The 7 Steps of Effective Product DevelopmentTake your product from killer concept to cash cow.

Toni Ko's path to entrepreneurship was a common one: She wanted a product that didn't exist, so she decided to create it herself. The item in question: a high-quality yet affordable eyeliner pencil.

The year was 1999. The self-professed makeup junkie explains that at the time, high-end cosmetics were available only at department stores; drugstore alternatives didn't compare. At age 26 Ko founded NYX Cosmetics to bridge the gap between quality and price.