Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni, two Gen Z entrepreneurs, have revealed key insights into how their generation leverages artificial intelligence (AI), sharing secrets behind their successful AI-powered shopping app, Phia. Launched in April 2025, Phia has rapidly gained traction, raising $8 million in seed funding and attracting half a million users within just five months, showcasing Gen Z’s innovative approach to integrating AI into everyday life[1][3].
Phia was born out of Gates and Kianni’s own frustrations wit...
Phia was born out of Gates and Kianni’s own frustrations with the tedious process of comparing prices and sourcing the best deals online. They envisioned an app that could automate this process instantly and effortlessly, especially on mobile devices where their peers primarily shop. Using proprietary large language models and a multimodal AI infrastructure, Phia scans over 300 million fashion items across more than 40,000 retail and resale sites. It provides users with instant price comparisons, resale value estimates, and personalized product summaries, effectively transforming the shopping experience for Gen Z consumers[1][3].
The app’s swift fundraising success was fueled by a combinat...
The app’s swift fundraising success was fueled by a combination of targeted outreach and the appeal of their AI-driven solution, which resonates strongly with Gen Z’s digital habits and preferences. Notably, Phia attracted high-profile investors including Kris Jenner and Hailey Bieber, reflecting the blend of celebrity influence and venture capital support that Gen Z innovators are harnessing to scale their startups quickly[1][3].
Beyond commerce, Gates and Kianni’s work exemplifies a broad...
Beyond commerce, Gates and Kianni’s work exemplifies a broader generational shift in how AI is shaping the lives of young people. Generation Z, and the emerging Generation Alpha, are growing up deeply immersed in AI technology, demanding tools that enhance creativity, empathy, and efficiency. Experts note that these generations prioritize AI fluency and seek personalized experiences that go beyond commoditized facts, emphasizing emotional resonance and human connection in an AI-driven world[2][4].
Gates highlights that traditional shopping is “stuck in the...
Gates highlights that traditional shopping is “stuck in the past,” with consumers wasting hours comparing prices manually. Phia’s AI solution addresses this by automating and simplifying the process, enabling users to make smarter purchasing decisions quickly. This reflects the Gen Z ethos of using technology not only for convenience but also for smarter consumption and sustainability, as the app’s aggregation includes resale items, promoting circular fashion[1].
In summary, Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni have illuminated...
In summary, Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni have illuminated how Gen Z is harnessing AI to reinvent shopping and consumer behavior. Their Phia app is a prime example of Gen Z’s ability to combine technological savvy, entrepreneurial spirit, and cultural influence to create impactful AI-driven innovations that resonate with their generation and beyond[1][3].
🔄 Updated: 10/2/2025, 3:10:38 PM
The market reacted positively following Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni's reveal of Gen Z-focused AI consumer strategies with their startup Phia, which recently raised $8 million in seed funding in just over three weeks, signaling strong investor confidence[3]. While the broader AI-driven market saw mixed stock movements this week, enthusiasm around AI innovation remains high, with companies like Nvidia showing volatility but strong after-hours gains; however, no direct public trading information on Phia's stock is available as it remains private[2]. Analysts note that Phia's digital-first, Gen Z-targeted approach is contributing to its rapid traction, fueling broader optimism about AI's transformative potential in consumer markets[1][3].
🔄 Updated: 10/2/2025, 3:20:52 PM
Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni have raised $8 million in seed funding for their Gen Z-powered shopping app, Phia, leveraging AI to deliver instant price comparisons and targeting a massive surge in mobile shopping among young consumers[3]. Speaking to TechCrunch on September 20, 2025, Kianni revealed that “we decided to really adjust our focus” to prioritize real-time price checks on mobile, citing that “most of our peers were shopping on their phones, not on their desktops”[3]. Investors include Kleiner Perkins and notable personalities like Sheryl Sandberg, as Phia’s user base tops 500,000 with over 5,000 brand partnerships[5].
🔄 Updated: 10/2/2025, 3:31:05 PM
Consumer and public reaction to Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni’s Gen Z–focused AI startup, Phia, has been notably enthusiastic, with the app attracting over 500,000 users and forming partnerships with more than 5,000 brands, reflecting strong engagement from young shoppers prioritizing sustainability and convenience[5]. Their $8 million seed round, raised in just three and a half weeks, further underscores investor confidence and market demand for AI tools tailored to Gen Z behaviors, such as mobile shopping and instant price checks[1][3]. However, surveys reveal a complex broader Gen Z attitude toward AI: nearly 70% view AI as a key work and creativity aid, yet over a third admit feeling guilty using AI, and 5
🔄 Updated: 10/2/2025, 3:40:59 PM
Breaking News: Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni, founders of Phia, have shared insights into how Gen Z strategies and AI integration are transforming the competitive landscape. They highlighted that Gen Z's preference for mobile shopping and instant price checks drove their app's development, quoting Phoebe Gates as saying, "We should have known this honestly from our own behavior"[1]. This shift in consumer behavior, combined with the vast potential of AI—estimated to impact industries by $380 billion to $690 billion—underscores the need for companies to adapt quickly to remain competitive[2].
