How Phoebe Gates Built Phia Without Family Funding

Phoebe Gates’ decision to pursue independent funding began with guidance from her mother, Melinda French Gates. According to the report, she advised her daughter to raise capital through her own efforts rather than rely on family wealth. That encouragement shaped the early trajectory of Phia, pushing Phoebe and her co-founder Sophia Kianni to secure their first commitments from external backers.

The pair’s initial breakthrough came when they received $100,000 from Soma Capital, a firm known for supporting early-stage startups founded by young entrepreneurs. That early infusion of capital validated their concept and helped them refine the platform. Shortly after, they earned a $250,000 grant through Stanford’s social entrepreneurship program — an endorsement that offered not just funding but access to experienced mentors and academic resources.

Even with these achievements, Phoebe and Sophia encountered the common hurdles faced by many emerging founders. Investor rejections, slow responses, and skepticism toward first-time entrepreneurs created obstacles along the way. The challenges underscored the reality that gaining traction in the tech world requires persistence, even with a compelling idea and strong academic credentials. Yet their determination paid off. After months of refining their pitch and expanding their network, they secured an additional $500,000 in funding to support the app’s development and rollout.

Phia enters a competitive but growing market where consumers increasingly seek price transparency and sustainable options while shopping online. The platform’s ability to compare new and secondhand listings in a single interface offers a practical solution for users looking to save money or make more environmentally conscious choices. As online resale markets continue to expand globally, the app positions itself at the intersection of affordability and sustainability — two priorities widely embraced by younger demographics.

For Phoebe Gates, this milestone is not only a professional achievement but also a statement about independence and capability. By choosing not to leverage her family’s resources, she demonstrated a commitment to building credibility through her own work. The result is a startup shaped by perseverance, strategic support, and a clear vision — qualities that will likely influence how Phia grows and evolves in the years ahead.