Phoebe Gates Forges Her Own Path with AI Shopping Startup Phia
Phoebe Gates, the 23-year-old daughter of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and philanthropist Melinda French Gates, is making waves in the tech world with her AI-powered shopping startup, Phia. Determined to establish her venture independently, she has implemented a strict rule: her famous last name must remain absent from all pitch decks and investor presentations.
Building a Startup from Stanford Dorm Rooms
Co-founded with her Stanford University roommate Sophia Kianni, Phia launched in 2025 as an innovative shopping assistant application. The platform utilizes artificial intelligence to help users discover better deals by comparing prices across multiple retail and resale websites in real-time. Since its inception, the mobile app and browser extension have achieved hundreds of thousands of downloads, demonstrating significant market traction among its target demographic of ambitious young women.
Securing Major Funding Without Family Backing
In a remarkable achievement for the 10-month-old company, Phoebe Gates recently closed a substantial $35 million funding round. This investment has propelled Phia's valuation to an impressive $185 million. The funding was spearheaded by Notable Capital, with additional participation from prominent venture firms Kleiner Perkins and Khosla Ventures.
Notably, despite her billionaire lineage, Phoebe has consciously avoided seeking financial support from her parents. Instead, she has focused on raising external capital and navigating the challenging landscape of investor meetings, which occasionally delve into personal questions about future family planning.
Overcoming Challenges and Establishing Independence
"I have a chip on my shoulder," Gates revealed during an appearance on Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid Unfiltered podcast. "No ties to my privilege or my last name." This determination to prove herself extends beyond mere validation; she aims to create something genuinely novel that consumers will embrace and love.
On the Call Her Daddy podcast, Phoebe shared a poignant moment when she called her mother in tears after a particularly difficult investor meeting. Melinda French Gates offered tough love advice, telling her daughter, "Get up or get out the game, sis." This resilience has become a cornerstone of Phoebe's entrepreneurial journey.
Bill Gates' Support Without Financial Investment
While Bill Gates has not invested financially in Phia, he has contributed his invaluable time and expertise to support his daughter's venture. Shortly after the startup's launch, the tech billionaire used his LinkedIn platform to announce a temporary shift in his schedule to assist the Phia team with customer service operations.
"I've entered the startup world again," Gates wrote, signaling his collaborative involvement. Phoebe acknowledges her father's business acumen, particularly his emphasis on building strong teams, but she firmly maintains that Phia is not a legacy project or family endeavor.
A New Generation of Tech Entrepreneurship
Phoebe Gates represents a new wave of entrepreneurs who are leveraging artificial intelligence to transform traditional industries. Her commitment to building Phia independently, while acknowledging the advantages of her background, demonstrates a nuanced approach to privilege and opportunity in the startup ecosystem.
The success of Phia highlights how AI technology is revolutionizing the shopping experience, particularly for price-conscious consumers seeking sustainable alternatives through resale and secondhand markets. As the company continues to grow, Phoebe's insistence on merit-based validation sets a compelling precedent for next-generation founders navigating the intersection of innovation, legacy, and personal identity.
