Janet Pao
I founded Moon Cat Cafe because I wanted to create a unique cat cafe that not only stands out from the rest, but is also able to help many local non-profit cat rescues instead of just one. By being mobile, Moon Cat Cafe is the only cat cafe that can bring the experience to the masses and develop valuable relationships with diverse communities across LA County and Orange County. Read more>>
Ala Aguinaldo, Mikey Mikeytown, Cris Herrera, Candi Macias
Souleil’s journey started in 2010 with an idea of a post Sunday brunch at Lei Lounge by then GM, Javier Teran, who recruited now residents Cris Herrera and Ala along with local stalwart Omar Paraiso. Shortly thereafter, Mikeytown joined the crew and Souleil was officially born. After a year at Lei Lounge, Souleil moved to Bourbon Street, where the Sunday magic was taken to a whole new level. Read more>>
Ken Irvine
Ken Irvine is the principal of Irvine Hospitality Group, with more than twenty-eight years of experience in the hospitality industry. His company operates restaurants, consults and develops concepts for restaurants, hotels, nightclubs, wineries and retail outlets. To date Ken has helped develop over fifty venues. Read more>>
Jessica Canzona
I began the business in May of 2010 as I wanted to have a job I was truly passionate about. After adopting my own dog, Layla, I realized how much I enjoyed watching her play and romp around at the dog park and how much there was to explore in San Diego while walking her. Read more>>
Tori Rosay
I am the founder and owner of Dexter’s Deli and have been a natural health pioneer for 30+ years. I opened my first location in Del Mar out a need to spread the word about better and more natural ways to care for our beloved pets. With pure passion and a back in natural health for people – all in the days before the internet – Dexter’s Deli quicly became known for and a haven as the place to go for the “best” for your dog or cat. Read more>>
Wayne Johnson
I started my dog rescue group in October of 2014. I had been a volunteer with another rescue group for about 2 1/2 years before I started my own group. The previous group was breed specific and I wanted to be able to help all breeds. My group started with just a few volunteers (4) and about the same amount of foster homes. Read more>>
Mark Guay
It was hot. It was dusty. And before the next mortar round struck in Afghanistan, Eric and Rob poured another round of coffee. It was 2008 and they each were in need of caffeine. Years later, they randomly bumped into each other at a coffee bar in Bangkok and the real coffee journey began: the journey where coffee farmers are treated like humans and where the coffee they produce tastes damn good too. Read more>>
Jarnard Sutton
It started out as a podcast. I was a guy from North Carolina with dreams of working in radio. With little to no experience, I wasn’t successful at landing any jobs in San Diego in the industry. In order to pay rent and put food on the table, I landed a 9 to 5 gig in insurance. Read more>>
Gene Padigos Jr.
Me and wife kelsey have been working in the restaurant and retail industry for 10+ years and finally we decided to just start our own business and work for ourselves. I’ve have had a ton of experience working at cafes like pannikin in Encinitas , hill st coffee in Oceanside. I found a cafe for sale in north park on Craigslist and just imediately bought it. Read more>>
Brad Anderson
I was a serious amateur photographer in college but had no formal training. It wasn’t until I started taking night classes in photography after I graduated that I saw it as a possible profession. Once I learned the specifics of the craft I was taken by it. The classes and the time in the darkroom were all I thought about. Read more>>
Kirk Hensler
I used to own a yoga studio in East Village called Hale Holistic. Since it was yoga and we weren’t exactly rolling in cash, I was taking all of our marketing photos and making quirky short videos for advertising. It started because a good friend bought me a $100 Flip camera. Read more>>
Michelle Racca
While attending college as an undergraduate at UCSD, I had the typical college student diet which mainly consisted of fast cheap junk food eating at random times and getting very little sleep. I knew I needed to make a lifestyle change. Read more>>
Ashley Shafer
I started my LuLaRoe business about two years ago. My background is in marketing and public relations, and at the time I was working at a biotech company in corporate communications. When I first heard about the LuLaRoe brand, I felt like becoming an independent fashion retailer would be a fun, creative side business that might bring in some extra income – a “side hustle.” Read more>>
Gary John Collins
