10 Entrepreneurs to Watch in 2026
Photo: Unsplash.com

10 Entrepreneurs to Watch in 2026

Vanessa Van Holland

10 Entrepreneurs to Watch in 2026

Photo Courtesy: Allen Wayne Photography

Vanessa Van Holland is the co-owner of Restoration 1 of Rancho Cucamonga, a 24/7 emergency restoration company serving residential and commercial properties throughout Southern California. With a degree in economics and a sharp instinct for sales, marketing, and relationship-driven growth, Vanessa brings a strategic, hands-on approach to leadership. Together, Vanessa and her husband, Kenny, have built a high-performing restoration business in one of the most competitive markets in the country.

Known for her hands-on leadership style, Vanessa is involved in every facet of the business, from client communication to strategic partnerships, ensuring homeowners receive clarity and confidence during stressful property loss situations. She is also an active community leader, holding leadership roles in BNI and multiple local chambers of commerce, where she champions collaboration, accountability, and long-term relationships.

In an industry often focused on production, Vanessa differentiates herself by prioritizing brand building, education, and trust-driven leadership across the restoration industry.

Facebook: Restoration 1

Instagram: Restoration 1

YouTube: Restoration 1

LinkedIn: Restoration 1

Angeline Pompei

10 Entrepreneurs to Watch in 2026

Photo Courtesy: Chris Blackwell

Designed for homeschool and self-directed learners, Angeline Pompei’s bilingual audiobooks provide real-language exposure, guided translations, and a clear path to fluency at home. Her company supports learners through eight language combinations, including English-Spanish and English-French bilingual audiobooks. For language teachers, her materials serve as the ultimate bilingual resource for classroom and independent study.

Angeline Pompei is a Mensa member, an aerospace engineer, singer-songwriter, and TEFL-certified English teacher with over 20 years of business and marketing experience. She is the founder of Learn English Fast® and The Bilingual Book Company®, where she develops bilingual books, homeschooling activity books, and audiobooks designed to accelerate language learning.

Angeline is the inventor of a proprietary learning system based on “Look, Listen, Read Out Loud, and Write,” influenced by Montessori principles and the shadowing techniques used by polyglots. Her method emphasizes pattern recognition, repetition, and active engagement to strengthen retention and long-term fluency.

You can also follow them on Instagram for updates and more.

Dr. Jen Moran-Kobes

10 Entrepreneurs to Watch in 2026

Photo Courtesy: Dr. Jen Moran-Kobes

Dr. Jen Moran-Kobes is a board-certified AACD restorative dentist who specializes in both cosmetic and general dentistry. Renowned for her ability to blend advanced dental science with artistic precision, she is committed to creating natural, confidence-boosting smiles. With a focus on patient care and dental innovation, Dr. Moran-Kobes uses cutting-edge technology and minimally invasive techniques to provide transformative aesthetic and restorative treatments.

In 1997, Dr. Jen Moran-Kobes founded Water Tower Dental Care. After taking time off to raise her four children and overcome breast cancer, she returned to clinical practice with renewed dedication. Today, she serves patients at Water Tower Dental Care and Hinsdale Dentistry, offering services such as no- or minimal-prep veneers, same-day crowns, implants, composite bonding, whitening, and Invisalign.

A respected thought leader, Dr. Moran-Kobes is passionate about advancing dentistry through education, collaboration, and patient-centered care.

Instagram: drjenmoran
Twitter: drjenmorankobes
LinkedIn: Jen Moran-Kobes, DDS

Brian Mark

10 Entrepreneurs to Watch in 2026

Photo Courtesy: Nick Schafer Media

Brian Mark is a kid who was born and raised in a trailer park in Calgary, Alberta. After struggling with a serious addiction he decided to turn his life around and found sobriety and fitness. Fitness transformed his life to the point where he wanted to start helping other people with their fitness goals. He turned that passion into a 6 figure online business. After years running his fitness coaching company he decided to give it all up and start coaching Personal Trainers how to start and scale an online business like he did, and that’s where his book, The $10 Million Instagram Funnel: The Blueprint for Online Coaches, comes from.

The $10 Million Instagram Funnel: The Blueprint for Online Coaches is the cumulative knowledge of the last 12 years of trial-by-fire entrepreneurship diluted into a simple, easy, step-by-step format to follow.

He’s married to Kirsten Mark, lives in Kelowna, BC, owns Aesthetic Nation Gym and is passionate about self-development, the law of attraction, and business strategy.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealbrianmark/?hl=en 

Book Link: https://a.co/d/8WCsvV3 

Cole Luis DaSilva

10 Entrepreneurs to Watch in 2026

Photo Courtesy: Cole Luis DaSilva

Cole Luis DaSilva is a best-selling author, speaker, and high-performance entrepreneur. As the founder and CEO of PT Domination, he has helped thousands of fitness coaches build thriving online businesses, achieve financial freedom, and unlock their full potential. A leading voice in mindset coaching, personal development, and business strategy, His book, Best Day of My Life, draws from his own powerful journey rising from addiction and adversity to becoming a self-made millionaire before 30 to fuel his mission of transformation.

Known for his raw honesty and no-excuses approach, Cole’s message cuts through the noise. His teachings have impacted entrepreneurs around the world, pushing them to level up their discipline, embrace discomfort, and take relentless action. Whether he’s coaching one-on-one, leading masterminds, or speaking on stages, Cole empowers people to not just change their circumstances—but to own their identity.

