Entrepreneur Profile: Milena Arciszewski, Pando Projects

We hear it every day in the news – small business drives the growth and job creation in our economy.

Independent’s Entrepreneur Profiles celebrates the people out there changing the world every day. We ask each entrepreneur eight questions to give us a little insight into their vision of the future, and their take on building a company.

This month, we feature Milena Arciszewski, founder of Pando Projects, a non-profit organization, set to launch early next year.  Pando Project’s goal is to support grassroots initiatives to address problems in communities across the US.

1. What does your company/nonprofit do?

I’m starting a nonprofit that empowers people to run grassroots projects to fix problems in their communities.  We offer online workspaces where people can promote their projects, raise money, attract and manage volunteers, organize events, and share their experiences. We’re kind of like Kickstarter, but we only support grassroots initiatives that can be executed in under 1 year for under $5K, and we offer all the tools and support that people need to develop their idea into a meaningful community project.  We’re hoping to someday support thousands of innovative, bottom-up projects across the United States.

2. When did you start your company/nonprofit?

I’m in the process of starting PandoProjects – we still haven’t launched.  If you’d like to join our team, check out www.pandoprojects.org; we would love to have you!  Our Pilot Phase should begin in January 2011.

3. What are your funding sources?

Once the organization is running, we will charge people $25 to join our program and launch their grassroots project.  Also, when people visit the site to donate money to fund projects, they will be asked to donate an additional 10% to Pando.  In the meantime, we are collecting donations from individuals and corporations.  When we have 501(c)3 status, we’ll also apply for grants.

4. What have the top 3 challenges have been in your start-up process?

To run this organization, I need to be a strong, confident, mesmerizing, charismatic inspiring woman.  My biggest challenge with launching Pando has been the process of becoming that person.  In my past, I tended to be shy and awkward – so I have to work really hard to transform myself into a stronger person that others can believe in.

I think all other challenges are irrelevant.  I find that when I’m feeling happy and strong, everything simply falls into place.

5. Define “entrepreneur”

An entrepreneur is someone that identifies a need and steps up to fill it.

6. Read any good books lately?

I just re-read “Eat Pray Love” in anticipation of the movie release.  But my favorite books are “Atlas Shrugged,” “Love in the Time of Cholera” and “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.”

7. What is your advice for an entrepreneur starting out?

Don’t wait for everything to be perfect.  Just… start.  Things will come together if you really believe in your vision.

8. What’s your favorite entrepreneurship quote?

The classic is from Margaret Meade: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

If you are an entrepreneur in the Northeast and are interested in being profiled, we invite you to contact us.