Wildfire Interactive
Wildfire Interactive
Founded in 2008 by Stanford MBA Alain Chuard and Harvard MBA Victoria Ransom, this social media marketing software company was acquired by Google last year for a reported $350 million, plus $100 million in retention bonuses.Founded in 2008 by Stanford MBA Alain Chuard and Harvard MBA Victoria Ransom, this social media marketing software company was acquired by Google last year for a reported $350 million, plus $100 million in retention bonuses.
Viku
Viku
A class project of co-founders from both Stanford and Harvard, this video streaming startup based in Singapore attracted smart money from LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman and Singapore entrepreneur Joichi Ito. It is being acquired by Japan-based Rakuten for a reported $200 million.A class project of co-founders from both Stanford and Harvard, this video streaming startup based in Singapore attracted smart money from LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman and Singapore entrepreneur Joichi Ito. It is being acquired by Japan-based Rakuten for a reported $200 million.
Skybox Imaging
Skybox Imaging
As a Stanford MBA student, John Fenwick popped into the university's engineering school and asked a professor to bring him the sharpest person there. That's how he met the future co-founders of this startup that is commercializing space imaging with a budget satellite fleet. Skybox has gotten $91 million in funding.As a Stanford MBA student, John Fenwick popped into the university's engineering school and asked a professor to bring him the sharpest person there. That's how he met the future co-founders of this startup that is commercializing space imaging with a budget satellite fleet. Skybox has gotten $91 million in funding.
Karma Science
Karma Science
Launched in 2011 by Stanford MBA Ben Lewis and Michigan Ross MBA Lee Linden, Karma created a model for person-to-person gifting via mobile devices in real-time. The company was acquired by Facebook last year for a reported $80 million.Launched in 2011 by Stanford MBA Ben Lewis and Michigan Ross MBA Lee Linden, Karma created a model for person-to-person gifting via mobile devices in real-time. The company was acquired by Facebook last year for a reported $80 million.
Okta
Okta
Backed by $79.3 million in angel and venture capital funding, this identity and access management startup was founded in 2009 by MIT Sloan MBA Frederick Kerrest and former salesforce.com colleague Todd McKinnon. Kerrest earned his MBA on a Saturday in 2009 and the following Monday he was working full-time in Okta's first office in San Francisco.Backed by $79.3 million in angel and venture capital funding, this identity and access management startup was founded in 2009 by MIT Sloan MBA Frederick Kerrest and former salesforce.com colleague Todd McKinnon. Kerrest earned his MBA on a Saturday in 2009 and the following Monday he was working full-time in Okta's first office in San Francisco.
SoFi
Stanford MBA James Finnigan connected with a trio of Sloan Fellows at the university to launch this student loan lending platform that has attracted $77.2 million in funding to bring offer loans and refinancing for MBAs and other grad students.
Locu
Locu
This online advertising startup was formed in 2011 by MIT Sloan MBAs Rene Reinsberg and Marc Piette and a couple of engineering savvy co-founders. It quickly signed up more than 30,000 restaurants, spas, salons and other companies to promote their businesses online. Locu was acquired this past August by Go Daddy for a reported $70 million.This online advertising startup was formed in 2011 by MIT Sloan MBAs Rene Reinsberg and Marc Piette and a couple of engineering savvy co-founders. It quickly signed up more than 30,000 restaurants, spas, salons and other companies to promote their businesses online. Locu was acquired this past August by GoDaddy for a reported $70 million.
Counsyl
Counsyl
Founded in 2008 in a Stanford dorm room, this startup came up with a simple, saliva-based test for more than 100 serious genetic diseases from cystic fibrosis to sickle cell. Stanford MBA Ramji Srinivasan, now CEO and one of three co-founders, has raised $60.2 million in venture funding for the company.Founded in 2008 in a Stanford dorm room, this startup came up with a simple, saliva-based test for more than 100 serious genetic diseases from cystic fibrosis to sickle cell. Stanford MBA Ramji Srinivasan, now CEO and one of three co-founders, has raised $60.2 million in venture funding for the company.
Warby Parker
Wharton MBAs David Gilboa and Neil Blumenthal came up with the idea to create a lifestyle brand of eyeglasses, using their classmates to help them establish pricing and even come up with the company name, a hybrid of Jack Kerouac characters. Warby Parker now has $55 million in funding, including an investment from a marketing prof who still helps out with customer analysis.
Rent The Runway
RenttheRunway.com
Rent the Runway lets you rent designer dresses and accessories for four or eight days. You receive two sizes to ensure the dress fits, and Rent the Runway will handle dry-cleaning. The startup has 3 million members and $32 million in venture capital funding from Bain Capital Ventures, Highland Capital, and Kleiner Perkins.Harvard MBAs Jennifer Hyman and Jennifer Fleiss founded this e-commerce startup in 2009 with the idea to bring runway fashion to the masses via mail order. So far, they've racked up $54.4 million in funding from outside investors.
