Janis Collins

Co-Founder

The Refinery

Janis Collins BIO, LinkedIN

Janis is the co-founder of The Refinery, a nationally recognized accelerator, founded in 2014 to fuel the growth of women-led companies and close the funding gap. Through an intense, personalized curriculum and structured mentoring, companies develop a growth and funding strategy that is supported by an engaged community of peers, advisors and investors.

Since inception, The Refinery has put 39 companies through 5 program cycles, has engaged over 90+ mentors/panelists, and has developed a 1,500 member ecosystem.  Top companies, on average, raise $600-$700K within 6 months of completing the program, totaling around $26 million raised so far. The Refinery has uncovered more than 250 women-led tech companies through its Fueling the Growth pitch competitions, and has awarded over $260,000 in non-dilutive grants.

Janis has been helping companies innovate, create and quickly launch new businesses for more than 25 years. First, through her own company, which focused on helping high tech startups, and then later advising and funding new financial service companies.  Janis has helped found and launch several companies including two non-profit organizations.

As a consulting Partner at KPMG, Janis worked with top financial service firms, leveraging innovation techniques to create new electronic markets.  As Managing Director at JPMorgan’s LabMorgan, she ran the financial services business incubator where they advised and funded new Financial Services Technology ventures.

Dedicated to community service, always an innovator, and creator of pragmatic solutions, Janis served as an elected official on Westport’s Board of Finance, Chairman of the Audit Committee, and as Chairman of Westport’s Parks and Rec, where she created an innovative public/private solution to continue the investment in the town parks and recreation programs.

Re-Tinkering How We Build and Grow New Businesses | Janis Collins | TEDx

Follow her on twitter: @janiscollins