I opened the AIR CONDITIONED Lounge in 2004 at the urging of my best friend, Paulo Emanuele. He had found the place for sale and had convinced a colleague of his in L.A. to be his partner. But they needed a San Diego partner and I was the target. I declined for 2 months. Not interested. Read more>>
Johanna Monroy
We have been always passionate for international cooking but more specifically for the Mexican cuisine. Knowing more about all the different flavors from all over the world made us realize that it was all about the spices used for cooking that makes the difference between one kind of food to the other. Read more>>
Marco Hidalgo &, Chef Ari Hidalgo
Los Hidalgos always had the dream of opening their own Argentine Restaurant in San Diego serving culinary delicacies similar to those prepared by Mrs. Hidalgo’s Mother, Guillermina Caceres, (affectionately known as ‘Nina’) in the 1960’s throughout her childhood and at their restaurant in Santa Fe, Argentina. Read more>>
Leah Kirpalani
I struggled with my health while living in San Francisco and working for Gap Inc., which I did for eight years. I started my mission to heal my chronic health issues – and I realized the incredible power of natural beauty and non-toxic products to nourish the body. Read more>>
Bevan Richardson
I have been in the service industry since my senior year of high school in Sacramento (Im 39 now, so guess the math). I have worked primarily as either a bartender or manager in both the financial and food service industries for most of my life. In 2007, I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Business Management while living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and moved back to California where I ended up managing Piatti Ristorante in Sacramento. Read more>>
Stephanie VandenBerg, Julia Bagunu
We actually met at San Diego State University while pursuing our Interior Design degrees. Very quickly, we learned that we work extremely well together and under the pressure of deadlines. While in school we would talk about how great it would be to start a business together since we complimented each other so well and had the same work ethic and level of standards. Read more>>
David Lowe
After trying to launch a startup in London and going through depression, I realized how disconnected I was from the people I was living with. I had nothing in common with them and they didn’t understand the strains of entrepreneurship. Read more>>
Amanda Dugan
In 2007 I was working in a corporate job for a large interior design company working with new builders as a single Mom and really looking to expand my creativity. I was taking a couple photography classes at night and decided to do some work for a wedding photographer friend of mine at the time on the side. Read more>>
Luz & Noel Herrera
It all started 21 years ago in a tiny space in ‘El Barrio’ (Barrio Logan) on 25th and Imperial. We immigrated from Acapulco, Mexico seeking new opportunities with our 4 children and were ecstatic to explore the local food scene. My husband (Noel), a long-time chef in the hotel industry was saddened to learn that Mexican cuisine in San Diego was being misrepresented and only to tacos and burritos (although delicious). Read more>>
Linda leGerrette
As college students in the 1960’s and at the suggestion of one of our professors Carlos and I and others volunteered to take food and clothing to striking farmworkers in Delano, California. After that experience we committed to Cesar Chavez to volunteer full time for one summer. Read more>>
James Kim
My name is James Kim, and the owner of Soundiego, In 1954, I was born in Seoul, Korea. I graduated from Hongik University in Korea with a bachelor’s degree in Educational Engineering. In 1980, I immigrated to the US and my very first job was as a CNC lathe machinist–for about 3 years. Read more>>
David Trahn
As a 501(c)3, City Heights Coffee House’s vision is to become the central, multi-cultural gathering hub for our diverse neighborhood and to employ high-risk youth (juvenile, refugee, and homeless), graduating them towards self-sufficiency. We offer life skills and job training to populations who would otherwise face barriers of entry into employment. We specifically tailor our efforts to youth age 18 through 24. Read more>>
Bernadette Johnston, Rick Unis
Our story began in Ithaca, New York where we met as Photography and Sociology students. As freshmen, we worked for the college paper, which involved developing our own film under deadline. After spending countless hours behind cameras of different formats and in the darkroom, our professors encouraged us to shoot some weddings together. Read more>>
Ryan Campbell
I started working in the family business as a picture framer when I was 18 years old. I always had an interest in art and was an artist myself. It led me to seeking out art in my own community. I remember seeing Shepard Fairey’s website in the mid 90s and was really interested in what he was doing. I started some of my own work as an artist. Read more>>
