Entrepreneur Stories

Gaebler Ventures, established in 1999, is a business incubator, holding company, and venture capital fund based in Chicago Illinois. Current investments include Astute Diligence, Walker Sands Communications, and Grand Roads Executive Search.

Shifrin brought franchisees and investors together through the use of the internet. Need to network? Head online, and you'll find the resources you need.

Starting a reusable bags business proved to be a great business idea for Jenna Wagner and Wade Hauser. By starting a business in college, they've also gotten some great entrepreneurial experience at a young age.

Drew Brees led the New Orleans Saints to their first Super Bowl victory ever in 2010. But Brees is also an accomplished entrepreneur. He is a franchisee for a sandwich shop chain, a clothing designer, and a founder of his own charitable organization.

Happily married and running a business? It's possible! We discuss the secrets to building a thriving business and maintaining a healthy marriage.

YouTube is a video-sharing website where online users can share video clips by uploading and viewing various video clips. It was founded by Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. is an American public corporation that runs a chain of large, discount department stores. It is the world's largest public corporation by revenue, according to the 2008 Fortune Global 500. This company has dominated the business of distribution for the last five decades and doesn't look to be slowing down. This article will talk about why distribution is still the business to beat in the marketplace.

Ruocco has reinvented the Breathalyzer so that it can be installed on the cars whose drivers received a DUI. The device disables the ignition system if it detects any breath alcohol content.

What could be better than learning by example? Here, we explain how two California entrepreneurs started their own small business. They offer their advice for new entrepreneurs.

If you've wondered how to get cheap textbooks, or are tired of paying high textbook prices, there are two college students who understand. Two brothers started a used textbook company that offers students cheap textbooks. Learn what the college students did to start their business.

One of the greatest titans of this century is Sam Walton, the founder of Wal-Mart. This timeline tells the story of the dramatic rise of Wal-Mart.

What startups have been founded by former Google employees? We take a look at the phenomenon of the ex-Google employee turned entrepreneur.

Computers have become an integral aspect of almost all the companies in a wide variety of industries. One industry is the fashion industry. Zara had a lot of success with its organization of its information technology.

Ice cream has been a long-time favorite of American culture. It is very popular not only with kids, but adults as well. Before, ice cream was usually plain and came in only a few flavors. That all changed when Ben & Jerry's entered the ice cream market in 1978. Their brand created unique flavors like Cherry Garcia and Chunky Monkey.

The phrase "everyday low prices" has become synonymous with Wal-Mart as generations of Americans have shopped and still continue to shop at this retail giant. Sam Walton founded the company in 1962 as a discount store in Bentonville, Arkansas. Now, with almost $345 billion in net sales, 6,700 stores worldwide, and 1.8 million employees later, that discount store has now transformed itself to the headquarters of the second-largest company in the world.

Robert Mondavi was an American winemaker who brought worldwide recognition to wines made in Napa Valley, California. Mondavi used innovative business methods to become a leader in not just the American wine industry but also global wine industry.

Larry Page is an ambitious entrepreneur who co-created Google. What can we entrepreneurs learn Larry Page? Quite a bit, as it turns out.

George Lucas grew up in Modesto, California and he once reflected that he had a different life planned for him. However, he took a chance on a story that he had written and the rest is history. Now, he is one of the most recognizable people in all of Hollywood and is the creator of the legendary Star Wars movies.

Facebook, an online social networking website, started at the college campus of Harvard University in 2004. In just a short time period, it has exploded in popularity among American colleges. With its sudden rise in popularity, none has benefited financially than the founder himself, Mark Zuckerberg.

Starbucks is a coffee corporation that employs operations in multiple countries around the world. Established in 1971, Starbucks currently has 15,011 stores worldwide and has seemingly become synonymous with the word "coffee." Transforming a coffee shop on a corner in Seattle to what it is today would not have been possible without its strong operations management and innovations.

Two Stanford students, Sergey Brin and Larry Page, founded Google, which eventually became the world's best search engine and now has become a powerful and seemingly infinitely talented software company. We take a look at the path that brought Sergey Brin to the top of the world.

Impactful entrepreneurs sharing their experiences where it could be truly inspiring to learn and educate. Here are four interesting accounts of entrepreneurs.

Although a big-time search engine today, Google was once a small business created by two students. How did Google's business plan succeed, and how did the founders make their company a success?

What once started in a dorm room has now become a global company that is ranked the 25th-largest company in the Fortune 500 list, as well as among the most admired companies according to Fortune magazine. This is a brief article on how Michael Dell achieved great success utilizing his core concept in setting the foundation for his company.

The Playboy bunny logo is one of the most recognizable logos in the world. Founded in 1953 in Chicago, the Playboy men's magazine was the idea of Hugh Hefner. Currently, Playboy has expanded and diversified selling videos, network TV, online gambling, and clothing. It generates revenue of $338.15 million as of 2005 . All of this would not be possible, if Hugh Hefner did not have the ability to develop the Playboy brand as a powerful one.

Barack Obama is blazing a trail in politics. So what can entrepreneurs learn from his campaign? Quite a bit, as it turns out.

No one knows if it is actually true, but there seems to always be a story about a person going through garbage and finding either a lottery ticket or some sort of treasure. For Wayne Huizenga, he didn't find any luck searching in garbage; instead he built his wealth through his waste management service company.

Mark Cuban is probably most famous for being the owner of the Dallas Mavericks of the NBA. He has the unique passion for the game that most other owners don't have. He loves to be personally involved in his business. It is this passion that has led him to much success thus far.

It's the ultimate entrepreneur fantasy. Start a website with 3 high school buddies and turn it into one of the Top 10 online sports websites in under 2 years. Here's how BleacherReport did it and what you can learn from them.

Fabrice Penot is the quintessential entrepreneur. He not only pursued his dream of independence on his own terms, but he also refused to quit after facing extraordinary adversity.

Entrepreneurs all have one thing in common: they strive to utilize their experience and expertise to fill a need in the marketplace. For some, that may mean creating an entirely new industry. Which is exactly what Fran Lessans did with Passport Health.

Have you ever noticed an innovative object -- often something small or trivial -- which prompted you to ask, 'I wonder who thought of that?' Chances are, the answer is an entrepreneur. Exhibit A: the New Corona Extra Lime Bottle Opener.

If you've been an entrepreneur in recent years, you don't have to be told what effect that a recession can have on a business. Maybe you saw sales numbers plummet. Perhaps you had to lay off employees as a result. You may have even had to delay or scuttle plans for repairs or expansion.

Ever need some of that good old Tonka toy nostalgia? Ed Mumm brings that to life for $750 a day to play in a trencher.

Ever wonder what sickness your child has, but been unable to take him to the clinic because it's closed? Consult A Doctor was set up to offer round-the-clock assistance to families who called.

Many people like to ride bicycles outdoors for exercise, while some prefer the elliptical trainer. Imagine if you could combine the two exercise forms into one device. That's exactly what two men did when they invented the ElliptiGo.

Dani Johnson, bestselling author and star of ABC's Secret Millionaire, is on a mission to help would-be entrepreneurs achieve their dreams in business and in life.