Stella Ma and Amy Norman were friends first. Best friends. And it was their shared love of cultural exploration that inspired them to create the kid-friendly subscription box Little Passports in 2009.

“I grew up in Oakland, Calif., as a first-generation Chinese American with fairly traditional parents. My upbringing instilled in me an appreciation for diversity and different cultures,” Ma tells Mom.me. “Having my first child impressed upon me the urgency to impart my appreciation for diversity and openness to my own children.”

Securing venture capital seemed like the only way to go for the founders of a monthly subscription company for kids called Little Passports. These best friends thought their idea had legs. They would send a suitcase, passport, stickers and world maps to inspire kids to learn more about the world around them.

Up the street from the San Francisco Passport Agency is Little Passports, an agency that never has a line. Aspiring young travelers just have to register online at www.littlepassports.com, and they will receive by mail everything they need for global adventure. Amy Norman, 38, is the co-founder and co-CEO.