From Scratch with Jessica Harris: Recent Episodes
Jessica Harris
littleBits is a hardware company that aims to put the power of electronics in everyone’s hands. The company sells electronic modules that snap together with magnets, making them accessible to both adults and children. Ayah earned a degree in computer engineering from the American University in Beirut, Lebanon and has a Masters from the MIT […]
Waze is a crowd sourced traffic navigation app. Drivers share real-time traffic and road information to help other users on the same route. Uri founded Waze in Israel in 2007 and the company was sold to Google in 2013 for $1.1 Billion. Uri is also the founder of FeeX, which also uses crowd sourced information— […]
Fresh Direct is an online grocer that disrupted the traditional food supply chain by sourcing food where it’s produced and delivering it to consumers without going through additional retailers. Fresh Direct launched in 2002 from its headquarters in a former paper plant in Long Island City, Queens. Jason speaks with Jessica Harris about how he […]
Lyft is a transportation network company with a peer-to-peer mobile app that enables passengers to request rides with their smartphones. Prior to starting Lyft, John co-founded Zimride in 2007, a carpooling ride-share company available predominantly in college communities. Zimride was sold to Enterprise Rent-A-Car in 2013. Lyft is available across the United States and through […]
Essie started her eponymous brand in 1981 with $10,000 after working in the hosiery business. When Essie launched, there were very few companies making nail polish, and nail salons were rare. Essie nail polish is now available in roughly 25,000 salons in more than 100 countries. The company was bought by L’Oreal in 2010. Essie […]
Walker & Company makes beauty and health products for people of color. Prior, Tristan was the first African American entrepreneur in residence at the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz. He is also the founder of Code2040, a program that connects Black and Latino coders with Silicon Valley startups for summer internships. Tristan speaks with Jessica […]
Luis is an inventor and computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon. He is one of the creators of CAPTCHA, a system that allows websites to determine whether you’re a human or a computer. CAPTCHAs are wavy, distorted words that people need to type out when they’re submitting a form to a website. Luis’ company ReCAPTCHA […]
Robert Stephens started making computer tech-support house calls on his dirt bike while he was a college student at the University of Minnesota in 1994. He’d arrive to a customer’s house on time, take off his shoes, wear a clean uniform, and fix the problem. His cheeky “law enforcement” marketing theme caught people’s attention, and […]
Martine is a pioneer in the satellite industry, launching companies including Geostar, PanAmSat, and Sirius Satellite Radio. She also founded United Therapeutics, a pharmaceutical company focused on cardiopulmonary disorders. In 2013, she became the highest paid female CEO in America. Martine is a helicopter pilot and a parent of four children. She also used to […]
Andrew launched Theory, a contemporary clothing company, in 1997 with co-founder Eli Tahari. Theory used the stretchy fabric lycra to create a more modern, slender look initially for young professional women. Theory was sold in 2003 to the Japanese company Fast Retailing and IPO’ed in 2005. In addition to his role at Theory, Andrew has […]
Hot Bread Kitchen is an organization that teaches immigrant women to bake artisanal breads from their home country. HBK provides culinary and management training and english classes to these women who have come to New York City from countries including Bangladesh, Mexico, and Morocco, among others. HBK’s breads are available at select grocery stores including […]
Sometimes the company you start looks a lot different from the company you end up with; Azim Premji turned his cooking fat company into one of India’s largest technology companies. With over 70,000 employees and $3Bn in sales, Wipro provides software solutions, research and development, and information technology outsourcing to multinational corporations. Azim is the […]
Sir Kensington’s is a condiment company that sells ketchup, mayo, mustard, etc. Mark and his partner Scott tried to create a gourmet alternative to Heinz and started tinkering with recipes in their off-campus apartment while they were students at Brown University. Unilever acquired the company in April, 2017. Mark speaks with Jessica Harris about how […]
Le Labo is a perfume company that launched on Elizabeth Street in New York City in 2006. Le Labo perfumes are prepared on the spot for the client in each store, and the brand is appreciated for its minimalist peeled-back aesthetic. Le Labo was bought by Estee Lauder in 2010. Fabrice speaks with Jessica Harris […]
AuthenTec makes fingerprint sensors that could unlock mobile phones and computers. AuthenTec was sold to Apple in 2012 for $356 million, and the fingerprint sensor first appeared on the iPhone 5s in 2013. Scott speaks with Jessica Harris about how he launched AuthenTec, from scratch. Listen to the interview
ConBody is an exercise program that Coss developed while he was in prison for selling drugs. Coss lost 70 pounds in six months by working out in his 9’x6′ cell. Con body is located on the Lower East Side of Manhattan and also offers classes online for those who want prison-style workouts from the solitary […]
Jo Malone is a fragrance entrepreneur. She launched Jo Malone London in a retail shop in London in 1994. The company was bought by Estee Lauder in 1999. Jo launched her next company, Jo Loves, in 2011 after a five year hiatus from the fragrance industry. Jo is the author of Jo Malone: My Story. […]
KIND is a food company that produces sweet and savory bars with whole nuts, spices, and fruit, among other products. KIND is sold in a diverse array of locations including Whole Foods, Walmart, convenience stores and newspaper stands. Daniel launched KIND in 2003. Daniel is also the founder of PeaceWorks, which sells Mediterranean spreads. PeaceWorks […]
LegalZoom is an online service that provides legal documents and solutions for consumers and small businesses. The company helps visitors form corporations, file patents, trademark a name, create a living trust, etc. without the fees associated with hiring a lawyer. Brian speaks with Jessica Harris about how he launched Legal Zoom, from scratch. Listen to […]
As a teenager, Maguy Le Coze and her brother Gilbert were introduced to the culinary life while helping their parents in their hotel restaurant in Brittany, France. But staying in the French countryside was not for her. Maguy and Gilbert opened Le Bernardin first in Paris, and later in New York City in 1986. Le […]
Dr. Langer is a chemical engineer who has pioneered the fields of drug delivery and tissue engineering. His lab at MIT receives roughly $10 Million in annual grants and has 100 researchers. Dr. Langer has helped to launch close to 30 start-ups, and his lab’s innovations have been licensed or sublicensed by 250 companies. Dr. […]
Casper is a company focused on sleep. Casper’s leading product is its mattress, which can be ordered online and delivered in a box, sometimes within hours if you live in New York City. Casper makes one type of mattress for all consumers, believing that more choice does not mean more comfort. Philip speaks with Jessica […]
Gary is a serial entrepreneur who launched Match.com, the online dating service, in 1993. A host of other online matchmaking personals companies have hatched as a result of Gary’s innovation. Gary also registered a number of lucrative domain names in the early days of the internet including housing.com, jobs.com, and autos.com. He was also the […]
Bridge International Academies is a private network of nursery and primary schools educating the poorest students in developing countries including Kenya, Uganda and India. Bridge charges families roughly six dollars per month for a pupil to attend school and uses economies of scale to keep costs low across its more than 400 academies. Jay speaks […]
Casa Dragones is a luxury sipping tequila made from 100% blue agave. Bertha González Nieves speaks with Jessica Harris about how she launched Casa Dragones, from scratch.
