Lili Balfour: 3 Ways Entrepreneurs Can Fail Smarter
Amanda Schneider: Meaning Is the Antidote to Corporate Zombies
TailGate Beer's Wesley Keegan: Brewing Up Success
Wesley Keegan's father gave him the idea to start a brewery. His passing gave him the inspiration to make it succeed. Continue Reading
Stories by Patrick Sauer
Bob Williamson
My First Million: Bob Williamson, Horizon Software International and Honey Lake Plantation
How an alcoholic, drug-addicted homeless drifter turned to God, turned his life around -- and went on to start several multimillion-dollar companies. Continue Reading
Butch Bakery
The Next Big Idea? Butch Bakery, Cupcakes for Guys
David Arrick was intrigued by the cupcake craze, but realized all the tasty offerings out there seemed, well, a little girly. So he cashed in his 401(k) and began selling "aesthetically masculine" cupcakes made with beer, bacon and other manly ingredients. Continue Reading
Getty Images
Packers vs. Steelers: Battle of the Bar Owners
The proprietors of two watering holes in Green Bay and Pittsburgh share stories about life behind the bar, their predictions for the big game and why Super Bowl Sunday is good for business no matter who wins. Continue Reading
McArthur Towel & Sports
Gregg McArthur, Maker of the Steelers' Terrible Towel, Is a Packers Fan!
Even worse, Steelers fans' good luck charms are made in enemy territory in Wisconsin. On Super Bowl Sunday, the head of McArthur Towel & Sports will be pulling for the Packers. Continue Reading
Foamation
Meet Ralph Bruno, the Green Bay Packers Cheesehead Guy
You'll be seeing plenty of his iconic Cheesehead hats at Super Bowl XLV. How a native Wisconsinite took taunts from rival fans and a piece of his mom's couch -- and built a million-dollar business. Continue Reading
Games2U
The Next Big Idea? Games2U, A Literal Party on Wheels
Brothers Stuart and David Pikoff retrofit vans and trailers and turn them into mobile party units, complete with video games, laser tag and "human hamster balls." Could this be America's funnest franchise? Continue Reading
BoomCase
The Next Big Idea? BoomCase Brings Back the Boombox -- Using Old Suitcases
Dominic Francisco Odbert takes vintage suitcases and transforms them into iPod stereos that have become a favorite of audiophiles. In fact, business is so good, he's putting grad school on hold. Continue Reading
Alamo Drafthouse
Alamo Drafthouse's Tim League: Founder of America's Coolest Movie Theater
Tim League took a lifelong love of movies and built a wildly popular independent movie theater chain that serves food, booze and plenty of antics. Why Hollywood is starting to take notice. Continue Reading
Universal Record Database
The Next Big Idea? Universal Record Database, Where World Records Meet Stupid Human Tricks
From "Most Giraffe Tattoos on a Shoulder" to "Fastest Time to Peel a Clementine," URDB has become a Wikipedia-of-sorts for some of the world's quirkiest records. Continue Reading
AP
Made in the USA: Celebrating Whiskey, the 'Water of Life'
The American whiskey industry, which dates back to colonial times, is flourishing today. A look at some of the small distilleries that would make even Mark Twain proud. Continue Reading
Oaksterdam University
Oaksterdam University's Dale Sky Jones: On a Marijuana Mission
After years in corporate America, Dale Sky Jones found her calling as head of California's Oaksterdam University, a trade school focused on the marijuana industry. Continue Reading
Employ the Rain
Employ the Rain's Mark Lutz: The Rainmaker
After being "chewed up and spit out" by the corporate world, Mark Lutz decided to start a company that recycles old barrels and transforms them into backyard rain barrels. Continue Reading
Dan Smith
Dan Smith Will Teach You Guitar... and How to Build a Brand
For nearly 15 years, Dan Smith has plastered New York with fliers promoting his guitar lessons. And in the process, has become a cult icon -- and successful entrepreneur. Why even John Mayer is taking notice. Continue Reading
Farm Boy & Girl
The Next Big Idea? Farm Boy & Girl, Farm-Inspired Fashion
Consider it Abercrombie with a country twist. How two Minnesota natives made farm clothing hip and turned it into a $2.5 million company. Continue Reading
