Architect turned entrepreneur/ tech startup Founder, Lori Cheek, is turning the online dating world upside down with her new venture, Cheek’d– a savvy online social circuit which draws on the age-old custom of networking with business cards.

Coined by The New York Times as “the next generation of online dating,” the company designs personal cards with clever catch phrases such as “act natural. we can get awkward later” and “i just put all my drinks on your tab.” Each card holds a unique ID number, which directs card recipients to an online profile to learn more about the card giver. It’s like online dating, only backwards.

The idea hatched a few years ago, while dining with a friend. Lori excused herself to make a phone call and upon her return, her friend had written on the back of his business card, “want to have dinner?” He handed it to a woman at a nearby table as they were leaving the restaurant. There was an immediate light bulb above her head of “Missed Connection Averted/ Privacy Protected.” Two years later, she launched Cheekd.com.

Check out Lori’s answers to our exclusive VMW questionnaire!