Tanium is a cybersecurity company that focuses on providing internet safety for the US government and Fortune 500 companies. Clients include Amazon, Target, Best Buy and the Department of Defense. Orion started Tanium with his father David. Orion speaks with Jessica Harris about how he launched Tanium, from scratch. Listen to the interview
Kiva Systems is a mobile robotics company that automates the warehouse fulfillment process. Kiva robots deliver inventory shelves to stationary human operators who then pick and pack the product. Mick started Kiva Systems in 2003, and the company was acquired by Amazon for $775 Million in Spring, 2012. Customers include Diapers.com and Zappos (both owned […]
Instagram is a photo sharing app that was released through the Apple App Store in October, 2010 and reached one million users in just three months. Facebook acquired Instagram in 2012 for one billion dollars. Mike and his partner, Kevin Systrom, are both graduates of Stanford University. Mike speaks with Jessica Harris about how he […]
Panda Express is an American Chinese food chain with 2,000 restaurants located in airports, malls, universities, military bases, amusement parks, among other locations. Andrew started Panda Express with his wife Peggy in 1983. Panda’s first restaurant was located in a mall in Glendale, California. Andrew speaks with Jessica Harris about how he built Panda Express, […]
Bolt Threads is a materials innovation company. Using proprietary technology and revolutionary bio-engineering concepts, Bolt Threads seeks to deliver high-performance materials focused on sustainability. Their first project is spider silk, using the DNA of a spider’s silk to manufacture clothes. Dan speaks with Jessica Harris about how he is innovating new materials from nature, from […]
One third of the world population does not have access to reliable electricity. D.light sells solar lighting and power to consumers in developing countries. The company’s lamps are healthier, cleaner, and cheaper than the traditional kerosene lamp alternatives. Sam speaks with Jessica Harris about how he launched d.light, from scratch. Listen to the interview
Gary Goldberg was a producer and writer for television and film. His TV sitcoms included the 1982 hit show Family Ties, starring Michael Fox, as well as Brooklyn Bridge and Spin City. Gary was the author of the memoir Sit Ubu Sit. Ubu Productions, founded in 1981, was named after his black labrador retriever Ubu. […]
Gary Goldberg was a producer and writer for television and film. His TV sitcoms included the 1982 hit show Family Ties, starring Michael Fox, as well as Brooklyn Bridge and Spin City. Gary was the author of the memoir Sit Ubu Sit. Ubu Productions, founded in 1981, was named after his black labrador retriever Ubu. […]
Fadi Ghandour is one of the leading entrepreneurs of the Middle East. Fadi and his family moved from Lebanon to Jordan where his father eventually became head of Royal Jordanian Airlines. Adopting his father’s business sense and knowledge of the aviation space, Fadi recognized and filled the need for dependable logistics transportation and delivery services […]
Enigma is a company that uses the internet to make public data available and understandable to users. Enigma links across various databases to uncover relevant facts that a user might not notice by looking at a single data set. The universe of data sources to choose among includes SEC filings, public health records, government spending […]
Stripe is a financial software company that helps businesses manage their online and mobile transactions. Patrick started Stripe in 2009 when he was 21 years old with his younger brother, John. He is originally from Dromineer, Ireland, which has a population of roughly 70 people. Patrick speaks with Jessica Harris about how he launched Stripe, […]
Beyond Meat makes meat using plant protein instead of animal protein. The goal is to make a healthier product that looks, tastes, feels, and smells like chicken or beef using fewer natural resources. Ethan speaks with Jessica Harris about how he launched Beyond Meat, from scratch. Listen to the interview
Shazam is an app that identifies the music or TV show around you simply by holding up your phone to the sound. Shazam was one of the first apps available in the Apple app store in 2008. Now, a hundred million people per month use the service. Chris speaks with Jessica Harris about how he […]
Since the 1970s, The Children’s Television Workshop—now called the Sesame Workshop—intended to help low-income children become better prepared for school by using television as a tool. The Sesame Workshop’s shows—including Sesame Street, The Electric Company, 3-2-1 Contact—ended up being much more far reaching, teaching and entertaining children from all backgrounds, internationally. Jessica Harris speaks with […]
Biolite is a company that produces clean, portable stoves for cooking off the grid in developing countries as well as for camping. The stove reduces toxic smoke emissions by 90 percent by using its own heat waste to generate energy. Biolite is targeting a global public health challenge of smoke pollution caused by cooking over […]
Nolan is considered one of the pioneers of the video game industry. Nolan developed the first coin operated game (Computer Space), as well as Atari’s popular debut game, Pong. Nolan also founded Chuck E. Cheese’s, a game centric restaurant chain. He is the author of Finding the Next Steve Jobs. He and his partner Al […]
athenahealth is helping to build the internet architecture for the healthcare industry. It is a cloud based software enabled company that helps physicians manage patients’ electronic medical records, among other services. The company was initially focused on childbirth services in San Diego before transitioning into a digital management company for the healthcare industry. Jonathan speaks […]
DonorsChoose is an online philanthropic marketplace that connects citizen philanthropists— members of the public– to public school teachers who request supplies for their classroom projects across the United States. Charles started DonorsChoose in 2000 while he was a public school teacher in the Bronx facing his own shortage of supplies for the projects he wanted […]
Dollar Shave Club is a membership club for men’s grooming products. The company started delivering razors in 2011 for less than $10 per month. DSC now offers a range of bathroom products from hair gel to body cleanser. Michael speaks with Jessica Harris about how he started DSC, from scratch. Listen to the interview
charity: water provides clean water to communities in developing countries. Scott launched charity: water in 2006 after raising $15,000 from his friends at his 31st birthday party. Prior to launching charity: water, Scott was a night club promoter, of course. Scott speaks with Jessica Harris about how he launched charity: water, from scratch. Listen to […]
Emily Weiss, Founder Glossier. Glossier is a beauty brand that launched in 2014. Glossier was introduced on Instagram and its products are sold on the company’s website. Glossier caters to the Millenials that Emily is connected to on social media. Emily is also the founder of Into the Gloss, an online community dedicated to beauty. […]
IDEO is a global design firm that takes a human-centered approach to innovation. IDEO has helped to innovate products including Apple’s first computer mouse in 1980, the first stand-up toothpaste for Procter and Gamble, surgical tools for Medtronic, and furniture for Steelcase. The company also helps governments and social organizations innovate internationally. David is the […]
Friends of the High Line is the organization that pioneered the transformation of an abandoned elevated train line into a public space about 1.5 miles long on Manhattan’s west side in New York City. Robert and his Co-Founder Joshua David started the organization after attending a community board meeting to protest the High Line’s demolition […]
Glossier is an online beauty company that launched on Instagram in 2014. Emily is also the founder of Into the Gloss, an online community dedicated to beauty. Visitors get tips on skin, hair, makeup, and learn the beauty routines of leading members of the cosmetic and fashion industries. Emily speaks with Jessica Harris about how […]
Peter Manning launched his eponymous clothing company to focus on men 5’8″ and under. Prior to starting the company in 2012, Peter was a Tony Award winning theatrical producer. Peter speaks with Jessica Harris about his career shift– and the sartorial needs of this segment of the male population— from scratch. Listen to the interview
Shutterstock is an online marketplace for photos, graphic images, video clips and music. The content is crowdsourced, with photographers, artists and other contributors uploading their content in exchange for a percent of revenue when their work is purchased. Jon started Shutterstock in 2003, and the company went public in 2012. Jon speaks to Jessica Harris […]
Strand Book Store in New York City was founded by Fred’s father Benjamin in 1927. Fred was born in 1928 and has been working in the family business since he was thirteen years old. The Strand has roughly 2.5 million used, rare, and new books—the equivalent of roughly 18 miles of books. Fred spoke to […]
Mark started the Mark Morris Dance Group (MMDG) in 1980. Headquartered in Fort Green, Brooklyn, the company is on tour more than 20 weeks per year. MMDG collaborates with leading artists, including the cellist Yo Yo Ma, the pianist Emanuel Ax, the designer Isaac Mizrahi, and the dancer Baryshnikov. Mark speaks with Jessica Harris about […]
