CH25: Vanessa Newman

Redesigning maternity clothes for the post-gender generation

Vanessa Newman‘s start-up Butch Baby & Co. is the first-ever “alternity-wear” company for the those expecting bundles of joy. Because Newman understands that carrying a child isn’t as stereotypically feminine as it used to be, and while hormones may be strong, putting one’s identity on hold for nine months is illogical—and can cause emotional and psychological pain. Thus, Butch Baby & Co. caters to people …

CH25: Douglas Riboud + Justin Guilbert

How a whole new way of doing business started with coconut water

When Douglas Riboud and Justin Guilbert founded Harmless Harvest in 2009, the idea was simple enough: Make great coconut water that tastes as much like the real deal as possible. “At the end of the day, what we’re trying to do is stay true to the ingredients,” explains Riboud, recently returned from Thailand, the site of Harmless Harvest’s groves. But keeping the 100% raw, organic …

CH25: Sarah Kunst

The tech triple threat who’s single-handedly changing the landscape for women

What is a venture capitalist’s role in the design process? By rewarding ideas they deem worthy with big checks, they have arguably the most pivotal role of all. Since these people are the deciders, how good of a job can they do choosing what will best serve you and I if none of them happen to be like us? That, in a nutshell, is the …