Top 10 Influential Entrepreneurs to Follow in 2025

Business success isn’t just about numbers — it’s about bold ideas, resilience, and the courage to break the mold. In a world where industries evolve overnight and challenges are constant, a new wave of entrepreneurs is setting the pace for 2025.

These are the innovators who turn obstacles into opportunities, lead with purpose, and shape industries with fresh perspectives and fearless determination. Whether they’re redefining marketing, transforming traditional industries, or building businesses rooted in legacy and impact, their stories prove that true influence is earned through action.

Let’s meet ten standout entrepreneurs who aren’t just building companies — they’re building the future.

Manuel Aragon

Manuel Aragon, founder of Aragon Tax Return Services, is redefining success through authenticity, resilience, and faith. Creativity inspired by his son and driven to leave a legacy of empowerment, Manuel has turned his past challenges, including a felony, into fuel for personal and professional growth. Known for thinking outside the box, he embraces individuality while offering clients tax preparation, advisory, planning, and full-service accounting. As he expands his firm and prepares to release books in 2025, Manuel proves that with determination, self-belief, and God’s guidance, obstacles can become stepping stones to lasting impact and success.

Adrian Capobianco and Howard He

Adrian Capobianco and Howard He, founders of BILI Social (OTC: AGGI), are visionary entrepreneurs reshaping social commerce. Drawing inspiration from emerging trends during the pandemic, they launched BILI Social to revolutionize brand-influencer collaborations. Their innovative platform has rapidly grown, and is now an indirect subsidiary of publicly traded Allied Energy Inc. where Adrian serves as CEO. By strategically leveraging partnerships and fostering a strong community, Adrian and Howard have positioned BILI Social at the forefront of their industry. BILI’s strength, particularly in the sports category, helps athletes across North America to create new revenue streams. With the implementation of AI across their business and a unique model that guarantees performance for clients, BILI is leading the way in the growing social content and social commerce space.

Marlo Anderson

Marlo Anderson, Founder of National Day Calendar, is a visionary entrepreneur known for turning everyday moments into global celebrations. His passion for innovation has driven him to create meaningful connections through technology, media, and sustainability. Under his leadership, National Day Calendar has become a cultural phenomenon, uniting people and businesses worldwide. Beyond celebrations, Marlo pioneers projects like Ace Putt and Carbon Convert, blending creativity with purpose. His success lies in adaptability, strategic partnerships, and an unwavering belief in embracing curiosity and community. As he continues to explore new ways to inspire joy and foster connection, Marlo remains a trailblazer shaping the future of entrepreneurship and collective experiences in 2025 and beyond.

David Azar

David Azar, founder of Outsmart Labs, is a visionary leader redefining digital marketing strategies for brands. Under his leadership, Outsmart Labs has built a reputation for being an early adopter of emerging trends and channels, combining them with proven digital strategies to drive meaningful results. From pioneering SEO, video production, Youtube, and Instagram campaigns 12 years ago to leveraging cutting-edge video production, CGI, TikTok, Substack campaigns, and AI-driven tools today, the agency continues to stay ahead of the curve. Outsmart Labs thrives on a culture of creativity, innovation, scalability and rapid execution for passionate and ambitious businesses looking to make an impact. David’s focus on developing talent ensures his team remains forward-thinking, embracing the latest tools and technologies to deliver creative, ROI-driven strategies for e-commerce, multi-locations, B2B and/ or B2C businesses. With a relentless focus on quality, brand experiences, and advanced audience segmentation, he continues to push boundaries, delivering impactful, data-driven solutions that help brands outsmart the competition.

Jommel Macabagdal

Jommel Macabagdal, Civ. Engr., PMP, CDCP, is revolutionizing construction project management as the founder of MAC MANAGEMENT INC and cofounder of MAXIMUS BUILT SOLUTIONS INC. With a vision to foster collaboration, integrity, and resilience, Jommel has transformed industry norms by championing a solution-driven mindset over the “blame game.” When he was the Country Director of CBRE Project Management, he achieved a 96% employee engagement rate and a 94% customer satisfaction score. A TEDx speaker, supportive investor and part-time professor at De La Salle University, he shares his insights to inspire the next generation of construction professionals. Understanding challenges in the real estate market this 2025, Jommel is positive on the opportunities for retrofitting projects, repurposing spaces, exploring global program management and driving sustainable construction practices—solidifying his status as a trailblazer in the industry.

