Alter-Art Corp.

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Alter-Art Corp. : Art that alters small space living; expanding space and social demensions.

Seattle , United StatesSeattle , United States
Year Founded:
2015
Organization type: 
hybrid
Project Stage:
Idea
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Project Summary
Elevator Pitch

Concise Summary: Help us pitch this solution! Provide an explanation within 3-4 short sentences.

Alter-Art will enhance small-space living worldwide, promote healthy social gatherings for all socio-economic income levels; utilize eco-friendly materials, preserve culture while increasing economic growth/income in developing communities, and support health-care & housing projects.

WHAT IF - Inspiration: Write one sentence that describes a way that your project dares to ask, "WHAT IF?"

What if space becomes expandable, beautiful, transformational, life-giving through sustainable and profitable endeavor?
About Project

Problem: What problem is this project trying to address?

Paramount universal demand for small space living/furnishings that support and expand socialization for all income levels, in diverse natural environments world-wide. Global need for cultural preservation, skill development in trades/craftsmanship, eco-conscious economic and educational opportunity.

Solution: What is the proposed solution? Please be specific!

Local based small space furnishing design/sales to serve all income levels including pre-fab, emergency housing. Expansion: global production/sales of cultural/E supported art/furnishings for contracted world-wide sales with corporate mentorship/support. Incentive based contracting for businesses that train new craft/trade workers, maximize use of local human/ material/natural resources. Sharing of global site for marketing/sales/distribution/Public access. Start-up production to include wall mounted art: tables/seating/cots/alters: diverse materials and utilizing craft/trade and design expertise. AA supports a fluid, sustainable global economy; builds local-global community/enhances the well-being/socialization of all income levels.

Awards

n/a (idea/start-up mode)
Impact: How does it Work

Example: Walk us through a specific example(s) of how this solution makes a difference; include its primary activities.

Imagine wall mounted Art furniture that easily lowers to create an as-needed social gathering venue! This beautifully-created light weight/strong metal table is pounded out in a design that lets through light, creating a beautiful pattern on an opposing wall; or a wooden table that a family paints/preserves stored as moveable wall-art used for healthy social gatherings! The craftsman who produced the art furnishing is able to support their family and generate sustainable economic growth within their community while a part of the profit from the consumer’s social investment/purchase is helping support global economic development and housing/health-care projects around the world.

Impact: What is the impact of the work to date? Also describe the projected future impact for the coming years.

We are in the idea stage of our social enterprise initiative & seeking fiscal support & mentorship. Plan: create locally based art/furnishings, establish basic resources/product/manufacturing/marketing/sales procedures. Expansion will involve researching/identifying/building relationships/offering mentorship & contracts to global partners. Contracts may include incentives for local skill craft/trade skill-training & eco-friendly production/distribution processes. We will provide centralized support/marketing/sales/services to domestic and global production partners. We will expand global business/consumer interest/target markets, increase/expand at a sustainable pace, & support local-global economic development. We will create/provide profitable in-demand products to serve growing global needs.

Spread Strategies: Moving forward, what are the main strategies for scaling impact?

1-5 years- Secure/Maintain/Grow Investor/Financial Contractor relations; produce/sell high/medium/low-cost products,define productions/sales specs; establish/support/advance local/global production/sales,refine effective contracting procedures/best practice models,build centralized support/marketing/sales site. 5-10 years- continue sustainable expansion,expand corporate team,secure for-profit entity of AA/contractors,expand non-profit outreach,develop broad sales/marketing/media options (diverse media,online magazine,videos,1-touch sales/distribution),create vital/profitable global family
Sustainability

Financial Sustainability Plan: What is this solution’s plan to ensure financial sustainability?

Develop/maintain strong stakeholder relationships (beneficiaries, staff, investors, contractors); build financial reserves; build and expand marketplace sustainably, manage/finance/minimize overhead cost; assess/manage risk; build strong foundation; partner effectively with Investors/Contractors/Production Areas; secure capital/investor funding, generate global economic sustainability & profit, gain for-profit entity status

Marketplace: Who else is addressing the problem outlined here? How does the proposed project differ from these approaches?

We did not ID similar social enterprise endeavors. We combine cultural craftsmanship with eco-friendly technologies to produce/provide focused small-space furnishings to all economic groups while building skilled workforces & sustainable/profitable global commerce. Our NP outreach will provide incentive driven training/production of goods support/contracts to develop skilled workforces using eco-friendly resources/processes; access to global/centralized sales/distribution options. Success will include graduating of production partners to for-profit status.
Team

Founding Story

Within, I saw a beautifully crafted silver table with brass embellishment, smooth and cool to the touch, hanging artfully from the high ceiling wall. The cut-out table top pattern, lit from behind, cast warmth and light on the opposing wall. The table was lowered, legs and seating extended, the room filled with family, food, and conversation. We slept peacefully on crafted cots. The visions expanded to embrace all populations. My heart remembered the human need to connect to the “I am” in any living space. A fresh daisy in a bottle on a motel table says “home”. The need for small space living, human connection, and global economies is growing.

Team

We are novice business partners who want extensive mentorship & support bringing Alter-Art Corp. to life. We will need to discover/create the path towards success with help such as: - legal for production/financial, industry/distribution/global partnership laws/regulations, contracting partners, etc. - Fiscal support and advisors for idea/product development, pilot production/marketing/sales start-up, required accounting/tax/ related financial activities - Artistic/trade/craft, construction/production and engineering support to identify product specifications, production processes, to make goods that meet local and global legal requirements - Technology/media/marketing/sales advisors to advise create centralized support center - Trade/craft mentors - Distribution experts - Administrative support staff
Background
Please confirm how you heard about the Unilever Awards:

Free the Children/We Day Volunteering

Please confirm your role in the initiative (eg Founder/co-Founder) and your organisational title:

Co-Founder

Which of the 8 UN Global Goals (Sustainable Development Goals) pre-selected for this competition does your solution relate most closely to? [select all that apply]

No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Gender Equality, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Responsible Consumption and Production.

Leadership and the Unilever Awards
Please provide examples of any previous entrepreneurial initiatives you have pioneered.

This is our 1st social entrepreneurial project we are pioneering along with a both a non-profit foundation and a for-profit idea at this time. We are confident in our passion and eagerness to make an impact and take action.

Beyond your existing team, who else are you working with to achieve your objectives, eg partners, advisors, mentors?

We are studying social enterprise through books, lectures, and meeting events. We are working with a SCORE mentor, building our portfolio, seeking grant support & mentorship opportunities, researching current business practices, studying housing & socialization trends, & exploring capital investment funding/sponsorship/angel-sponsorship.

File attachments: 
File alter-art.corp-ideaoutline.pptx

Comments

Moses Karmali's picture

This is a pretty great organization and I like what you stand for. Keep up the great work and I wish you all the best in 2016