Check out the inspiring stories of entrepreneurs who participated in the Intuit IDEAS program and are making a difference in their communities.
Helping her ambitions take flight
The airport might seem like the last place you’d find inspiring stories of entrepreneurial success. That’s not the case for Apryl Stewart, the CEO of Skyview Concessions Incorporated, who is changing that narrative with her airport-based business. Her tale is one of resilience and opportunity.
Apryl’s journey into the world of business was anything but conventional. “I’m a first-generation entrepreneur, and initially I was going to go into a more traditional career choice, which would have been education.” But when she was in high school, a summer program at UC Berkeley exposed her to the potential in business. There, Apryl found the inspiration to set the trajectory for her future achievements.
Despite the daunting challenges in the airport industry, particularly the stiff barriers in accessing capital, Apryl remained undeterred. Without tangible assets to use as collateral, traditional funding sources were off-limits. However, thanks to funding from companies within the industry, Apryl was able to break into the sector and start to make a name for herself.
The sky’s the limit with the right support
Through the Intuit IDEAS program, Apryl gained skills and tools essential to elevating her business operations. For example, the QuickBooks product provides her with deep insights into her venture’s financial health and helps her make more informed business decisions.
Apryl feels a newfound sense of ownership over her company, empowered by her Intuit IDEAS journey. The program helped her unlock new opportunities with strategies she obtained. With the support of the Intuit Expert Network and her business coaches, she learned to maximize the benefits of Intuit’s products and can now do a more effective job of marketing her brand and attracting new customers.
Apryl is grateful to have the confidence and commitment to do good business and help her community. She says, “The IDEAS program has had an immediate impact on my business … enhancing my financial literacy [and] helping me to make decisions for my business as I’m looking to level up.” Apryl envisions a future where Skyview Concessions does not merely participate in the market but leads it.
The support and mentorship Apryl’s received have been instrumental in her journey. This networking finally paid off when she won her first airport contract—a rare feat for a newcomer in such a complex industry. “Now I have multiple locations from Los Angeles to San Francisco,” she says.
Bringing positivity as part of her brand
Beyond her business acumen, Apryl brings an infectiously positive attitude to every part of her life. Plus, now she’s equipped with professional skills and a robust support system with help from Intuit IDEAS.
Apryl Stewart’s story stands as a beacon to upcoming entrepreneurs that with vision, resilience, and the right support, the sky’s the limit.
About Intuit IDEAS
IDEAS stands for Invest, Develop, Empower, Accelerate and Scale.
Intuit IDEAS is a program empowering small business owners in cities across the United States to help improve entrepreneurs with their functioning, efficiency, earnings, and capital readiness.
Through Intuit IDEAS, small business owners receive free access to Intuit’s AI-driven expert platform and products, including QuickBooks, Mailchimp, and TurboTax. In addition to support from Intuit’s expert network, Intuit IDEAS participants also receive business counseling, executive coaching, and a grant to help them grow their businesses. Small business owners are boosting their revenue by an average of 23% and saving 16.5 hours monthly, enabling them to focus on growing their businesses and make a bigger impact in their communities.