Meet Mihai Patru | Executive Director and Co-Founder, Caravanserai Project

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mihai Patru and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mihai, do you disagree with some advice that is more or less universally accepted?
I was recently involved in a short incubator program as a mentor and my role, along with my colleagues, was to support start-up entrepreneurs, most of them innovators and change-makers that traditionally have been underrepresented in this space, underserved and with limited or no access to such opportunities to work on their business ideas.

There was a lot of talk from some of the panelists, experienced successful entrepreneurs, about putting everything on hold and being 100% dedicated to your venture. Give up your job, school, etc. the traditional story… While I believe in full commitment and dedication to your entrepreneurial journey, personally, this approach is based on entitlement, the privilege to have continuous access to resources and a strong support network (especially family wealth).

Most of the entrepreneurs, from start-up to advanced, Caravanserai Project is serving don’t have the luxury to rely on their families’ wealth, the networks they built while attending fancy schools, or on easy-to-access information and resources. Whether we are supporting and investing in women entrepreneurs, undocumented, formerly incarcerated, limited English-proficiency individuals, or BIPOC change-makers, we have witnessed the same story. Their entrepreneurial journey has started long before thinking about starting a business. They daily lives constantly require them to be entrepreneurs, innovators, and think outside the box. Putting everything on hold to start pursuing a business idea is not an option. Yet, they have the unique capacity to continue with their daily lives and be fully invested in their entrepreneurial journey. They bring unique approaches, creativity and innovation based on their lived experiences, their struggles and lessons learned first hand from early on.

You don’t have to give up everything to be an entrepreneur and start a business. Your lived experiences should be at the core of your entrepreneurial journey.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
At Caravanserai Project, we have built a team that is made of immigrants, children of immigrants, new Americans and first generation University graduates, mixing together different languages, cultures, identities and experiences without losing what makes each of us different. This diversity has influenced our work and the way we approach those who are joining our programs. We connect at a different level with those underserved entrepreneurs we are supporting because many of us have similar lived experiences. We think creatively and out of the box when we work with minority entrepreneurs because ourselves have been in similar situations and are able to understand their way of thinking. It is not enough to have a good program with updated resources. The way it is delivered is equally important.

It is not unusual for our team to spend our Saturdays visiting some of the entrepreneurs we are supporting and funding. From food trucks, to community gardens and child care businesses, we get in our cars and meet them where they are. And what better and more rewarding experience than sitting in a food truck owned by an immigrant entrepreneur and enjoying a freshly made taco when your colleague says “I love my work!”.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I am the type of traveler that most likely will follow the unbeaten path. Therefore, my plans for those visiting are not very different. Living in Palm Springs, California, you can easily pack a few days with interesting things that you can’t find anywhere else. Among the many places you can eat in the region, I would definitely look for some street tamales and taco stands. One of my favorite places is El Sabrosito Tacos, a food truck that can be found in Riverside or San Bernardino serving delicious burritos freshly made by Giovanni and his team. Since we are heading that way, shopping for fresh groceries at Huerta del Valle in Ontario is a must. Maria Alonso is a powerhouse who has been running this community garden for a few years changing the lives of many people by providing access to fresh and organic food. If the stars align, a street festival in the Coachella Valley is a great opportunity to meet the Armenta sisters, Gaby and Claudia, whose Aztec dancing circles and rituals are a must see. Or even book in advance a few riding classes at Join in Action and Ride located in Perris. Dr. Araceli Ramirez, the owner of this social enterprise, is committed to increasing access and building an equine community for under-resourced youth. Your support will allow more local youth to access the therapy provided by horseback riding lessons and strengthen their mental health.

These are not the usual activities included in every Great Palm Springs tourist guide. But they represent a unique opportunity to meet local entrepreneurs that showcase the cultural diversity of the region. Along fancy hotels, swimming pool parties and world class restaurants, the Inland Empire region relies on its entrepreneurs that are shaping the future of our communities. Working with many of them as part of Caravanserai Project has changed my perspective on the region and showed its unique richness.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I can’t recognize enough the impact all the people I had the privilege to work with as part of Caravanserai Project over the last 5 years had on my professional and personal growth. Being involved with and supporting so many start-up and early-stage entrepreneurs has exposed me to a plethora of experiences, new ideas and unique perspectives. Many of them have become close friends and witnessing their growth is life changing.

Let’s take for example the current entrepreneurs who are part of the 2022/2023 SEED Lab Pre-accelerator Cohort or those who are attending the Business Readiness Training Program for Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs. I get to work closely with many of them and after each meeting I am blown away by their lived experiences, knowledge and creativity.

Website: https://caravanseraiproject.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caravanseraiproject/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/caravanseraiproject/?viewAsMember=true

Youtube: https://www.facebook.com/caravanseraiproject/

Other: https://caravanseraiproject.org/in-the-press/