🔄 Updated: 10/2/2025, 3:50:59 PM
Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni’s AI shopping app Phia has reshaped the competitive landscape in fashion retail by raising $8 million in seed funding and attracting 500,000 users within just five months of its April 2025 launch[1]. Their app’s AI scans over 300 million fashion items across 40,000 retail and resale sites, offering instant price checks and personalized deals, significantly disrupting traditional shopping methods reliant on manual comparisons[1][3]. This rapid adoption, backed by prominent investors like Kris Jenner and Hailey Bieber, exemplifies how Gen Z-driven AI startups are outpacing legacy players through innovative, mobile-first solutions and millennial-celebrity-fueled venture capital strategies[1][3].
🔄 Updated: 10/2/2025, 4:01:34 PM
Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni, co-founders of AI-powered shopping app Phia, revealed in September 2025 that their platform now serves over 500,000 users and counts more than 5,000 brand partnerships, quadrupling its pre-launch projections after just five months live[1]. Kianni told reporters, “A good AI shopping assistant should understand your preferences and closet so when you ask, ‘Should I buy this?’ it can say, ‘No, because X, Y, and Z are already in your closet,’” highlighting Phia’s personalized, sustainability-focused technical approach—a direct response to Gen Z demand for fast, eco-conscious, and data-driven retail[3]. The duo also cited their
🔄 Updated: 10/2/2025, 4:11:23 PM
Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni are reshaping the AI competitive landscape with their Gen Z–focused shopping app Phia, which recently raised $8 million by leveraging mobile-first, instant price-check methods favored by young consumers, signaling a shift from traditional desktop and second-hand comparison models[1]. Their approach has attracted top-tier venture capital, including significant early support from Soma Capital, reflecting a new wave of AI startups that blend social entrepreneurship with high-tech innovation[1]. This evolution exemplifies how Gen Z’s preferences and digital behaviors are driving fresh competitive dynamics in AI-driven e-commerce, challenging established players to adapt or risk obsolescence in a market McKinsey predicts will see AI creating up to $690 billion in economic impact over three year
🔄 Updated: 10/2/2025, 4:21:32 PM
Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni’s AI startup Phia leverages generative AI to personalize secondhand shopping, having already amassed 500,000 users and partnered with over 5,000 brands since its April 2025 launch[1]. Their AI-driven platform analyzes user preferences and purchasing patterns to recommend whether to buy new items based on closet inventory, aiming to reduce unnecessary consumption while optimizing for price and style[3]. This approach exemplifies Gen Z’s integration of AI for sustainability and enhanced consumer decision-making, reflecting broader trends where AI's reasoning and personalization capabilities drive up to 5% revenue gains in retail through improved sales effectiveness and customer care[2][4].
🔄 Updated: 10/2/2025, 4:31:28 PM
In a recent development, Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni, both part of the 2025 TIME100 Next list, have been discussing the global impact of AI on Gen Z. Their discussions highlight how AI is becoming a pivotal tool for Gen Z, with nearly 70% using it for work-related tasks, while 55% believe it will have a negative impact on society in the next decade[6]. Meanwhile, international leaders, including Apple CEO Tim Cook, are calling for more regulation on AI, with 18 countries signing a pact to ensure AI systems are safe from cybersecurity threats[4].
🔄 Updated: 10/2/2025, 4:41:28 PM
At TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 in San Francisco (Oct 27–29), Phia co-founders Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni revealed how their AI-powered shopping assistant is shifting the competitive landscape by directly targeting Gen Z’s mobile-first, values-driven habits—a demographic that now accounts for over 40% of global consumers, yet remains underserved by legacy platforms[1]. “The girl who’s obsessively shopping and scrolling all the time is often doing it on her phone; laptop more when she’s working, but the phone is key,” Gates emphasized, detailing how Phia’s recent $8 million funding round—fueled by top Silicon Valley investors and women-led funds—is enabling rapid feature
🔄 Updated: 10/2/2025, 4:51:34 PM
Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni, co-founders of Phia, emphasized the need for more effective government regulation in the AI sector during their recent appearance at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025. They highlighted concerns shared by Gen Zers, who are increasingly aware of AI's impact on their lives. Echoing sentiments from Gen Z activists, Gates and Kianni called for clearer guidelines and oversight to ensure AI development aligns with ethical standards, mirroring the push for better regulation outlined in proposals like California's SB 1047.
🔄 Updated: 10/2/2025, 5:01:31 PM
**Breaking News Update**: Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni, founders of the AI-powered shopping assistant Phia, are sharing insights on how they leveraged Gen Z methods to raise $8 million in funding. Industry experts note that Phia's success is attributed to its understanding of Gen Z shopping habits, with nearly 500,000 users and over 5,000 brand partnerships, reflecting a new paradigm in consumer AI. As Kianni highlighted, their approach involved adjusting focus towards mobile-first strategies, which was instrumental in their fundraising efforts[1][3].
🔄 Updated: 10/2/2025, 5:11:31 PM
**Breaking News Update**: In a recent interview, Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni, founders of the AI-powered shopping assistant Phia, revealed insights into leveraging Gen Z's affinity for AI. The market reacted positively to this news, with investor interest in AI-focused startups surging. For instance, Phia has attracted over 500,000 users and secured partnerships with more than 5,000 brands since its launch in April 2025[3][5].