Phoebe Gates, the youngest child of Bill and Melinda Gates, has launched her own e-commerce business called Phia. The platform offers price comparisons for clothing across 40,000 linked sites, aiming to bring users the best deals. Gates’ father, Bill, revealed that he initially worried about his daughter’s decision to start a business, having previously discouraged her from dropping out of college like he did when founding Microsoft.
Despite his initial concerns, Bill Gates acknowledged that it was “luckily” Phoebe didn’t ask for funding. He would have offered help, but with strings attached, which could have complicated their relationship. Instead, the venture secured over half a million dollars in funding from a VC firm and angel investors. Gates emphasized that her business is tapping into a huge market of young women who scour shopping sites for deals.
The 24-year-old graduate of Stanford University’s human biology program expressed gratitude to her parents for providing her with an opportunity to pursue her passion. However, she also acknowledged the internalized pressure that comes with being part of a high-profile family. Phoebe Gates’ business aims to provide users with the best deals on clothing, and she hopes to capitalize on the success of her platform.
Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/bill-gates-phoebe-gates-phia-funding-2025-4