<p>Have you ever thought about starting a business? If so, you&#8217;re not alone &#8211; 74% of Americans shared* they have thought of a business idea, yet the vast majority don&#8217;t follow through.</p> <div style="height:20px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> <p>How do you actually make it happen?</p> <div style="height:20px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> <p>We found 3 incredible Coke Scholar entrepreneurs to help us out!</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong><a href="https://www.coca-colascholarsfoundation.org/blog/meet-the-scholars-from-season-4-of-the-sip/#jj" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="J.J. Jaxon">J.J. Jaxon</a></strong> (1994) &#8211; Co-Founder &amp; Co-CEO of <a href="https://missionmightyme.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="Mission MightyMe">Mission MightyMe</a>, a revolutionary food brand on a mission to end the food allergy epidemic</li> <li><strong><a href="https://www.coca-colascholarsfoundation.org/blog/meet-the-scholars-from-season-4-of-the-sip/#erica" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="Erica Tuggle">Erica Tuggle</a></strong> (2001) &#8211; Founder &amp; CEO of <a href="https://www.cookonnect.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="Cookonnect">Cookonnect</a>, a platform that connects busy families with accessible personal chefs for weekly meal prep</li> <li><strong><a href="https://www.coca-colascholarsfoundation.org/blog/meet-the-scholars-from-season-4-of-the-sip/#nathan" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="Nathan Sharp">Nathan Sharp</a></strong> (2004) &#8211; Co-Founder &amp; CEO of <a href="https://retro.app/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="Retro">Retro</a>, an ad-free social app that makes it a joy to share photos with friends again</li> </ul> <div style="height:20px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> <p>In this latest episode of <em>The SIP</em>, J.J., Erica, and Nathan share their wealth of knowledge and experiences in birthing successful ventures, diving into:</p> <div style="height:20px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> <p><strong>Why Passion Matters</strong><br>Starting a business isn’t just about the mechanics; it’s about having a burning desire to solve a problem or bring a dream to life.</p> <div style="height:20px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> <p><strong>Navigating Challenges</strong><br>Embarking on a new business venture comes with its fair share of challenges. From funding issues to market uncertainties, the panelists share key hurdles they faced in their entrepreneurial journeys and offer valuable lessons learned along the way.</p> <div style="height:20px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> <p><strong>Practical Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs</strong><br>Networking, seeking mentorship, and staying informed about industry trends are underscored as vital for success. The trio also answer questions from the Coke Scholars community, covering topics such as business planning, securing funding, and growth strategies.</p> <div style="height:20px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> <p>The episode is introduced by <a href="https://www.coca-colascholarsfoundation.org/blog/meet-the-scholars-from-season-4-of-the-sip/#jason" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="Jason Shanker">Jason Shanker</a> (1991).</p> <div style="height:20px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> <p>Watch a video of J.J., Erica, and Nathan recording this episode <a href="https://youtu.be/ZR-m9KJbasM" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="here">here</a> with captions.</p> <div style="height:20px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> <p><em><a data-type="page" data-id="6183" href="https://www.coca-colascholarsfoundation.org/podcast" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The SIP</a></em>, short for <em>The Coke Scholars Ignite Podcast</em>, shares a taste of the Coke Scholars around the world who are igniting positive change.</p> <div style="height:20px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> <p>Learn more about items referenced in this episode:</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><em>The SIP</em> &#8211; <a href="http://www.cokeurl.com/thesip" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cokeurl.com/thesip</a></li> <li>The Coca-Cola Scholars Program &#8211; <a href="http://www.coca-colascholarsfoundation.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">coca-colascholarsfoundation.org</a></li> <li>74% referenced in the <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230425005991/en/2023-Incfile-Small-Business-Trends-Survey-Reveals-90-of-Americans-Want-to-Be-Their-Own-Boss" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="2023 Incfile Small Business Trends Survey">2023 Incfile Small Business Trends Survey</a></li> </ul> <div style="height:50px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Listen to The SIP: Season 4, Episode 2 Now</h2> <p></p><p>The post <a href="https://www.coca-colascholarsfoundation.org/blog/how-to-start-a-business-with-j-j-erica-nathan/">How to Start a Business with J.J., Erica, & Nathan</a> first appeared on <a href="https://www.coca-colascholarsfoundation.org">Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation</a>.</p><p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.coca-colascholarsfoundation.org/blog/how-to-start-a-business-with-j-j-erica-nathan/">How to Start a Business with J.J., Erica, &amp; Nathan</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.coca-colascholarsfoundation.org">Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation</a>.</p>