Privateer is a private equity firm focused on making investments in the cannabis industry as the legalization of marijuana continues throughout the United States. Some of Privateer’s portfolio companies include Leafly, a user-generated reviews website for all things cannabis related; Tilray, a producer of medical cannabis in British Columbia, Canada; and Marley Natural, a global […]
Warby Parker is an online eyeglass retailer that sells low cost vintage inspired glasses. For each pair sold, Warby Parker provides a pair of glasses to low income people in more than 36 countries through non-profit partners like VisionSpring. VisionSpring trains female entrepreneurs to give eye exams and sell glasses in their communities. Neil co-founded […]
MedShare is an organization that redistributes surplus medical equipment to hospitals in the developing world. These supplies include surgical instruments, gloves, stethoscopes, sutures, x-ray machines, wheelchairs, etc. AB started MedShare in 1998 in Atlanta, Georgia. He is originally from Mississippi. AB speaks with Jessica Harris about how he built MedShare, from scratch. Listen to the […]
Bonobos is an e-commerce company that sells men’s clothing. Bonobos started off with the goal of selling better fitting pants for men in 2007 and has expanded to include all type’s of men’s apparel. Bonobos was acquired by Walmart in 2017, after this interview was recorded. Andy speaks with Jessica Harris about how he built […]
Coravin produces a device that accesses wine without removing the cork. Through a medical grade needle, the Coravin System extracts a portion of the wine and replaces it with argon gas. Greg is also a medical device inventor who founded Intrinsic Therapeutics, a company focused on spinal disorders. Greg is a graduate of MIT and […]
Island Creek Oysters supplies oysters to more than 400 chefs across the United States. Restaurants that serve its oysters include Thomas Keller’s Per Se and French Laundry, the Eastern Standard in Boston, and the Oyster Bar in New York’s Grand Central Station. The company sells roughly 120,000 oysters per week, and close to 6 million […]
Team Rubicon is an organization comprised of former veterans who apply their military experience to emergency situations, working as first responders internationally. Jake served in the military, in Iraq and Afghanistan, before returning to civilian life. He started Team Rubicon initially in response to the earthquake in Haiti. Jake speaks with Jessica Harris about how […]
The XPrize Foundation drives innovation through competitions with the hopes of improving the human experience. Its prizes are focused on bold yet achievable projects, ranging from space exploration to the human genome. The first prize of $10 Million was awarded in 2004 to creators of the first piloted space craft. Peter is the co-author of […]
Dropbox is a file sharing and personal data storage company that allows users to access their content (Microsoft Word documents, photos, videos, etc.) from any of their devices. Prior to starting Dropbox, Drew started an online SAT prep company called Accolade (and yes, he scored 1600 on his SAT). Drew speaks with Jessica Harris about […]
Oscar Health is focused on keeping health insurance simple. The company helps users connect directly to doctors, get prescriptions, and find insurance plans that are easier to navigate. Mario speaks with Jessica Harris about how he is bringing innovation to health insurance, from scratch. Listen to the interview
Naif is the creator of The 99, a comic series that features superheroes based on Islamic archetypes. Coming from a background in clinical psychology, Naif earned his PhD and aided war victims with post traumatic stress disorder. Deciding to take a different path, Naif went to business school and developed an idea that would eventually […]
Ian is the author and illustrator of Olivia, a children’s book series about a pig. His first book, initially a gift for his niece Olivia, was awarded the Caldecott Medal in 2000. Ian is a set and costumer designer for opera and dance, as well as the creator of more than 30 covers for The […]
From joining gyms to taking Yoga classes, finding a workout that was both effective and satisfying did not come easily to Elizabeth and Julie. Unable to discover a cardio program that motivated and inspired (as well as burned calories), Julie and Elizabeth set out to create a new kind of routine. Fusing elements of indoor […]
MongoDB—an open source database company that focuses on helping companies manage their data—is just one of the several companies that Dwight has successfully launched. He is also the co-founder of Doubleclick, the ad serving platform (acquired by Google for $3.1Bn); Gilt Groupe, the online fashion company; Business Insider, the news web platform, among others. Dwight […]
Coursera offers online courses to the public through partnerships with leading universities internationally. Coursera was launched in 2012 and reached its first one million users faster than Facebook or Twitter. Coursera is one of a number of companies offering massive open online courses– or MOOCs– to address a growing global population and the rising costs […]
Arianna launched the Huffington Post, the online media platform, in 2005. The company was acquired by AOL in 2011 and was the first online-only news organization to win the Pulitzer Prize for national reporting in 2012. Arianna has written more than a dozen books on topics including feminism, Maria Callas, Picasso, and Greek mythology. Her […]
SolarCity is a clean energy company that sells solar energy to consumers. SolarCity has installed solar panels for companies including Walmart, Intel, and eBay, among others. Elon Musk, the entrepreneur behind PayPal, Tesla electric cars and SpaceX, is Lyndon’s cousin and the company’s chairman. Lyndon founded the company with his brother, Pete, in 2006. SolarCty went […]
Opower is a software company focused on energy efficiency. Opower works with utilities to monitor how much energy a consumer uses and gives households and businesses incentives to lower their consumption. The idea is that through the use of behavioral science techniques such as peer proof, people will feel compelled to consume energy more responsibly. […]
Despite his elite background in India, Bunker Roy chose an unconventional path dedicating his life to educating India’s impoverished population. Influenced by Ghandi’s approach toward self reliance at the village level, the Barefoot College is an organization that teaches practical skills including solar engineering, architecture and water purification, to mostly illiterate women and men. Upon […]
Zainab Salbi grew up in Iraq with close ties to Saddam Hussein. Her father was Saddam’s personal pilot, causing her family to be victims of psychological abuse by the dictator. When Zainab was living in the United States as a young adult, she was again involved in an abusive relationship. Her understanding of women in […]
African Leadership Academy (ALA) is an institution focused on developing Africa’s next generation of leaders. ALA provides practical leadership education, networking and mentoring opportunities for its students, as well as financial incentives to remain on the African continent. Fred started ALA when he was 27 years old. Fred speaks with Jessica Harris about how he […]
Jack is a serial entrepreneur who has started two companies — Twitter and Square — that, on the face of it, seem entirely different. Twitter is a social networking service; Square is a mobile payments company. But Jack believes that their shared purpose is to make each of their related tasks — communicating and transacting […]
Nest Labs is focused on helping to create the next-generation home by making energy-saving smart digital assistants. Tony calls Nest’s first product, the Nest Learning Thermostat, “a smartphone in disguise.” Prior to launching Nest, Tony worked at Apple where he led the team that developed the iPod and iPhone. He was a special advisor to […]
Marc and Vinnie have been close friends since they were elementary school classmates in New Jersey. Mark and Vinnie spent their earlier careers in finance and law respectively, before becoming business partners in their late twenties. In addition to Diapers.com, the online retail site specializing in baby products, they have started a number of other […]
IEX is an alternate trading platform whose mission is to ensure fair trading in the US equity capital market system. IEX was launched specifically to counter the behavior of high frequency traders who take advantage of the information arbitrage made possible by electronic trading. Prior to starting IEX, Brad worked at Royal Bank of Canada […]
Chef and restaurateur Thomas Keller bought the French Laundry, a restaurant in Napa Valley California, and turned it into one of the leading fine dining establishments in the world. The French Laundry and Per Se, located in the Time Warner Center in New York City, have both been awarded three Michelin Stars. Thomas has won […]
Have you ever had a creative project you were eager to get off the ground but you didn’t have the funding to make it happen? Yancey Strickler, co-founder of Kickstarter, has helped to develop an online solution that involves the crowd’s participation. Kickstarter connects artists and innovators with potential funders who simply learn about projects […]
