From Dorm Rooms to $8 Million in Funding: Life Lessons from the Founders of Phia

From Dorm Rooms to $8 Million in Funding: Life Lessons from the Founders of Phia

In the debut episode of Ambition 2.0, host Amanda Goetz sits down with Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni—the visionary co-founders of Phia, the AI-powered shopping assistant backed by Hailey Bieber, Kris Jenner, Sheryl Sandberg, and other major investors. From meeting as college roommates at Stanford and launching Phia as a class project to raising an $8M seed round for their company, Phoebe and Sophia have been through it all together. They get candid about building a tech startup from scratch, navigating friendship as co-founders, and learning how to set boundaries to avoid burnout. They open up about: The real meaning of work-life balance (and does it even exist?) Why personal branding is a superpower for founders The “ground rules” that keep their friendship—and business—thriving Lessons from their fundraising journey and startup leadership The creative philosophy behind their own podcast, The Burnouts Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or just love a good founder origin story, this episode dives deep into ambition, friendship, and what it takes to build something groundbreaking. (00:00) Intro (03:50) The origin story of Phia (05:18) Building the Phia team and shaping company culture (11:50) Raising $8M with high-profile investors (14:15) Friendship “ground rules” for co-founders (23:10) Burnout, boundaries, and balance (28:42) Work-life balance (30:45) Why personal branding matters more than ever (32:00) Rapid-fire questions (38:23) Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs GUEST LINKS Phoebe Gates: https://www.instagram.com/phoebegates/ Sophia Kianni: https://www.instagram.com/sophiakianni/ Phia: https://www.instagram.com/phiaco/ The Burnouts Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/theburnouts/ FOLLOW THE PODCAST IG: https://www.instagram.com/girlboss/ | TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@girlboss Amanda Goetz: https://www.instagram.com/theamandagoetz/ https://girlboss.com/pages/ambition-2-0-podcast SIGN UP Subscribe to the Girlboss Daily newsletter, filled with career inspiration and intel for ambitious women: https://newsletter.girlboss.com/ For all other Girlboss links: https://linkin.bio/girlboss/ DISCLAIMER This episode is sponsored by Semrush. Check out Semrush One, the only solution built for the next era of search. It unites Semrush’s leading traditional SEO tools with powerful AI search capabilities, all in one place, so you can make smarter, faster marketing decisions. Search moves fast, and you should have the right solution to stay ahead of the curve. Trusted by 10M+ marketers worldwide, try it today at semrush.com. #Ambition2Point0 #PhoebeGates #SophiaKianni #PhiaAI #GirlbossPodcast #WomenInBusiness #AIShopping #Startups #FemaleFounders Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Leandra Medine Cohen, author and founder of Man Repeller

Leandra Medine Cohen, author and founder of Man Repeller

On today’s episode of Girlboss Radio, Sophia sits down with Leandra Medine Cohen, the hilarious mastermind behind Man Repeller, a community and content hub she affectionately refers to as a nudist community. What follows is an some of the most poignant, powerful advice you could get—about going with your gut, rebelling against singular definitions, life as an "influencer," and probably plotting world domination. It's ours for the taking, right?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

8 Nov 201753min

Gretchen Carlson, anchor, journalist, author

Gretchen Carlson, anchor, journalist, author

Last July, Gretchen Carlson came forward with her experience of being sexually harassed at FOX News by then-CEO, the late Roger Ailes. Her story is one that's all too familiar for many women. Most recently, we’ve seen it in the spate of “me too” stories that have come out following the allegations of assault, harassment, and abuse against Harvey Weinstein—and so many other men in positions of power. Today, Carlson joins us to discuss her new book Be Fierce (which surfaces similar stories from women in all walks of life across the country), speak frankly about Donald Trump, and walk you through what you should do if you are being harassed in the workplace.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

1 Nov 201756min

Jen Gotch, co-founder and chief creative officer of ban.do

Jen Gotch, co-founder and chief creative officer of ban.do

Jen Gotch is a creative powerhouse who loves yard sales and unicorns. After a long (and winding) journey trying her hand at a slew of not-so-great jobs that led her to where she is today, she’s now the chief creative officer and fearless leader of ban.do. On today’s episode, Jen talks about tapping into her creative power and finding the strength push through her bad days.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

25 Okt 201758min

Garance Doré: Writer, Photographer, and Illustrator

Garance Doré: Writer, Photographer, and Illustrator

On this episode of Girlboss Radio, we're joined by Garance Doré, founder of Atelier Doré. She and Sophia go to a wide-open, vulnerable place about what it's like to work in fashion—and why Fashion Week doesn't feel worth it anymore. They have a frank discussion about fertility, PTSD after IVF, therapy, burnout, and finding purpose. Ahead, a moving conversation that will make you think.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

18 Okt 201757min

Jennifer Rudolph Walsh, head of WME's Worldwide Books, Speakers & Conference Division + Founder of "Together Live"

Jennifer Rudolph Walsh, head of WME's Worldwide Books, Speakers & Conference Division + Founder of "Together Live"

Jennifer Rudolph Walsh is a wife, mother and superstar publisher who sits on the Board of Directors at famed talent agency WME. By day, she does all that and works with some of the most famous writers in the world—like Oprah Winfrey, Sue Monk Kidd, and Arianna Huffington—but in her spare time, she's building a pretty impressive side hustle called Together Live. She's passionate about helping women become architects of change in their own lives, and on this episode, she goes deep on how she found her own purpose, and changed her life to fit it. Plus, she's got some essential, actionable advice every aspiring author should hear.​ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

11 Okt 201758min

Whitney Cummings: Comedian, Actress, Writer and more

Whitney Cummings: Comedian, Actress, Writer and more

Whitney Cummings joins Sophia to discuss her latest bookI'm Fine and Other Lies; a memoir about being diagnosed as co-dependent, . Along the way, she blends hilarious anecdotes with thought provoking commentary on feminism, sex and body dysmorphia.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

4 Okt 201750min

Janet Mock, writer, TV host and advocate

Janet Mock, writer, TV host and advocate

A true fire-starter, Janet Mock uses her voice to dismantle stereotypes, push women to discover their power, and debunk assumptions about gender. Janet’s latest book, Surpassing Certainty: What My Twenties Taught Me, is an homage to her 20s. On this episode of Girlboss Radio, Sophia and Janet explore identity, culture, and the experience of growing up a trans woman of color. For every twenty-something who has ever felt like a tiny fish in a big pond, this one will feel powerful and personal.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

27 Sep 201754min

Sarah Kunst, founder and CEO of ProDay

Sarah Kunst, founder and CEO of ProDay

Sophia is joined by millennial founder Sarah Kunst, to deep-dive into the world of a sports media and lifestyle CEO. Sarah gets candid about her time working in venture capital, her ideas about money and power, and the experiences that ultimately drove her to speak to the New York Times about being sexually harassed by an angel investor in Silicon Valley. Sarah offers thoughtful advice to founders, women raising funding for a business, and women who might be experiencing harassment themselves. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

20 Sep 201757min

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