Young Millionaires Part I How 30 super achievers grew their million-dollar businesses.

Owners: David Gamperl, 30, & Mary Gamperl, 28
Year Started: 1995
Start-Up Costs: $250,000
1997 Projections: $3.2 million

Raised on his mother's authentic Italian sauces, David Gamperl never thought of touching bottled sauce. Ironically, the self-described "niche entrepreneur" found the perfect niche . . . in bottled pasta sauces. "I knew Americans weren't eating good Italian foods," says David. "They were eating whatever was on the shelves."

He started his Chicago-based pasta-sauce-of-the-month business with the blessing of his wife, Mary. "Usually I came up with ideas, and she'd say, 'That's OK.' But when she said, 'This might work,' I wrote the business plan."