“Hands which help are better than the lips that pray” are the words that hang in Dr. Devi Shetty’s office with a picture of Mother Theresa, a former patient of his. Dr. Shetty is a cardiac surgeon who pioneered low cost cardiac surgery for India’s poor population. Dr. Shetty founded the Narayana Hrudayalaya Hospital in […]
Bre co-founded Makerbot Industries in 2009 after working as a public school teacher in Seattle, Washington. Makerbot makes 3-D printers that make actual objects. Instead of producing ink on paper, a Makerbot makes items ranging from bottle openers and toys to homes for hermit crabs(!). Bre talks to Jessica Harris about how he launched Makerbot […]
Yelp provides user-generated reviews of local businesses through its website and mobile app. Its contributors provide their opinions on a variety of businesses, ranging from clothing stores to restaurants. Prior to launching Yelp, Jeremy worked at Paypal. Yelp went public in 2012. Jeremy speaks with Jessica Harris about how he launched Yelp, from scratch. Listen […]
Rob Kalin initially started Etsy—the online marketplace for handmade goods—as a way to sell his own furniture in 2005. The company has become a vehicle for more than one million artisans who sell their products—ranging from knit-wear to musical instruments to clocks—through the site. Rob speaks with Jessica Harris about how he built Etsy, from […]
Dr. Rodney Brooks is the co-founder of Rethink Robotics, a company that makes robots for the manufacturing industry. Rethink’s first robot, Baxter, was introduced in October 2012 with the goal of increasing US manufacturing productivity. Prior to Rethink, Dr. Brooks co-founded iRobot, which makes robots for the consumer and defense industries. iRobot’s first consumer product […]
Zulily is an e-commerce company focused on products for mothers and their children. The company offers daily flash sales of boutique and leading brands at discounted prices. Darrell launched Zulily in 2009 with Mark Vadon, the founder of the online diamond merchant Blue Nile. Darrell speaks with Jessica Harris about how he launched Zulily, from […]
David developed an interest in computer programming when he was 11 years old. Instead of finishing high school he started working, and innovating, in the online community. Tumblr is a leading micro blogging and social media tool where creators can upload images, video, audio clips and bursts of text. The site– with more than 50 […]
Jeffrey Hollender set out to build a company that was both profitable and environmentally sustainable. Seventh Generation makes cleaning and sanitary products that focus on resource conservation and eco-friendly business practices. Jeffrey is the author of several books and an advocate of corporate and environmental responsibility. Jeffrey discusses with Jessica Harris how he has helped […]
The Caribbean Harvest Foundation is helping to revitalize the commercial farming industry in Haiti. The organization uses solar powered hatcheries to produce tilapia fingerlings, which are then raised in cages by villagers around the nearby lake. CHF is alleviating poverty by employing locals and providing social services in the health and education sectors. Valentin speaks […]
Some sculptors work with materials like bronze or marble, which last forever; but others build sculptures made of ice or snow, which last only a few moments. Who are some of the sculptors producing ephemeral art? Jessica speaks with one such pioneer, Andy Goldsworthy. Andy’s outdoor sculptures have been shown at the Metropolitan Museum of […]
Gazelle is a company that resells used electronic equipment including iPhones, BlackBerries, iPads, and recent Apple computers, among other items. Prior to starting Gazelle, Israel was at eBay where he helped to build the international business and worked with eBay’s M&A team to acquire PayPal, which he subsequently joined. He was formerly a research analyst […]
Jessica speaks with Jim Barton, co-founder of Tivo, a product that allows users to digitally record television to a hard drive that can be recalled and watched at anytime. Through the invention of the Digital Video Recorder, or DVR, Tivo effectively changed the business model of television, handing over control from the TV executives to […]
Netspend was the first prepaid debit card company focused on the “underbanked” population in the United States. Launched in 1999, Netspend targets people who do not have access to credit cards or hold bank accounts. Bertrand and Roy started the company out of their one bedroom apartment in Austin, Texas with $750. They later raised […]
City Year is an organization focused on addressing the national dropout rate; one million American students drop out of high school annually. City Year’s corps members serve as tutors, mentors, and role models in America’s most challenging schools. City Year also played a role in the national service movement, helping to establish youth service programs, […]
The idea for Paperless Post developed while Alexa was an assistant to Katie Couric at CBS and her brother and co-founder James was still a student at Harvard College. Paperless Post allows people to send digital cards that have the look of actual stationary. Users can customize around various design elements including font, color, size, […]
Infosys is a leading global information, technology and consulting company with more than 150,000 employees and $7 Billion in revenue. Nandan started Infosys in 1981 in Bangalore, India with 6 colleagues. Nandan then served as the Chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), which through its project Aadhaar is seeking to provide unique […]
Babies are discriminating about the food they eat. Peas and carrots out of a jar don’t taste as good as the ‘real thing.’ Organic baby food companies are emerging to offer more tasty and nutritious options for babies. HappyBaby, founded by Jessica Rolph and Shazi Visram, is one such company. Jessica Harris and Shazi explain […]
Since growing up on an American compound in Saudi Arabia, Fadi Jaber developed a sweet tooth for American desserts. He later moved to New York City where he enjoyed gourmet cupcakes from shops such as Magnolia Bakery and Crumbs. Fadi opened his first American-inspired cupcake shop in Jordan, his home country, and has since expanded […]
Some people might look at a wooden chair as a functional piece of furniture, but others might see it as a work of art, the result of careful craftsmanship. Who are some of the country’s leading woodworkers who emphasize form as well as function? Jessica speaks with one such entrepreneur, Thomas Moser. Tom is the […]
“Turning life into a game” has always been of interest to Dennis Crowley. Dennis applies game dynamics to Foursquare, a popular social networking application that helps users get to know their city better. Foursquare was launched at South by Southwest in 2009 and has a following of approximately 10 million users. Dennis speaks to Jessica […]
Ballerinas started wearing point shoes in the late 19th century. Despite advancements in the dance world, the construction of toe shoes has remained pretty much unchanged. The same materials– paste, cardboard, paper and leather– are still used today, and the result is a dancer prone to excess pain and injury. Eliza Gaynor Minden, a former […]
Jules is the founder of Kroll, the leading risk consulting firm. Jules is considered one of the pioneers of the modern day corporate investigative and security industry, investigating individuals, governments and corporations. Kroll’s work includes restructuring Enron after its bankruptcy and uncovering Ferdinand Marcos’ secret wealth in the mid 1980s. Jessica Harris speaks with Jules […]
Some entrepreneurs start companies, but others pioneer whole industries. Jake Burton, founder of Burton Snowboards, both built an international snowboard company and helped to turn snowboarding from an underground activity to a more widely acceptable sport. He convinced ski resorts one by one to allow snowboarders on the mountains, and, with his help, snowboarding became […]
The ancient practice of swaddling, or wrapping a baby in a tight blanket, proves to have benefits for a baby’s health and development. Growing up in Australia, Raegan Moya-Jones was exposed to mothers swaddling their babies with muslin, a type of cotton. Years later, after a move to the United States and the birth of […]
Vitamin consumption is often taken for granted in prosperous nations. In contrast, populations in developed countries often do not have access to essential vitamins or minerals. Especially pregnant women in developing countries run the risk of denying their fetuses proper nutrition because basic foods are not fortified with micronutrients like folic acid, iron, iodine, and […]
During the New York newspaper strike of 1963, people missed reading the New York Times Book Review. A literary group of friends—including New York Review of Books founding editors Bob Silvers and Barbara Epstein—decided to start a book review of their own. With essays on politics, science, art, and books, the New York Review of […]
Bob Moore founded Bob’s Red Mill in 1978 after an earlier career in the auto mechanics business. The company produces all natural whole-grain products that are prepared in the age-old tradition of quartz stone grinding. Based in Portland Oregon, Bob’s Red Mill provides roughly 400 natural grain products to natural food stores across the United […]
