Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in fashion but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Shivika Sinha, Founder and CEO of Veneka, located in Brooklyn, NY, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Too many women stare at closets filled with clothes and say, "I have nothing to wear." Fashion is among the top contributors to climate change and the greatest exploiter of women. Veneka is changing the world, one closet at a time. We're a capsule wardrobe styling service powered by our marketplace of sustainable and ethical brands. Our customers are working women who are tired of struggling with getting dressed every day.
Tell us about yourself
I'm on a mission to wield conscious consumption as a force for humanitarian and planetary impact, and I'm starting with fashion. Previously, I spent 10+ years working with global brands like Alex and Ani, Oscar de la Renta, and Gap Inc/Intermix, and has advised Fortune 100 companies on retail and marketing.
Alongside women like Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, and Malala Yousafzai, I was honored by the U.N.'s Decade of Women and The Canales Project with a song dedicated to my life's work. I've been featured in and recognized by Forbes, Techcrunch, Marie Claire, and other leading publications. I've spoken on global stages like TEDx, the U.S. Institute of Peace, and more. I was raised in Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and India.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
We recently rebuilt our styling engine with AI and computer vision technology for depersonalization and accurate styling. We trained AI to identify and tag 60+ product attributes for deep personalization. We layered this onto computer vision technology to glean implicit preferences, reduce time and nail her style every time.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
The hardest thing is constantly up-leveling your mindset and prioritizing personal growth to break through the next phases of your company.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Meditate daily. The more closely you understand your internal blockers, the faster you'll break through them for your company.
- Test ideas rigorously. Hold onto your mission, but not your idea or product.
- Get comfortable with uncertainty and discomfort.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://theveneka.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theveneka
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shivika.sinha/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/shivikasinha
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shivikasinha/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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