NC

If not for his love of music, Lloyd Smith wouldn’t have a successful business selling neuroscience research equipment.

Lloyd, who originally had an interest in engineering, dropped out of his undergrad program after just one semester to pursue a career in music. Fortuitously, however, his then-bandmate worked in a neuroscience lab, sparking Lloyd’s interest in brain research, motivating him to return to school for neuroscience and eventually helping him find his new career path.<

When Chris Petrella found himself in the dark, he had a bright idea.

While camping with his son in 2012 he realized he didn’t have a way to power his electronics. After that trip, Petrella went to a camping supplies store and inquired about such a device.   

“I sketched it out for him [the store clerk]” and he told me it didn’t exist. I did a Google search, and it wasn’t found,” Petrella said. “I thought to myself this is so bizarre because I can picture this thing clearly in my mind.”

Across the Tar Heel State, small businesses brighten up main streets, drive innovation and provide a paycheck to nearly half of the private sector workforce. In a state that’s known as a research and innovation hub and a basketball powerhouse, entrepreneurs depend on a steady stream of tourists, loyal customers and talented employees to keep their businesses thriving. That’s why the fallout over HB 2, the state’s anti-LGBT law, has been particularly harmful to small firms.

A love for pounding out rhythms and grooves with his own two hands became an unlikely success story for Kevin Brown, owner of Rhythm House Drums.

The Matthews, NC based small business was a labor of love for Brown, who claims it wasn’t his initial goal to set off and start his own business.

“I was just playing and building drums as a hobby,” Brown said. “I soon realized that what I was doing was very unique and others were interested in these drums.”