A successful restaurant is more than a dining establishment; it is a form of entertainment. Danny Meyer, with his emphasis on hospitality, has become one of New York’s most successful restaurateurs. His restaurants include the Union Square Cafe, Gramercy Tavern, Eleven Madison Park, and The Modern, at the Museum of Modern Art. Jessica Harris speaks […]
When we see a painting hanging on the hallowed walls of a museum, we get a sense of an artist’s technique and imagination, but we don’t get a sense of the process and hurdles that artist faced on the way to critical acclaim. What goes on behind the scenes, or behind the canvas? How does […]
Growing up in the middle of a civil war in Lebanon, Khalil Nasrallah and his family made their way to Egypt where they founded a leading natural foods company in the middle of the desert. Their company, Wadi Foods, pioneered the production of high quality, healthy food products in the Middle East. Khalil speaks with […]
Photo: Quentin Bacon Ina Garten is a cookbook author and the star of Barefoot Contessa: Back to Basics, which airs on the Food Network. She is also the cofounder of a line of baking mixes, called Barefoot Contessa Pantry, which is sold in specialty food stores throughout North America. Ina speaks to Jessica Harris about […]
Artisanal chocolate has experienced a revolution, especially in the United States; but only a handful of producers actually go through the entire process of producing chocolate from the bean. Michael and Rick Mast were the first culinary craft men in New York City to make the “bean to bar” unchartered chocolate journey. The two brothers […]
During his senior year in college, David discovered that building literacy skills in a child’s early years was vitally influential to their future success. Seeking a way to address this, he co-founded Jumpstart, a non-profit organization that pairs college students and community volunteers with pre-schoolers from low-income households. Throughout the one-year program, children are provided […]
TaskRabbit is an online service that allows users to outsource small tasks to individuals known as TaskRabbits. These TaskRabbits are freelance workers who have been background checked, and they perform small jobs ranging from grocery shopping to furniture assembly. Leah started the company in 2008, and the service is available in leading cities including Boston, […]
NJOY is an electronic cigarette company that produces the flagship product NJOY King. E-cigarettes are non combustion cigarettes that contain nicotine and strive to have the look and feel and plume of a traditional cigarette. Craig’s brother Mark discovered ecigarettes in China, and the family started the company in 2006. Craig is a patent lawyer […]
Microfinance lending, the practice of making small loans to individuals who would otherwise not qualify for traditional loans, has been a proven method of nurturing entrepreneurship in developing countries. As a college student, Alex read about the work of Noble Prize winning Dr. Muhammad Yunus and his efforts in microfinance. Eager to contribute, he moved […]
Jessica meets Stephen McDonnell, the founder of Applegate Farms. Applegate is a natural meat company that has been a leader in the natural meat movement since the mid 1980s. Applegate supports over 200 family farms, dedicated to the humane treatment of animals, and the company’s meat is sold in delis and markets such as Whole […]
Andy Levine connects music bands to their fans in an unlikely venue: at sea. Since 2001 Andy has been creating and marketing musical experiences for music fans, working with artists like John Mayer, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Barenaked Ladies, among others. Andy speaks to Jessica Harris about the many hats he has worn in the music […]
The ability to buy and sell products online was one of the internet’s key innovations, but how do you convince people who are not used to e-commerce to trust that their money is arriving into the right hands? There were several companies in the late 1990s working to make online buying and selling easy and […]
Imagine if every citizen in the United States didn’t know how to read. That’s 300MM people. That’s about the number of illiterate citizens in India, a nation of over a billion people. Jessica Harris speaks with Brij Kothari, a social entrepreneur who is tackling India’s literacy problem through Bollywood films. His organization, Planet Read, offers […]
Year Up provides a one year intensive job training and internship program to young urban adults, 18-24 years old. Year Up enrolls close to 2,000 students per year, and roughly 400 organizations have hired Year Up students as interns or permanent employees. Prior to launching Year Up in 2000, Gerald was an internet entrepreneur. Gerald […]
Kevin is an internet entrepreneur who has led innovation in the online advertising and e-commerce space since the late 1990s. Kevin was the CEO of DoubleClick, the advertising serving company that was eventually sold to Google for $3.5 Billion. Kevin has since founded a number of internet companies including Gilt Groupe, a luxury e-commerce community, 10Gen, […]
Connie Duckworth is the founder and President of Arzu, an organization that promotes economic independence among women in Afghanistan through the sale of rugs. Arzu sources rugs from weavers in Afghanistan, sells them in the United States, and compensates these women at above market rates. Connie is also the author of The Old Girls’ Network, […]
Maurice’s creations include the D-Fuzz-It sweater comb, which removes lint from sweaters, the Safety Glide Hypodermic Needle Protector, a LED traffic Light, and SKYY Vodka, which was sold to Campari International for over $400 Million. Maurice founded the QUAD Cinemas in New York City in 1972, the first multiplex theater on the East Coast. Maurice […]
Interfaith Youth Core is an organization that promotes service and religious pluralism among youth on college campuses. Eboo is a member of President Obama’s advisory council for the White House Office for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships. He is the author of Acts of Faith: The Story of an American Muslim, the Struggle for the Soul […]
Albert cofounded Maysles Films with his brother David in the 1960s. Together they pioneered the documentary film genre cinema verite, which captures reality spontaneously as it unfolds in front of the camera. Albert has made more than three dozen films featuring the Beatles, Rolling Stones, and Truman Capote. Other films include Salesman and Grey Gardens, […]
Paul has been committed to disease and poverty reduction since his early twenties. Partners in Health, started in Haiti in the 1980s, provides health care to the world’s poorest communities. Paul launched the organization while he was a student at Harvard Medical School. Jessica Harris speaks with Paul about how he has helped to reshape […]
Uber is a re-imagined car service that consumers access via apps on their smart phones or SMS. Travis started Uber in 2010 in San Francisco, and the service is now available in cities ranging from New York City to Washington DC and Paris, among others. Travis speaks with Jessica Harris about his former internet startups, […]
SecondMarket is a private market place for buying and selling alternative assets including private company stock, bankruptcy claims, and restricted public stock. If you are an investor in a startup or an employee who wants to sell your company’s stock before the IPO, SecondMarket facilities this transaction. Companies trading on the SecondMarket exchange have included […]
Stephen Hannock is a contemporary painter whose works hang in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, The National Gallery in Washington DC and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, among others. He is known mostly for his landscape paintings, and his collectors include the singer Sting and Tom Brokaw. Fortune Magazine […]
Yvon is one of the leading pioneers in the climbing and outdoor apparel field. Since his teens, Yvon has been an avid climber and adventure seeker. He innovated rock and ice climbing equipment, which he sold through his first company Chouinard Equipment (now Black Diamond). Yvon later started Patagonia, and the company has been a […]
Steven Alan is the owner of his eponymous line of clothing stores, Steven Alan, located in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. In addition to creating his own clothes, Steven is a curator and supporter of other independent clothing designers. Steven launched Steven Alan after working for his family’s jewelry business and managing a […]
Pastry chef and restaurateur Sarabeth Levine started her business by first selling marmalade, a family recipe, in a small cafe on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Prior to life in the culinary world, Sarabeth was a substitute teacher, a dental assistant, and sold health insurance. Sarabeth speaks to Jessica Harris about how she pioneered […]
Most people recycle due to a sense of moral obligation towards the environment. Ron Gonen also saw a business opportunity. RecycleBank partners with municipalities and encourages households to recycle by rewarding them with points and gift cards that can be used at stores. RecycleBank is able to reduce the amount of waste being sent to […]
Tim Westergren, a former jazz musician and film composer, founded the online radio station Pandora in 2000. Tim brought together a team of musicologists to analyze and classify hundreds of thousands of songs based on some 400 attributes. This project, called the Music Genome Project, is the backbone of Pandora. Pandora works like this: a […]
