Patricia Calfee

Entrepreneur

Bergine, Roses & Rye

Gentry Communications, Calfee School Guide (non-profit)

I want to change the world.

Gilt Groupe, Pinterest, ModeWalk

The most rewarding aspect of being an entrepreneur is working with like-minded people to dream big and create change. Being an entrepreneur is a lifestyle choice. It can be stressful, all consuming and drudgery, but the rewards are unmatched.

The number one mistake is moving too slowly. Entrepreneurs need to think, feel and test - but get to market quickly. I see too many businesses work for years on R&D to get it perfect when simply being in the market would have solved questions and problems much faster.

- Experts are not always experts – be careful who you listen to
- Be innovative, but don’t reinvent the wheel
- Focus on building your business, but talk to your competitors

Roses & Rye, an apparel brand that celebrates Moms, is Patricia’s second business in two years.  She previously co-founded Bergine, a luxury local flash-sale site that was acquired by Internet retail pioneer Gilt Groupe in 2010.

Roses & Rye, an ecommerce apparel business that celebrates Moms, is Patricia’s second business in two years. She previously co-founded Bergine, a luxury local flash-sale site that was acquired by Internet retail pioneer Gilt Groupe in 2010.

Prior to Bergine, she created a non-profit Internet and classroom resource for K12 students and families. In 2009, she donated the program to the San Francisco Unified School District and was honored with the AT&T Community Hero Award.

Patricia began her career as the first employee and then Partner at a boutique public relations agency in San Francisco where she managed communications programs for Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Ian Shrager Company and Razorfish.  She received a B.A. in Economics from the University of San Francisco.

Passionate about the benefits of mentorship for women and girls, Patricia has served as a Director for a number of community organizations.