The digital age has brought about a new wave of entrepreneurs who are changing the game in their respective industries. With the power of technology at their fingertips, these entrepreneurs are disrupting traditional business models while improving the way we live and work. The impact of these thought leaders is undeniable: They are creating jobs, driving economic growth and shaping the future of business. As we look ahead in 2023, it’s essential to acknowledge the up-and-coming entrepreneurs who are making their mark in the digital world.
1. Alok Appadurai
Founder of Uplift Millions, Alok Appadurai is a leading entrepreneur who believes “human connection is the most profitable tool” to build a business. He teaches clients to treat their businesses with respect, dedication and sustainability.
His company focuses on sustainable food, financing and environmental consciousness, offering one-on-one coaching as well as group programs and global masterminds. With a mission to create $1 billion in interest-free loans for female entrepreneurs—and plant the same number of trees—Appadurai’s impact is already being recognized with features in major publications such as Forbes and USA Today.
In addition to his business pursuits, Appadurai is committed to making a positive impact on the world. He leads by example, showing that it’s possible to run a successful business while also prioritizing ethical and sustainable business practices.
2. Humza Lokhandwala
Having been recognized by several online publications, Humza Lokhandwala, founder of The Vici Agency, has made a name for himself in the world of entrepreneurship. Since launching his agency, he has worked with high-profile clients such as Preston Smiles, Alexi Panos, Joel Brown, Jason Phillips, Cody Jefferson, Sonia Zarbatany and more.
As a pragmatic business owner, he believes in having multiple backup plans and always being prepared for the worst-case scenario, which helps a person reach the upper echelon of the business world. He values making decisions without regrets and believes in balancing purpose with profit.
3. Guy Sheetrit
Guy Sheetrit, founder and CEO of Over The Top SEO, has been recognized by Inc. and Forbes for his SEO expertise. His company, which specializes in building SEO foundations for businesses, has generated millions for its clients—including brands such as SkyScanner.com, WhiteSands Treatment Center and Top Team Garage Door—since it was founded in 2014.
As an early investor in cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin and Ethereum, Sheetrit has also sought to expand his expertise and gain authority in the crypto industry.
4. Sara Gilbert
Sara Gilbert, FMA, FCSI, CIWM and NLP, is a business strategist, mindset coach and the founder of Strategist Business Development, where she helps clients—particularly entrepreneurs—shift their beliefs and behaviors to unlock new possibilities for company growth. In addition, she coaches advisers and their teams in leaving their comfort zones and utilizing modern business practices that take customer and marketplace demands into account.
A member of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers and the Harvard Business Review Advisory Council, she has also been named the “Most Innovative Woman in Business Development Strategy” and “Best International Business Consultancy—Canada” by the Influential Businesswoman Awards. Additionally, she’s a member of the Forbes Coaches Council, reflecting her reputation as a valuable and respected expert in her field.
5. KOL
KOL (short for Key Opinion Leader) is a company that operates a search engine to find experts and influencers in any industry. Whether you need an expert in a specific field or want to collaborate with an influencer, KOL’s technology helps you narrow down people ranked by influence for that particular vertical you are searching for.
The company’s technology provides an objective ranking of thought leaders and data on their sphere of influence (rather than just looking at the number of followers). An innovative option in search tech, KOL is a powerful tool that changes how we find and connect with experts. The Key Opinion Leader app is available for iPhone and Android.
6. Jackie Noelle
Jackie Noelle and her sister, Lexi Jawdat, are the founders of bebrandedagency.com. Noelle, a self-made entrepreneur and creative director at bebrandedagency.com, brings a creative approach to businesses’ digital marketing campaigns.
A young entrepreneur and lifestyle influencer, Noelle provides a fresh and unique approach to digital marketing. She started her own business at age 25 and has generated a following of over 9,800 on her personal Instagram. She has also created the BeBranded Influencer 101 program, providing consulting, a masterclass and an “Influencer 101” course to help new and up-and-coming influencers to build their brands and thrive in the digital space.
With a larger-than-life personality and a focus on going above and beyond for her clients, Noelle makes collaboration an enjoyable experience for everyone involved.
7. Bhavin Swadas
Bhavin Swadas is an entrepreneur with a longtime passion for online shopping. He is the co-founder of CouponSaturn, an online platform that provides coupon codes to customers looking to save money on online orders. Swadas hopes to bring coupon codes to lesser-known medium- and small-sized online stores after recognizing that many leading platforms carry coupons for name-brand e-commerce stores only, which is why so few coupons are shared for other sites.
CouponSaturn provides discount coupons for these e-commerce portals. Swadas has been featured by media houses such as Entrepreneur India, LA Weekly and Yahoo.
8. Anthony Garcia
Anthony Garcia is a sales training expert and motivational keynote speaker with nearly two decades of experience in direct, B2B and medical sales, allowing him to help companies, entrepreneurs and sales professionals achieve growth and improve their sales programs. His expertise has also garnered him the chance to write for—and be featured in articles by—media organizations including Forbes and New York Weekly.
He is an internationally bestselling author whose book, Catapulting Commissions, was recognized by Selling Power magazine as a top sales book. Garcia also hosts an inspirational podcast by the same name on which he interviews sales executives, entrepreneurs and high-achievers including Rory Vaden, Lauren Gibbs and Marcus Chan.
9. Barbara Savona
Barbara Savona is the co-founder and CEO of Sprout Marketing Multifamily, a company which provides marketing, branding and social media assistance to its clients, among other services. Sprout Marketing, however, is not limited to one sphere—alongside providing their Apartment Idea magazine, design templates and development courses to members, they sell a variety of products including clothing, accessories and educational materials.
But the business wasn’t founded alone—Savona was joined by her co-founder and best friend Lauren. Together, they’ve grown the company into the successful business it is today.
The company, which was founded nearly 14 years ago, has continued to feed Savona’s passion—simplifying marketing strategies for realtors and property managers in the multifamily and real estate industries and helping them boost their careers, confidence and personal success. And it doesn’t stop there—Savona is also the host of the Marketing Home, Marketing You podcast, which provides the same quality tools and tips alongside conversations with leaders in the industry.
10. Eric Hentschel
Eric Hentschel is a marketing and solutions specialist particularly involved in blockchain, cryptocurrency and AI companies.
His current project, My Coin Quest, “[analyses] the market cycle and [helps their] users understand how to take advantage” of the cryptocurrency market, alongside providing a platform for cryptocurrency and NFT exchanges.
In the digital age, the entrepreneurial spirit is not only surviving, but thriving. New and up-and-coming entrepreneurs are an endless font of ideas and innovation, ones which encourage potential and existing entrepreneurs to see the possibilities that can be achieved through innovation and creative thinking. Disruption is the name of the game in entrepreneurship, and 2023’s top up-and-coming entrepreneurs are certainly leaving their mark and shaking up the status quo.
Everyone has the potential to make an impact, but first you have to be willing to seek and strive for success. Those who find business opportunities and take the chance to make a change are those who will shape the future.