Mike Lazerow co-founded Buddy Media with his wife Kass in 2007. Buddy Media helps corporations connect with their customers using social media. Clients like IBM, Ford, Pepsi and Jet Blue use Buddy Media’s software to engage consumers through Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and other platforms. Mike is a serial entrepreneur who formerly launched Golf.com (bought by […]
Richard is the founder of the TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design) Conference, TEDMED, and 19.20.21. He is also an architect and the author of over 80 books ranging from health care to travel. Throughout his career Richard has strived to make information easier to understand. Jessica Harris speaks with Richard about his wide array of […]
Jessica meets Simon Pearce, a glass blower, potter, and the founder of Simon Pearce, Inc. Simon started blowing glass in Ireland in the 1960s, and he moved the company to Quechee, Vermont in the early 1980s. His products are known around the world for their high quality and practical design. Jessica Harris speaks to Simon […]
Jessica speaks with Sam Farber, founder of the leading kitchenware company OXO. OXO’s universal designs are appropriate for users of all ages, whether you’re 75 years old with arthritis, or a five year old who hasn’t yet mastered apple peeling. OXO’s Good Grips line has won worldwide acclaim, and has been selected for the permanent […]
LinkedIn is an online network of professionals, founded by Reid Hoffman. LinkedIn helps people find and post jobs, reference check candidates, and create new trusted contacts. Jessica Harris speaks with Reid about how he has helped to connect professionals online, and from scratch.
Bikram Choudhury is the founder of Bikram Yoga, a series of 26 yoga postures practiced in a room that’s roughly 100 degrees. Bikram started practicing yoga in India when he was four years old, and there are now over 2000 Bikram Yoga centers across the globe, including in South Africa, China, England and the United […]
Prior to founding Badger, Bill Whyte was a carpenter who wanted to find a remedy for his dry, cracked hands. While tinkering with different botanical and natural ingredients like olive oil and beeswax, he discovered that he had a knack for creating natural solutions to common skin conditions. Bill and his family started Badger in […]
There are more and more students graduating from college looking to become entrepreneurs. But where do they start? What kind of business should it be? Where will they get the funding without a track record? Jessica speaks with two pioneers who launched their natural food company when they were recent college grads. Kelly and Brendan […]
(Photo Courtesy of Nicole Haley Photography.) Phil and Erin Stead are husband and wife, and author and illustrator of A Sick Day for Amos McGee, an award winning children’s book. A Sick Day for Amos McGee received the Caldecott Medal in 2011 and was listed as one of the 10 Best Illustrated Childrens’ Books of […]
Jessica Harris speaks with the founder of TUMI, Charlie Clifford. TUMI is a leading travel accessories company that has been making high-end, durable travel bags since 1975. The company has over 50 retail stores worldwide, with locations in Tokyo, London, NY, Paris and Chicago.
Cupcakes have been a staple of American culture for generations, but lately they’ve experienced a “gourmet renaissance.” They are over sized, stuffed with just about anything you can imagine, and are priced to match. Mia Bauer left her career as an attorney and started a bakery in Manhattan that made gourmet cupcakes. A few years […]
Pat Helding left her Wall Street job to start her brownie bakery in 1991, my pretty… Fat Witch is a mail order company with a retail shop in Manhattan’s Chelsea Market. The logo, packaging, and yummy treats make Fat Witch a favorite destination among tourists and locals. Pat tells Jessica the story behind Fat Witch, […]
When you’re preparing for a job interview, you want to put your best foot forward. But sometimes there’s a catch 22 when it comes to what to wear: How do you afford a suit if you don’t have a job, and how do you get the job if you’re not wearing professional clothes? Jessica speaks […]
Growing up in the shadow of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Greg Mortenson was raised by a family of humanitarians. After his sister died from a struggle with epilepsy, he decided to climb K2 in her memory. While descending K2 after a failed attempt at the summit, Greg accidentally stumbled into Korphe, a remote Pakistani village. […]
Baby bottles come in various shapes that aren’t necessarily “baby friendly.” But there is one company, Adiri, that makes a bottle that most closely simulates a mother’s breast and makes feeding easier for parents and baby. Jessica Harris speaks with Adiri CEO Jennifer Morrill, as we learn the inspiring story behind this innovative baby-feeding company, […]
When one thinks of beer, the images of scantily clad women or football games typically come to mind. But in the last few years, beer has undergone an artisanal revolution in the United States. Who are these craft beer pioneers providing new flavors and images to the beer category? Jessica’s guest is one such brewer, […]
When earthquakes, hurricanes, and other natural disasters happen, who comes to the rescue? There’s government relief, NGOs, and fifteen guys from New York City! Nick Lobel-Weiss is the cofounder of NYC Medics, an organization that provides medical services to emergency victims around the world. Nick speaks with Jessica Harris about how his organization is providing […]
Parents want what’s best for their child, but they might not be too picky about the diapers or bottles they buy; but when it comes to transportation, all strollers are not created equal. With a price near $1000, the Bugaboo is considered the Rolls Royce of strollers. The Bugaboo’s versatile design makes it a favorite […]
Marie Moody, the founder of Stella and Chewy’s, fed her dog (Chewy) raw meat when he was sick. After Chewy recovered, Marie was inspired to provide organic, raw, frozen pet food to other dogs and cats. S&C simulates how these pets would have eaten in the wild and offers a nutritious alternative to existing processed […]
Jessica speaks with Dorothy Hamilton, founder of the French Culinary Institute (FCI), one of the country’s leading centers for culinary education. FCI, now part of the International Culinary Center, offers total immersion courses to people looking to become professional chefs or just master chefs of their own kitchen. Dorothy explains how she became one of […]
Jessica speaks with Jordan Kassalow, co-founder of the Scojo Foundation, an organization that sells low-cost eyeglasses in developing countries such as India, Bangladesh, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico. Jordan is an optometrist who also co-founded Scojo Vision, a company that sells high end reading glasses to stores like Barneys, Neiman Marcus, and Saks Fifth Avenue. […]
The benefits of breast-feeding are legion (helping with baby’s immune and cognitive development, facilitating parental/child bonding, etc.), but its challenges are also numerous– especially for new moms unfamiliar with the process. After going through some of the frustrations of breastfeeding firsthand, Felina Rakowski-Gallagher decided to open a breast feeding boutique on the upper west side […]
Entrepreneur, conservation philanthropist, and documentary filmmaker are some of the titles that Doug Tompkins has held over his career. Doug’s love of mountaineering led him to start North Face, the outdoor apparel company. He then cofounded the international clothing company, Esprit, which he later sold. Doug has spent the last few decades focusing his energies […]
One of the most difficult issues for a new parent is going back to work after your baby is born. If you can’t spend time with your child, you at least want to find the best care possible. What are some of the high quality childcare options? Jessica’s guest is Linda Mason, the co-founder of […]
When we see a skyscraper or a museum, we might marvel at its shape, its height, or the materials used; but what was the process behind the building’s initial design? Who are some of the architects influencing our landscape? Jessica speaks with one such pioneer, Richard Meier. Richard’s emphasis on clean design and natural light […]
Most well known chefs and restaurateurs write cookbooks these days, but which book is a “must have?” Sheila Lukins’ Silver Palate Cookbook is considered a staple in American kitchens, whether one is a novice or advanced chef. The book’s accessible recipes and personal illustrations have been appreciated worldwide, with copies in English, French, Japanese, Dutch, […]
The Paris Review is a literary magazine that was founded in 1953 by a group of then aspiring writers including Harold Humes, William Styron, Peter Matthiessen and George Plimpton. George Plimpton was the larger than life editor who ran the magazine until his death in 2003 on the magazine’s 50th anniversary. The future of the […]
Jessica speaks with the Co-Founders of Bikram Yoga NYC, a chain of “hot” yoga studios that teach the 26 step series developed by Bikram Choudhury in the 1970s. We’ll learn how Donna, a former Broadway performer, and Jennifer, an athlete, came upon Bikram Yoga, and why they felt compelled to start their business, from scratch.
