Phoebe Gates ’24 and Sophia Kianni ’25 arrived on campus with different plans for life after college. Gates planned to pursue a career in public health following the footsteps of her sister, Jennifer Gates ’18, who was also pre-med. Kianni planned to become an environmental lawyer, driven by her passion for sustainability. Things ended up working out differently.
When they first thought of starting Phia — the company they now run — they began brainstorming different ideas that didn’t quite take off, including a “Bluetooth tampon.” They eventually decided to create a solution to a problem they both relate to as young women with a shared love for fashion: finding secondhand clothing at the best prices possible without hassle.
As well as co-founders, Gates and Kianni are co-hosts of “The Burnouts” podcast, where they document their journey as young founders still figuring things out. Guests on the podcast include business experts and influential figures like Kris Jenner, Eileen Gu ’26 and Karlie Kloss.
The Daily sat down with Gates and Kianni over the summer to chat about Phia, “The Burnouts” and what navigating life in their twenties has been like.
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.
The Stanford Daily [TSD]: Congratulations on graduating from Stanford months ago, Sophia. With that, what drew you to Stanford, and how would you say it has shaped you?
Sophia Kianni [SK]: Stanford has been my dream school for as long as I can remember. It was the perfect place to combine my interests in climate science, policy and technology.
TSD: While at Stanford, you were also balancing your advocacy, your work at Climate Cardinals and figuring things out as a young adult. How did you manage that?
SK: I came to Stanford to combine these priorities, blending activism with education so I could go out in the world better equipped to make a difference. Stanford’s flexible curriculum allowed me to earn independent study credits while incorporating my work with the United Nations and Climate Cardinals into my academic life. That overlap helped me map out the career I wanted to build.
TSD: Phoebe, you earned your Bachelor of Science degree in human biology after spending just three years at Stanford. How has your time at Stanford shaped you?
Phoebe Gates [PG]: Stanford completely changed my life path — not because of the classes, but because of the people I met and the connections I made. They gave me the confidence to build Phia. I never intended to start a business, and I never imagined I would graduate not only with a degree but also with my co-founder.
TSD: From the stories you shared in the first episode of “The Burnouts,” it seems you had a fun-filled and enriching experience with lots of memories to look back on while at Stanford. What is one Stanford tradition or campus quirk that surprised you or grew on you over time?
PG: The tree mascot! You have to apply and go through ruthless vetting to be it. At first, I thought it was silly. Now I am all for the trees.
SK: One Stanford tradition-slash-quirky experience that grew on me was joining friends for Bay to Breakers. Even though it is technically a San Francisco event, plenty of Stanford students wake up at the crack of dawn, throw on the most outrageous costumes imaginable, and run (or, let’s be honest, walk) the famously silly marathon from the Bay to the ocean. The energy, the inside jokes, and the feeling of moving through the city with your whole crew in costume ended up being one of my favorite bonding experiences. It’s absurd, it’s a little unhinged and it’s unforgettable.
TSD: Earlier this year, you launched Phia. What is Phia all about?
PG: Shopping online can be overwhelming — too many tabs, conflicting prices and no clarity. Phia is an AI shopping assistant that helps our users cut through the noise by finding the right piece at the right price instantly, and we are just at the beginning of what we can build.
TSD: What makes Phia different from a personal shopper or Pinterest board?
SK: People want to shop with intention, save time and money and remain committed to their values. Phia doesn’t just show you what is trending; it shows you what you want to see. It learns your behavior and blends AI, sustainability and style in real time.
TSD: You often refer to Phia as the “Google Flights for fashion.” Why is that?
SK: Google Flights changed how we plan travel by compiling all your options in one place and giving unbiased information. Phia does that for fashion, showing you what is available, where to get it and how it compares across the board.
TSD: Phoebe, how has growing up as the daughter of Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates, in a family so associated with innovation and philanthropy, shaped your perspective on ambition, purpose and building something like Phia?
PG: I grew up with incredible examples of how hard work, business, and impact can overlap. This idea of building ventures where the success of one becomes a launchpad for the next was normalized for me early on and has shaped how I think about scale, purpose and business as a conduit for long-term change.
TSD: Choosing to work on a startup together is a major decision, so I believe you both strongly feel that you work well together. What was the moment you realized that and decided to work on Phia with each other?
SK: Phoebe’s loyalty and grit are unmatched. There is a story we tell from when I was sick. She rushed me to a hospital so I could get adequate care, and that is when I knew she was someone I could trust in every way.
PG: The first time she looked at my pitch deck for our “smart tampon” idea, we ended up working on it together for four straight hours, and I knew right away she was someone I wanted to team up with.
TSD: How has your podcast, “The Burnouts,” changed your perspective on building a company?
PG: “The Burnouts” have been like a real-time post-grad masterclass. It has shown me that no one skips the messy middle; you just get better at navigating it. Hearing so many different founder stories reminds me there’s no single formula for success. [Bumble founder] Whitney Wolfe Herd once told us to think about energy like water — every drop matters. If you spend your energy worrying about whether someone liked you or on tasks that don’t move the business forward, you are watering weeds. That perspective stuck with me.
SK: Hosting “The Burnouts” reframed “learning in public” as a form of leadership. Every guest we have featured so far has faced uncertainty, failure and risk, and their resilience has made me more confident that we are exactly where we need to be.
TSD: Do you have any advice for anyone wanting to start something with a friend but doesn’t feel ready?
SK: Don’t wait for perfection. Start small, stay curious and focus on building momentum.
PG: You will never be 100% ready. Just start, and be willing to fail and learn quickly.
TSD: What would success with Phia look like?
SK: Success for Phia is when it becomes the go-to starting point for anyone’s shopping process. When that happens, we know we have shifted both behavior and mindset.