Phoebe Gates Raises $30 Million for Her AI-Powered Shopping App, Phia

 

Phoebe Gates has been making headlines with her tech startup, Phia. Did you know she's the daughter of Microsoft founder Bill Gates? The company focuses on smart online shopping using artificial intelligence. Phia has raised $30 million in new funding. Despite this recent funding round, Phia is now valued at around $200 million.

 

Interestingly, instead of investing money, Bill Gates has offered more substantial support: his guidance, expertise, and time. On LinkedIn, he shared that he worked a customer service shift at Phia to understand how the app works and how customers can use and benefit from it. His daughter asked for his help, and he was there to provide it.

 

Bill Gates has been seen answering customer questions and learning about the app daily, and he even posted a video about it. He said that talking directly to users is the best way to understand the product. He praised his daughter Phoebe and co-founder Sophia Kiani for creating a tool that makes shopping smarter, easier, and more sustainable.

 

What it Offers

 Available as a mobile app and browser extension, Via is an AI-powered shopping assistant that helps people shop online smarter. Its key features include:

• Finding the best prices on products

• Displaying active discounts

• Suggesting secondhand clothing options to support sustainable shopping

• Providing lower-impact alternatives to reduce environmental damage

• Helping people save money while making more environmentally conscious choices. Via works across thousands of online stores.

 

Who are the Phia Investors

The latest funding round attracted several high-profile investors, including:

• Hailey Bieber

• Kris Jenner

• Sheryl Sandberg

• Sara Blakely (founder of Spanx)

 

Via has experienced rapid growth. Major investment firms like Notable Capital, Kleiner Perkins, and Khosla Ventures are leading this funding round, all of which have a long history of backing successful startups like Airbnb. The app has been downloaded 750,000 times in just eight months, according to the company. Interestingly, Phoebe and her co-founder originally planned to develop a "smart tampon" product while at Stanford University. However, they decided to develop a tool for fashion and online shopping.

 

Why This News Matters

 Phoebe Gates' $30 million funding round isn't just another celebrity startup success story; it represents several important trends:

 1. The Growing Influence of Young Female Entrepreneurs in Tech

 Phoebe is part of a new generation of young women confidently entering the tech and AI fields. Her success is a lesson demonstrating that the tech world is becoming more inclusive.

 2. Artificial Intelligence is Entering Everyday Life

 Phia is using artificial intelligence to solve real-world problems, such as finding better prices, reducing shopping waste, and helping consumers make smarter choices. This reflects the shift of AI from large corporations into everyday life.

 3. Top Investors Believe in Sustainable Shopping

 The strong interest from top investors shows that sustainable and eco-friendly shopping tools are gaining traction. The world is moving towards greener lifestyles, and Phia is right on board.

 4. Bill Gates’ Endorsement Sends a Powerful Message

 While he may not be the wealthiest or most famous person, even though he didn’t fund the company, his work in customer service serves as a model for leaders everywhere, demonstrating the importance of humility, learning, and hands-on involvement.

 

5. Phia Could Become a Major Player in the Global Shopping and AI Industry. With rapid growth, high-profile investors, and a compelling concept, Phia has the potential to become a major technology company.