods on the west side of Buenos Aires. My mom taught at a public school and gave private lessons in the afternoons so there would always be a plate of food on the table. Read more>>
Margaret Webb
My acupuncture and herbal medicine practice has been shaped by the twists and turns of my own life path, as well as by my clients and their needs. When I first graduated from school over twenty years ago, I wanted to specialize in facial acupuncture — but the majority of my clients at the time were athletes dealing with pain, or women navigating hormonal issues. Read more>>
Briana Olmos
Brilicious started from a place I never expected — it started as a way to cope with a big transition in my life. After relocating to Central Texas from El Paso, I was navigating a lot of changes and needed something that gave me purpose, creativity, and a sense of connection. That’s when this little idea began to grow. Read More>>
Scott Hall
My journey really started with a simple realization: Texas wine has an incredible story to tell, but it’s a story that many people, even lifelong Texans, are still just beginning to discover. I’ve always had a deep passion for regional travel, history, and the art of storytelling. Read More>>
