A lawyer in her native Venezuela, Susana Cabrera was raised by an entrepreneur father. But she never saw herself as one until she came to the United States and tried to replicate her ethnic cuisine for her family.
Extremely health conscious, Cabrera was appalled at the sodium and preservatives found in major Latin food brands. She believed she could do better, and set out to learn everything from recipe adaption to marketing.
When banks wouldn't finance her dream, she invested all of her own family's money to found Delicious Bite, a company making Latin appetizers and meals. Her products are now in more than 700 stores nationally, and the company is on target to hit $1 million in revenues this year. Cabrera credits her success to deep spirituality. "The storms may be strong, but there's always an umbrella" and tenacity, she said, "No matter how many rocks you encounter on the road...just jump over them and keep your goal in sight."
Bored? Turn your passions -- whether they are juggling chainsaws, chasing tornadoes or walking on fire -- into cool and profitable companies just like the following 12 entrepreneurs did.
