In 2013, Shan-Lyn Ma was fed up with wedding registries. Most were set up through clunky department store websites offering few options, and all led to terrible gifting experiences. Ma recalls one registry in which every item was made of silver. The only thing she could afford was a single spoon. A former general manager at e-commerce company Gilt Groupe, Ma knew there had to be a better way. The more she researched wedding planning, the more broken processes she found. "The pain point in registries was replicated at every other part of the wedding planning journey," says Ma, 45. "It felt like a huge opportunity." • In May 2013, Ma co-founded the wedding e-commerce startup Zola. A one-stop shop for wedding planning, the New York City-based company has helped more than two million couples plan their nuptials. Today, the platform offers a wedding website builder, a paper invitation shop, and just about anything else engaged couples need.
"In each situation, we looked at how we would monetize it, what the required skills were, and whether our team had a unique right to win the category," Ma says. "You should keep answering those same questions over and over before each new big push."
For Tiffany Kelly, founder and CEO of content-creation platform Curastory, each day of the past three years has felt like a new big push. The NYC-based startup's suite of tools helps content creators monetize videos for TikTok, Instagram, and other social media channels, and users are constantly clamoring for new features. Curastory has targeted college athletes, a burgeoning market since 2021, when the NCAA changed its rules to allow student-athletes to earn money from endorsements. A former data analytics associate at ESPN, Kelly witnessed a similar sea change in sports media in 2017, when the company laid off more than 100 employees, including on-air talent.
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Denne historien er fra Winter 2022/2023-utgaven av Inc..
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A Bankable Pet Project - How Moonshots Capital helped eTailPet scale up and attract a buyer in just three years.
Berenice Giannini's startup, eTailPet, wasn't a natural fit for Moonshots Capital. The Austin-based venture firm, launched in 2014 by Kelly Perdew and Craig Cummings, both of whom had previously served in the U.S. Army, frequently backs companies founded by military veterans.
Backers Should Have Your Back - The best capital provider for your business will offer a helping hand, not just deep pockets.
Three years ago, U.S. entrepreneurs were enjoying one of the best funding environments in decades. Venture capital and private equity hit all-time highs as banks loaned at historically low interest rates. All you needed to get a term sheet, it seemed, was a smile and a pitch deck.
Lift Off - Would you pay $50,000 to touch the edge of space?
Would you pay $50,000 to touch the edge of space? Meet the entrepreneurs providing a rarified clientele with a luxurious, once-in-a-lifetime journey.So you want to go to space. To take in the expansive curvature of the Earth glowing miles above the atmosphere, surrounded by pure darkness. To experience the mind-altering overview effect described by astronauts as a transcendent state of awe, staring back at the planet on which you've inhaled your every living breath.
There Will Always be Those Who Doubt You and Your Vision. Here's How to Tune Them Out. - Recently, I invited an experienced luxury hotelier to visit the new campus we were building near Santa Fe for Modern Elder Academy,
Recently, I invited an experienced luxury hotelier to visit the new campus we were building near Santa Fe for Modern Elder Academy, the midlife wisdom school I co-founded in 2018.
A Scientific Discovery that Unlocks Your Body's Healing Power
The founder of Stemregen, a company that creates powerful supplements that stimulate the body's natural repair system, explains how a \"fringe idea\" opened up a new world of stem cell therapy.
Transformative Growth: Agency Masters the Art of Evolution
As a destination marketer, Awestruck has mapped out a journey to success by constantly developing its services and its staff.
For the Love of the Restaurant Experience
The founder and CEO of DJB Hospitality shares his passion for the challenging and uniquely rewarding hospitality industry.
Custom PEO Solutions for Blue-Collar Industries
COMPEO is an HR management solutions provider with a jaw-dropping five-figure growth rate.
Homebuying Was BrokenMeet the Founders Here to Fix It
Cecilian Partners is a fast-growing technology firm providing end-to-end solutions for production homebuilders and land developers.
A Focus on Complete Solutions for Regulatory Environments
The Northcross Group develops sustainable processes for clients with compliance needs.
