Phoebe Gates, the youngest daughter of Bill and Melinda French Gates, has stepped into the entrepreneurial spotlight with Phia, a fashion-tech platform valued at $8 million. But before launching her company, she received critical advice from her parents that has guided her journey as a Gen Z founder.
“Raise your own capital”
Melinda French Gates was firm with her daughter: if Phoebe wanted her business to succeed, she had to secure funding without relying on family wealth. The point was to build independence, credibility, and resilience. Phoebe has since said that raising her own capital gave her startup legitimacy and proved the concept was strong enough to stand on its own.
“Surround yourself with the right people”
Another piece of advice was to focus on the team. Melinda emphasized that success often depends on the people working with you, not just the product. Phoebe has echoed this, saying the best part of Phia is working with committed co-founders and employees who believe in the mission, stay late, and push the vision forward.
“Education matters, even for entrepreneurs”
Despite Bill Gates’ famous decision to drop out of Harvard, both parents advised Phoebe against cutting her education short. They encouraged her to complete her degree before fully diving into business. This gave her a stronger foundation and allowed her to balance learning with launching Phia.
“Failure is part of the process”
Melinda also stressed that failure is not the end, but part of building something meaningful. Phoebe was told to embrace setbacks as learning opportunities. That mindset helped her push through early challenges and view obstacles as stepping stones.
Why It Matters
The advice Phoebe Gates received reflects a philosophy grounded in self-reliance, discipline, and resilience. By raising her own capital and building the right team, she avoided the perception that her success was solely tied to family privilege. And by prioritizing education and being prepared to fail, she learned lessons that extend beyond her startup.
Phia is now positioned as a growing player in the resale and fashion tech space, merging AI with sustainability and consumer convenience. And behind its rise are the timeless lessons passed down from two of the world’s most influential philanthropists.