Beyond the business, Cole is a devoted husband and father who leads by example, striving every day to build a legacy his family can be proud of. Everything he creates, every program, every speech, every video is rooted in one mission: to be the man his family looks up to, and to leave behind a legacy of strength, integrity, and purpose.

When he’s not coaching or speaking, Cole shares unfiltered insights through his podcast, “Wake Up With The Wolf,” and across his social media platforms, where he challenges his audience to live life on fire and pursue greatness with everything they’ve got.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coleluisdasilva/ 

Book Link: https://amzn.to/3ZZ54sU 

Dan Fleyshman

10 Entrepreneurs to Watch in 2026

Photo Courtesy: Dan Fleyshman

Dan Fleyshman is an American entrepreneur, author, investor, and speaker best known for becoming the youngest founder of a publicly traded company in history when he took his beverage brand public at age 23. His career began in San Diego, where he turned a teen clothing business into major retail success before launching the “Who’s Your Daddy” energy drink into tens of thousands of stores. Fleyshman went on to create Victory Poker, one of the world’s leading online poker brands, and later founded Elevator.Studio, a social media and influencer marketing agency that has shaped campaigns for hundreds of companies. As a prolific angel investor and keynote speaker, he’s advised dozens of startups and shared insights at hundreds of events worldwide. Beyond business, Fleyshman channels his success into philanthropy through the Model Citizen Fund, which equips people in need with essential supplies, and through community‑focused initiatives like Elevator Nights and entrepreneurial masterminds. 

Peter Lopez

10 Entrepreneurs to Watch in 2026

Photo Courtesy: Peter Lopez Jr.

Peter Lopez Jr. is a speaker, author, and founder of Publify Press, a publishing firm dedicated to empowering writers by helping them retain full ownership of their work and royalties. With experience at four major publishing companies and over a thousand authors coached and published, he has become a respected voice in modern publishing strategy and author development. Lopez’s platform centers on dismantling traditional industry barriers that disadvantage authors, offering innovative white‑label services that enable writers to become publishers in their own right. He regularly shares insights on authorship, creative growth, and entrepreneurial publishing across social platforms. In recent years he has expanded his work through public speaking, educational content, and partnerships that further support authors in maximizing their reach and professional success. Lopez is focused on advancing author autonomy and reshaping how writers build sustainable careers online.

Website: peterlopezjr.com 

Company Website: publifypress.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/plopez1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xplopezjr

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PublisherPeterLopez

Gene McCubbin

10 Entrepreneurs to Watch in 2026

Photo Courtesy: Gene McCubbin / PopLabs, Inc.

Gene McCubbin is the founder of PopLabs, Inc., a Houston-based digital marketing agency that helps small and mid-sized businesses boost their online presence through search engine marketing, social media, and creative branding. With a passion for entrepreneurship, Gene started his journey at 23 and has co-founded several technology-focused companies, many of which were successfully acquired. Under his leadership, PopLabs has been recognized on the Inc. 500|5000 list multiple times. Gene is known for his hands-on approach, focusing on delivering practical, results-driven strategies that make digital marketing accessible and effective for growing businesses. His dedication to helping clients thrive online has earned him a reputation as a trusted guide in the industry.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genepmccubbbin/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/genemccubbin 

Website: https://www.poplabs.com/index.htm 

Dave Carroll

10 Entrepreneurs to Watch in 2026

Photo Courtesy: Dave Carroll / Dope Marketing

Dave Carroll is the founder and CEO of Dope Marketing, a Minneapolis–St. Paul area company reshaping how home‑service and local businesses approach direct mail and print marketing. Known for a hands‑on mix of data‑driven strategy and automation, Dave has spent more than 15 years mastering direct mail systems that remove complexity and barriers for clients while driving meaningful ROI. (dopemarketing.com)

Dave’s entrepreneurial path hasn’t been typical. He started his first business in his twenties and has since built Dope Marketing into a high‑growth firm serving both major brands and thousands of local contractors with automated postcard, yard sign, and targeted mail campaigns. (David Carroll)

At the heart of his work is a focus on execution, practical tools, and helping business owners grow without unnecessary hurdles. Dave balances life as a business leader with his role as a husband and father of five. (David Carroll)

Websites:

https://www.dopemarketing.com/ 

https://thedavidcarroll.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davedopemarketing/?hl=en 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dopemarketing 

Reference article: https://usinsider.com/dave-carroll-on-wellness-discipline-and-leadership/ 

Bryce Eckwall

10 Entrepreneurs to Watch in 2026

Photo Courtesy: Bryce Eckwall

Bryce Eckwall is a content creator, storyteller, and the founder of Q29 Productions LLC, a Hudson Valley‑based studio focused on podcast production, video content, and social media for entrepreneurs and business leaders. Bryce built his expertise by teaching himself audio engineering, lighting, and editing while still a teenager, turning that passion into a business that helps others amplify their voices and grow their audiences. Known for his emphasis on substance over spectacle, he guides clients through thoughtful storytelling and strategic content creation that supports long‑term visibility and engagement. His work has included helping podcasts gain traction and appearing on live television to share insights on impactful digital content. Bryce continues to push creative boundaries while helping ambitious professionals share their stories with confidence.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brycewallll/?hl=en 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BryceEckwall

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bryce.eckwall/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryce-eckwall-b2b02b250 

Reference article: https://nyweekly.com/entrepreneur/bryce-eckwall-and-the-rise-of-q29-productions-building-a-modern-content-powerhouse/

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