JQ Sirls

JQ Sirls builds worlds where kids call the shots. As the founder of Storytailor Inc., he blends creativity with technical expertise to reimagine children’s storytelling. Stories that are wild. Stories that matter. Whatever a child needs at that moment. A hippo on a pogo stick. A quiet story that helps them process a tough day. Storytailor adapts. Over 13,000 stories have come to life under his leadership, supported by Techstars, Pipeline Entrepreneurs, and a $100,000 investment from NMotion. Children’s hospitals use Storytailor as bibliotherapy. Some stories distract. The right ones change everything. JQ is a creator and builder who writes code, designs immersive experiences, and shapes new possibilities. He proves imagination scales and that business and magic belong together. Through Storytailor, JQ and his team ensure every kid feels seen, celebrated, and occasionally laughs so hard they snort.

Omid Semino

Omid Semino, founder of Diamond Mansion, is revolutionizing the fine jewelry industry with a direct-to-consumer model that prioritizes trust, quality, and customization. Scaling his business without outside funding, Omid has built Diamond Mansion into a leading eCommerce brand, competing with top luxury jewelers while saving customers millions. His commitment to personalized service has led to groundbreaking achievements, including selling a $350,000 engagement ring entirely online. Guided by an abundance mindset, he focuses on long-term value over fleeting trends, continuously refining the buying experience through expert guidance and innovation. With a vision to elevate personalization and leverage technology, Omid is shaping the future of fine jewelry—one exceptional ring at a time.

Lauren Ephrat

Lauren Ephrat, founder of DOGISTRY, is redefining pet accessories with a design-first approach that merges high-end fashion with everyday functionality. Inspired by New York City’s style, she has built DOGISTRY into a luxury brand that brings sophistication to daily walks. With multiple Vogue features and two spotlights in Oprah’s iconic gift guides, DOGISTRY is setting a new standard for aesthetics and problem-solving design in the pet industry. Recognized with two Pet Innovation Awards, Lauren’s strategic vision and commitment to smart, sustainable growth have fueled the brand’s expansion into a thriving direct-to-consumer presence with a focus on retail expansion in 2025. Passionate about female entrepreneurship, she continues to lead with innovation, storytelling, and an unwavering dedication to quality—proving that pet accessories can be just as stylish as they are functional.

David Johnson

David Johnson, founder of Gingerbread Homes, is a lifelong problem solver driven by family, faith, and resilience. From building a tree fort as a child on the Navajo Reservation to pioneering housing solutions across communities, his journey reflects grit and purpose. David’s career spans global impact, from helping Ukrainian entrepreneurs in 1993 to addressing housing shortages on the Reservation. Now, he’s pushing boundaries with robotics and his patented KOPS technology, aiming to revolutionize affordable homebuilding. A proud father of 11 and grandfather to nearly 12, David’s life is proof that with heart, hard work, and bold thinking, no challenge is too big to solve.

Adeel Mandviwala

Adeel Mandviwala is a dynamic entrepreneur and branding innovator reshaping how businesses connect with audiences across North America and beyond. As founder of Image360 Northwest Houston and The Creative Tank, Adeel offers a unique blend of signage expertise, digital marketing, and brand strategy. He has partnered with over 375 businesses and nonprofits worldwide, helping them scale, modernize, and raise over $68 million collectively. His specialties include large-format signage, environmental graphics, omnichannel marketing, and brand storytelling. In 2025, Adeel is set to fully integrate his agency and signage operations, offering businesses a cohesive, end-to-end branding solution across all touchpoints. Passionate about impact-driven work, he also advises nonprofits on strategies to amplify their missions. Whether serving Fortune 500 companies or local enterprises, Adeel’s focus remains on building brands that captivate, resonate, and lead in their markets.

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Explore Kathy Cole’s latest articles on CEO Gazette, where she covers visionary leaders, emerging trends, and influential voices shaping today’s industries.

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