{"id":41565,"date":"2026-03-09T16:06:38","date_gmt":"2026-03-09T20:06:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/alumni\/?post_type=bates_events&p=41565"},"modified":"2026-04-01T09:59:01","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T13:59:01","slug":"from-idea-to-impact-meet-bates-entrepreneurs","status":"publish","type":"bates_events","link":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/alumni\/events\/from-idea-to-impact-meet-bates-entrepreneurs\/","title":{"rendered":"From Idea to Impact: Meet Bates Entrepreneurs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n

The Bates Alumni Council Professional Development Committee members Jen Crawford \u201901 and Susan Peillet Yule \u201978 are hosting the third installment of their Professional Development Series.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re bringing together a panel of alumni founders to pull back the curtain on what it really takes to launch a business venture. Whether you have a “napkin sketch” of an idea, are currently scaling a business, or simply want to learn how to think more like an entrepreneur in your current role, this session is for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Meet the Presenters:<\/h3>
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David Akinyemi \u201921
<\/strong>Founder, FaceCard<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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\"David<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

David is the founder & CEO of FaceCard, a venture-backed fintech platform empowering freelancers to get paid faster and automate their admin workflows. A Techstars alumnus and former product manager at Atlassian, David blends enterprise-grade product thinking with firsthand insight from his background. Through Face Card\u2019s AI-powered platform and vibrant community, he\u2019s making financial freedom more accessible for the next generation of freelancers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Asad Butt \u201901<\/strong>
Rifelion Media<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Asad<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Asad is a Portland, Oregon-based entrepreneur, investor, and media professional. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the Metro Region Innovation Hub, an initiative by the State of Oregon that provides resources and connections to regional entrepreneurs. For over a decade he has built, operated, and advised startup accelerator and incubator programs across multiple sectors. In 2020, Asad launched Rifelion Media, a new media company committed to elevating diverse voices through podcasts and films. Through Rifelion, Asad created and produced Ramadan America, a first-of-its-kind feature film showcasing stories centering Muslims celebrating their holidays. Asad is a partner in the RASA Film Group. Asad earned degrees from Boston University and Bates College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allen Kendunga \u201918<\/strong>
Talent Match<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Allen<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Allen Kendunga is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Talent Match, a Rwandan social enterprise dedicated to closing the persistent skills gap among university graduates through technology-enabled career development and workforce readiness programs. Since its establishment in 2019, Talent Match has partnered with leading higher education institutions, including the University of Rwanda, to deliver structured employability and entrepreneurship training to students and recent graduates. The organization has facilitated an 87% employment rate among its trainees and supported the development of multiple student-led ventures, while its digital platform now serves more than 5,000 active users with career resources, mentorship, and job-matching opportunities. The platform also equips universities with integrated data dashboards that support evidence-based planning and decision-making. Allen\u2019s work is guided by a commitment to strengthening systems that link academia and industry, expanding pathways to dignified employment, and advancing equitable access to opportunities for underserved youth across Rwanda and the broader region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michelle Pham \u201915
<\/strong>Inner Child, Owner and Designer<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Michelle<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Michelle Pham is the founder of Inner Child, a home decor brand dedicated to creating objects of functional whimsy for the home. Drawing on a love of color, craft, and joyful design, Michelle built Inner Child around the idea that everyday spaces should feel imaginative, personal, and a little bit magical. The brand combines traditional techniques such as block printing, handmade paper, and hand-marbling with a playful, modern sensibility, resulting in pieces that are both artful and deeply livable.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under Michelle\u2019s direction, Inner Child celebrates thoughtful craftsmanship and the charm of the unexpected. Her approach is rooted in the belief that home should not only be beautiful but should also spark delight, reconnecting people with a sense of curiosity, nostalgia, and creative expression in their daily lives.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inner Child is stocked at 500+ retailers nationwide. You can also shop the collection at Anthropologie, MoMA Design Store, L.L. Bean, Zola, and more!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carine Warsawski \u201907
<\/strong>Founder and CEO of Trybal Gatherings<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Carine<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Carine is the founder and CEO of Trybal Gatherings, the leading provider of summer camp experiences for young adults. Born and raised in the Boston area, she has over fifteen years working in experience design, experiential marketing, and entrepreneurship. Prior to founding Trybal Gatherings, Carine served as the Director of Marketing at Authentic Israel, as a consultant for Start-Up Nation Central in Tel Aviv, and spent weekends as a tour guide for LivingSocial Adventures. Carine is a Wexner Graduate Fellow and ROI alum. In 2018, she was named a “36 Under 36” by The Jewish Week and a Chai in the Hub honoree by CJP in Boston. Carine holds a B.S. in Anthropology from Bates College, a Certificate in Marketing from Georgetown University, and an MBA with honors from Boston University’s Questrom School of Business. <\/a>
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JOIN THE CONVERSATION:<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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Get in Touch<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Our Alumni Engagement team is here to help. Please reach out with any questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n