The Skinny Confidential Him & Her Show Phoebe Gates & Sophia Kianni On Advice For Young Entrepreneurs, & How To Build The Start Up Of Your Dreams
Aug 7, 2025
Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni, both Stanford grads and co-founders of Phia, dive into their journey as young entrepreneurs. They candidly discuss the challenges of pitching to investors and the importance of embracing feedback. The duo explores the innovative intersection of digital fashion and ethical consumerism, and share valuable insights on overcoming imposter syndrome. They highlight the significance of supportive relationships in navigating the tech industry and the emotional resilience needed to thrive as ambitious women in business.
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Founders' Dorm Room Friendship
- Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni became close roommates despite initially not knowing each other well.
- Their friendship grew from mutual activism interests and shared living space challenges.
Different Upbringings, Shared Drive
- Phoebe Gates grew up with Bill Gates as a father and lots of privilege, visiting Africa and engaging in activism early.
- Sophia Kianni, from a middle-class Iranian immigrant family, developed a strong sense of responsibility and climate activism.
Embrace Startup Iteration
- Iterate your startup ideas frequently and learn from initial failures.
- Pivot quickly when initial concepts or products don't match your target audience or business model.