Women in developing countries often do not have access to adequate sanitary protection because such products are prohibitively expensive. As a result, menstruating women miss a significant amount of school and work, which leads to serious economic consequences for women and society overall. Elizabeth Scharpf, founder of Sustainable Health Enterprises (S.H.E), is addressing this issue […]
Drinking free-trade coffee, riding bicycles, and going to the occasional farmer’s market are things you might enjoy. But if you do partake in these activities there is a high probability that you are “white,” according to Christian Lander. Jessica interviews Christian, the blogger and author of the New York Times bestselling book “Stuff White People […]
Spencer Rascoff co-founded Hotwire, an online discount travel site that offers customers access to unused inventory, including empty airline seats, vacant hotel rooms, and un-rented cars. Hotwire was founded in 1999 and sold to Interactive Corporation in 2003 for roughly $700Million. Spencer later helped launch Zillow, an online real estate company that provides tools and […]
Pharmaceutical companies are constantly looking for more effective cancer treatments, but drug discovery is a very difficult area; typically nine out of ten drugs fail. Synta has found an unconventional way to successfully treat cancers like melanoma. Synta was founded in 2001 and is dedicated to the treatment of severe medical conditions, including cancer and […]
Lela Rose sources some of her inspiration for her clothing by riding her bike around Manhattan, observing architecture and patterns of everyday life. Lela started her company Lela Rose in 1998 when she was 30 years old, and her clothing can be found in boutiques and department stores around the globe. Lela speaks with Jessica […]
If you’re looking to build or decorate a house, the choices and prices can be overwhelming. What are some of the resources that can help you through this process? Lara Hedberg Deam is the founder of Dwell, a magazine about modern architecture and design. Lara speaks with Jessica about how she built a modern and […]
Rajesh is the founder of i-flex, a software company that provides the infrastructure for the banking industry. i-flex enables banks across the globe to perform multiple tasks, from approving your credit card at the checkout counter, to giving you cash at the ATM machine. i-flex is one of the only software companies with a “Made […]
Couch potatoes were thrilled when the online movie rental business came along, because they no longer had to leave their house to get another movie. Netflix, co-founded by Reed Hastings, was the pioneer behind this phenomenon. Netflix now offers over 80,000 titles to more than 7 million customers. Blockbuster has had to change its business […]
Where do those eggs on your plate come from? Were the chickens cage free? These answers have become increasingly important to Americans in recent years. Who are some of the pioneers who used local, seasonal ingredients in restaurants before it was “in?” Jessica’s guest is one such restaurateur, Alice Waters. Alice is the founder of […]
What do college kids find funny? For millions of American students, CollegeHumor has become the sine qua non of online college comedy. Josh Abramson and Ricky Van Veen were high school friends from Baltimore Maryland who launched CollegHumor in 1999. They started by posting silly photos, essays, and videos created by their friends, and the […]
If you’re looking to buy or sell your home, where do you start? What’s the right price? Traditionally, the consumer had unequal access to information, making the real estate market imperfect. Zillow is an online real estate service that helps consumers make more informed decisions by providing them with free information and tools. Jessica speaks […]
Chemotherapy and surgery are two ways to treat cancer, but these procedures are expensive and invasive. What are some of the less invasive alternatives? Jessica speaks with Dr. John Adler, a neurosurgeon at Stanford Medical School and founder of Cyberknife, a medical device that destroys solid tumors without anesthesia, or harm to healthy tissue. Dr. […]
When you pass a Starbucks, you may often find customers at their computers, hooked up to the internet through a wireless connection; but how do these wireless systems work? You can increasingly check your email, speak on the phone, and watch a video on the same device… but how? Jessica’s guest is Effi Atad, founder […]
Jessica speaks with Seth Goldman, co-founder and “TEO” of Honest Tea, an organic bottled tea company. Seth started Honest Tea with his Yale Business School professor in 1998. Seth describes why he started the company, and how he managed to get his bottles on store shelves, from scratch.
Social networking sites help people connect for all different reasons. You might go to craigslist to find an apartment, ebay to find a buyer for your toaster, or kiva.org to lend money to an entrepreneur. Matt Flannery and his wife Jessica Flannery founded Kiva in 2005 in order to connect lenders in developed countries with […]
Rosalyn Drexler, born in 1926, is a novelist, playwright, painter, former professional wrestler, and singer. She painted and exhibited among pop artists like Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein in the 1960s. Her work can be found in the collections of museums such as the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City, and the […]
Jessica speaks with Jean Oelwang, Managing Director of Virgin Unite, the independent charitable arm of the Virgin group. Jean speaks about Virgin Unite’s entrepreneurial approach to social change, from scratch.
When you used to call an airline or computer company for tech support, you used to speak to someone at Microsoft, or Dell or Delta, but instead of speaking to someone in Ohio or Indiana, chances are you’re now speaking to someone in the Phillipines or India. Who are some of the pioneers building international […]
It’s hard enough for an entrepreneur to launch one successful business, but Jessica’s guest, Sir Richard Branson, has launched over 200. Richard founded Virgin in 1970, and his empire has grown to include airlines, mobile phones, trains, space travel, cosmetics, and financial services, just to name a few. Virgin has recently become a leader in […]
Boutique hotels have become leaders in hospitality and design. The hotels’ swank bars and creatively designed lobbies have become the social scene for guests and even locals. Who are some of the pioneers who created among the first fashion forward hotels? Jessica speaks with one such entrepreneur, Ian Schrager. Ian was the co-founder of Studio […]
Elisa Strauss founded Confetti Cakes when she was in her twenties. In addition to baking the traditional wedding cake, Elisa designs cakes in the shape of cars, purses, Cambell soup cans, x-ray machines, sushi, bathtubs, Monolo Blaniks, you name it. Her cakes are so identical to the real things that it’s hard to believe they’re […]
What do pregnant women wear when they’re expecting? There are many options nowadays, but until recently the choices were grim. Who are some of the pioneers now offering fitted, fashionable clothes to moms-to-be? Jessica speaks with one such entrepreneur Liz Lange, founder of Liz Lange Maternity. Liz explains how she helped to change the world […]
Jessica speaks to David Neeleman, the founder and CEO of Jet Blue Airways. Jet Blue was the country’s most highly capitalized start-up in US aviation history. David discusses the challenges behind launching Jet Blue (while also being a father to nine children).
