This Week in Startups E983: The Next Unicorns: Zola CEO & Co-founder Shan-Lyn Ma shares insights on growing her all-in-one wedding platform in a $100bn market, adapting to changes in wedding demographics, balancing growth and profitability while keeping her team focused, raising moral standards in tech – E5 of 10-ep mini
Oct 4, 2019
Shan-Lyn Ma, CEO and co-founder of Zola, discusses her innovative approach to the wedding industry, highlighting the challenges of competing against giants like Amazon. She shares insights on changing wedding demographics, including the rising age of couples and evolving relationship norms. Shan also reflects on the importance of balancing growth and profitability while fostering a focused team. Additionally, she emphasizes the need for higher moral standards in tech and shares her experiences as a female founder facing underestimation in a male-dominated space.
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Zola's Origin
- Shan-Lyn Ma started Zola in 2013 out of personal frustration with existing wedding registries.
- These were outdated, web-based, and lacked the personalized experience she envisioned.
Zola's Business Model
- Zola offers a unique hybrid business model, combining marketplace and e-commerce elements.
- This allows them to provide a wide selection with minimal inventory, maximizing margins.
Zola vs. Amazon
- Amazon's wedding registry exists but doesn't focus on the emotional aspect of weddings.
- Zola capitalizes on this by offering a personalized and aesthetically pleasing experience.
