Top 5 Entrepreneurs to Watch in 2026

Entrepreneurship in 2026 looks different from what it did even a few years ago. Today’s most interesting founders are not just chasing growth; they are building businesses that reflect who they are, what they value, and the kind of impact they want to leave behind. The entrepreneurs on this list are creating momentum in thoughtful, often unexpected ways. They’re problem-solvers, risk-takers, and leaders who understand that real success is built over time. Whether they’re rethinking how industries operate or carving out entirely new spaces, these five entrepreneurs are shaping what the next chapter of business will look like.

Tazim Elkington

Tazim Elkington, well known as The Indian Black Butterfly, is an Evolutionary Disrupter who steps into people’s lives at the exact moment they are ready to stop living in contradiction and inner conflict. For over 3 decades, she has challenged people to face the beliefs they protect, the habits they defend, and the stories they cling to. Her work blends authentic leadership training, psychosomatic insights, hypnotherapy, and regression and talk therapy into a fluid process that dissolves denial, guilt, shame, and blame and walks towards deep clarity and acceptance of one’s life with all its shades. Universal Values ground her work and give her the precision to call out what is irrelevant noise of the past and conditioning. The impact stretches across corporate rooms, community spaces, and personal transformation journeys.

Her own turning point arrived when high-level corporate titles stopped answering the questions that mattered. That search led her into years of disciplined Transcendental Meditation and the advanced TM practice, which enhanced her intuition and shaped the methodologies she now shares with clients. Her influence spans Kenya, Canada, United States, United Kingdom, Europe, and countries across West and Central Africa. People seek her out because the outcome and effectiveness of her work speak for themselves. She works as a catalyst to create real, quantifiable change.

Through her trainings, therapy work, writing, and speaking engagements, Tazim pushes people to rise, break outdated patterns, and reclaim their lives with radiance and spunk!

Mariya Sergeeva

Mariya Sergeeva is CEO of K9 University Chicago, where she leads one of the city's largest dog care facilities with a deeply personal mission: ensuring every dog has a place to belong.

K9U was founded by Ruby Madrigal on the principle of welcoming dogs that others turned away. Mariya now carries that mission forward, drawing on her own experience raising a challenging dog to understand the frustration owners face when traditional daycares say their pet doesn't fit. That empathy drives K9U's "All Dogs Welcome" philosophy, which has made the facility a trusted partner for more than 14,000 Chicago families seeking daycare, boarding, training, and grooming.

With 40 staff members trained in behavioral science and enrichment-based care, K9U delivers what clients call the "perfect tired dog" effect: pets who return home calmer, more focused, and genuinely fulfilled. The approach has earned a 4.6-star average across 600+ reviews, with over 150 staff members praised by name. Mariya's vision is simple: continual improvement in inclusive, behavioral-first dog care that transforms lives, four paws at a time.

FeeBee Baker

FeeBee Baker is a fashion designer and founder of the Elley Orem Collection, a certified menopause coach, and a neuroscience coach redefining how women experience midlife. She is also the founder of FeeBFit Wellness, a coaching-based menopause wellness platform supporting women through the cognitive, emotional, and lifestyle shifts of menopause without medicalizing the experience.

FeeBee’s work centers on executive function during menopause, helping women navigate brain fog, decision fatigue, emotional regulation, and focus challenges through education, coaching, and practical strategy. Grounded in hormone awareness and neuroscience coaching, her approach equips women with the clarity and understanding needed to make informed, confident decisions professionally and personally.

Blending coaching with fashion-forward self-expression, FeeBee’s philosophy is clear: menopause isn’t a decline, it’s a recalibration. When women feel clear internally, they show up differently everywhere else, at work, at home, and in how they present themselves to the world.

Fashion is intentionally woven into her wellness work through the Elley Orem Collection, a fashion brand rooted in classic, clean lines, unique fabric blends, and thoughtfully designed staple pieces that reinforce confidence and identity.

FeeBee is the author of P.H.U.C.K. Menopause: Making Menopause Sexy, a personal memoir; teaches Menopause 101 at Wayne County Community College; hosts the Making Menopause Sexy podcast; and is a participant in the Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women: Black in Business program. She is determined to make menopause sexy through knowledge, because knowledge creates confidence, and confidence changes how women lead.

Kristina Tangolics

Kristina Tangolics is the CEO and founder of Katalyst Marketing Agency, a full-service growth partner built for brands that refuse to blend in. With a career rooted in scaling multi-location businesses and driving record-breaking revenue, Kristina brings a rare blend of strategic precision and creative instinct to every engagement.

Known for turning complexity into clarity, she specializes in building brands that move with intention, aligning strategy, storytelling, and systems to create real momentum. From automotive and powersports to legal, home services, and professional brands, Kristina has led go-to-market strategies that don’t just generate leads; they build trust, loyalty, and long-term value.

At Katalyst, her leadership philosophy is simple: marketing should work harder than the people behind it. That belief drives the agency’s focus on smart automation, AI-powered insights, and performance-driven campaigns grounded in strong brand foundations. Under her direction, Katalyst has become known for its bold thinking, high standards, and ability to execute at speed without sacrificing quality.

Above all, Kristina is passionate about helping founders and leadership teams step into their vision with confidence. She believes great marketing isn’t about being louder, it’s about being unmistakably clear, and building brands that are impossible to ignore.

Dakota Hansen

Dakota Hansen is the owner of Clark Roofing, where he leads one of Central Texas's most reliable roofing operations with a mission rooted in operational excellence and hometown values.

A Lorena native and Texas A&M graduate, Dakota left a stable corporate career to transform an industry plagued by unreliability. His years moonlighting with J. Michael Clark Builders gave him invaluable hands-on experience, while his corporate roles revealed how systems and accountability could solve problems. Across Central Texas, he witnessed homeowners and businesses struggling with contractors who didn't show up, missed deadlines, and disappeared mid-project. He knew there had to be a better way.

Dakota built Clark Roofing on a different foundation: systematic scheduling, clear communication, and accountability at every stage. He helped create operational standards that deliver reliability in an industry where reliability can be tough to come by. From initial estimate to final inspection, Clark Roofing operates with the professionalism of a corporate service company and the integrity of a family business.

The approach has resonated across Central Texas, earning trust from homeowners and commercial property managers who value dependability over empty promises. Dakota's vision is straightforward: raise the standard in roofing through systems that work, people who care, and a commitment to doing things right every time.

Final Thoughts

What makes these entrepreneurs worth watching is not only their vision, but their follow-through. They have shown the ability to adapt, lead with intention, and stay grounded as their businesses grow. As 2026 unfolds, their work is likely to influence more than balance sheets; it will shape conversations, inspire new approaches, and open doors for others to follow. These founders remind us that the most lasting businesses are built by people who understand both where they are going and why it matters.