One might think of an entrepreneur as someone who takes a risk and builds a business, but Jim Rogers is an entrepreneur of life. Jim is an author, pioneer investor and world traveler. He’s been around the world twice, one time on motorcycle, and has visited 116 countries. Jim built a hedge fund in 1970 […]
The best writers take a piece of life and describe it as if you were touching or tasting it yourself. Adam Gopnik is one writer who demonstrates the small stuff best. He’s been a staff writer for the New Yorker Magazine since 1986, and his books include Paris to the Moon, about his years living […]
Esopus is an arts magazine where artists of all stripes can contribute their work and connect directly with the public. Esopus does not contain ads or commercially driven content, so the magazine survives on funds from its readers and donors. The magazine uses materials like construction paper, cardboard, vellum, expensive inks, photographs, etc. and it […]
Safwan Masri, Founding Board Chairman and Eric Widmer, Founding Headmaster Kings Academy Campus located outside Amman, Jordan New England boarding schools have been a part of America’s elite educational fabric for centuries. Now picture a school of this kind taking root in the Middle East. His Majesty King Abdullah had some of the best years […]
When patients are faced with a medical problem that may require surgery, they’ll often consider less invasive options first; but these alternatives to surgery have only become available thanks to a few pioneers willing to defy medical convention initally. Jessica’s guest is one such pioneer, Peter Nicholas, the co-founder of Boston Scientific (BSC). BSC is […]
Jessica speaks with Greg Olsen, the scientist and founder of Epitax and Sensors Unlimited, a near infra-red camera company. Greg was the third civilian to visit space in 2005.
There is so much bottled water to choose from, yet most people have trouble distinguishing one brand from the next. How creative can you get with H2O? Jessica’s guest is Darius Bikoff, the founder of the enhanced water company Glaceau, maker of Smart Water, Vitamin Water, and Fruit Water. By adding vitamins, fruit flavors, and […]
Jacqueline is the founder of the Acumen Fund, a venture capital firm that invests in social entrepreneurs around the world. Acumen uses market-based approaches to alleviate poverty in countries like India, Pakistan, and Rwanda. Jessica speaks with Jacqueline about her experience launching Acumen, and her unique approach to solving problems in the developing world, From […]
Corporate philanthropy historically occurred after a company had made its profits. But for some companies lately, corporate giving is embedded in the company’s mission at the point of transaction. Ethos Water, now owned by Starbucks, is one such company that donates $.05 per bottle to water purification efforts in developing countries such as Honduras and […]
Richard Fuller is the founder of the Blacksmith Institute, a non profit organization that solves pollution-related problems in the developing world. Richard is also the founder of Great Forest, a company that advises corporations on their environmental responsibilities, such as recycling, energy conservation, etc.. Jessica speaks with Richard about how he is finding solutions for […]
People used to turn to the Encyclopedia Britannica to get information on topics ranging from photo-synthesis to the Spanish Inquisiton, but more and more people are turning to Wikipedia, the on-line encyclopedia. Wikipedia is a collaborative encyclopedia edited by the on-line community, and is available in over 200 languages. The founder of Wikipedia, Jimmy Wales, […]
Jessica speaks with the founder and Publisher and Editor and Chief of Berkshire Living Magazine, Michael Zivyak and Seth Rogovoy. Berkshire Living Magazine is a lifestyle magazine that covers the Berkshires, a region that covers the areas of four states: New York, Western Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Southern Vermont.
Jessica speaks with the founding director of MASS MoCA, the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, located in the Berkshires in North Adams, MA. Joe explains the process of getting the museum off the ground after 13 years, and discusses how the museum has helped to revitalize an entire community.
For those people trying to lose weight or simply lead healthier lives, there are so many diets out there that it’s hard to khow which are the most effective. The South Beach diet however, has gained credibility among consumers and the medical establishment, and might be more than a fad. Jessica speaks with Doctor Agatston, […]
As Americans try to decrease their dependency on oil, companies are working to develop alternative fuels that power cleaner, more efficient cars. Jessica’s guest is Martin Eberhard, one such inventor who founded Tesla Motors, an electric car company that emphasizes good design and high performance. His first product, the Tesla Roadster, is a sportscar that […]
Jessica speaks with David Giuliani, the inventor of the Sonicare Toothbrush, which uses sonic technology to clean teeth. Sonicare was sold to Phillips, and David is working on his next invention, the Clarisonic, a dermatological brush for the face.
If one wants to know where the entertainment and fashion elite goes to party when everyone else has gone to bed, one has to look no further than Amy Sacco’s night clubs in new York City. While most clubs are trendy for a moment, Amy’s clubs, Lot 61 and Bungalow 8, have been going strong […]
Jessica speaks with Craig Newmark, the founder of craigslist, a popular on-line bulletin board that Craig started as a hobby in the mid 1990s. The site has grown from a total of 12 users to over ten million visitors per month, and provides information for over 200 cities world wide. While sites similar to craigslist […]
Jessica speaks with Garth Fagan, the founder and Artistic Director of Garth Fagan Dance. Garth was an athlete in Jamaica before turning his life to dance, and in addition to building a dance company, he’s gone so far as to create his own innovative dance technique, which combines the discipline of ballet with the energy […]
Jessica speaks with Emmanuel Stern, the founder of the popular, fashion forward boutique hotel, the Soho Grand. The Soho Grand was the first hotel to be built in Soho, in New York City, since the late 1800s.
People say that necessity is the mother of invention, but more and more, actual mothers are becoming the mother of invention. One such mother was frustrated with the lack of videos for her newborn daughter, and she decided to produce an educational video involving classical music and historic painters. Her video, called “Baby Einstein,” quickly […]
Jessica interviews Gary Hirshberg, the co-founder of Stonyfield Farm Yogurt. Gary tells us about his life at Stonyfield Farm in the early days, and how he built a successful-and delicious- yogurt company, From Scratch.
Jessica speaks with Scott, the CEO of ZipCar. The company enables people in urban areas, such as San Francisco, Washington DC, Toronto and New York, to use cars by the hour. The concept, known as car sharing, is becoming more popular in the United States, and Zipcar is one of the pioneers behind this movement.
When one thinks of an entrepreneur, the person that usually comes to mind is someone who founds a company, but one doesn’t necessarily have to start a company to be an entrepreneur. Jessica’s guest, Christine Whitman, is an unconvenetional entrepreneur who bought a distressed company and turned it around. She is the former CEO and […]
Jessica speaks with Austin Ligon, the co-founder of the nation’s most popular used car superstore. Austin started Carmax with the electronics giant Circuit City, who was looking for a new business opportunity in the mid 1990s. When one thinks of the used car industry, the words “corruption,” and “seedy car salesman” come to mind; but […]