Name: Venture Connectors | Thinking by Design
Start: 2016-11-02T11:30:00+00:00
End: 2016-11-02T13:15:00+00:00
Location: Muhammad Ali Center, 6th Floor

Join Venture Connectors on Wednesday, Nov. 2, to hear from Colleen Clines, co-founder and CEO of Anchal Project , an organization that addresses the exploitation of women around the world by using design thinking to create employment opportunities, products an

Join Venture Connectors on Wednesday, Nov. 2, to hear from Colleen Clines, co-founder and CEO of Anchal Project, an organization that addresses the exploitation of women around the world by using design thinking to create employment opportunities, products and services that support economic empowerment. Click here to register.

Design thinking is a method for practical, creative problem-solving that starts with an end goal, unlike the scientific method, which begins by thoroughly defining the parameters of a problem to create a solution. Clines will share how the Anchal Project uses design thinking to create successful outcomes for a large number of disparate groups — training women in India to sew as they leave the sex trade, then helping them navigate the global fashion market and sell accessories in retail stores. She will also discuss how design can become the tool for sustainable solutions to gender inequality, social injustice and environmental degradation. The Anchal Project will have a variety of handmade home goods and fashion accessories available for purchase at the event. Clines combines her passion as a social entrepreneur and impact designer in her work with Anchal. A Louisville native, she earned a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture from the University of Kentucky, and a master’s in landscape architecture from the Rhode Island School of Design. During her time in graduate school, she initiated the founding of Anchal with three classmates after a trip to India. Five years later, Anchal has offered more than 150 commercial sex workers alternative careers in textile design. Their products have been sold in Urban Outfitters nationwide and featured in Harper’s Bazaar. In 2013, Clines was named one of Public Interest Design's Top Global 100 designers. In collaboration with her sister, Maggie Clines, the Anchal Project was named a 2014 winner of Louisville’s LOTS of Possibility Competition for its newest project, dyeScape – a network of gardens in West Louisville that will support careers for women in natural dye production. Colleen also was honored in Louisville Business First’s 2016 40 Under 40 feature.

---------- An important purpose of our organization is to help facilitate and encourage the expansion of business and commercial investment activities in the Kentuckiana region. Our events include monthly luncheons and our annual Venture Sharks™ competition. And, we participate in many other regional, entrepreneurial events such as the Idea Festival, Startup Slams, and the Vogt Awards. If you are interested in making valuable contacts, exchanging information, or pursuing mutual business opportunities, please join us at one of our events or our monthly luncheons. Luncheon meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month in downtown Louisville from 11:30 to 1:15 PM EST. Each meeting features:

30-second open mic announcements by about upcoming new companies, activities, and programs relevant to our members.
Five-minute presentations by entrepreneurs interested in obtaining capital to start up or support growth and expansion of their businesses.
A guest speaker with an entrepreneurial success stories or one who discusses venture or financing issues or trends affecting today’s entrepreneurial climate.

Membership is open to business professionals, venture capitalists, private investors, attorneys, accountants, consultants, and students who are involved in the entrepreneurial community. We offer Corporate Memberships, Full Memberships and Associate Memberships.