Jennifer Fleiss Entrepreneur and Business Leader

Jennifer Fleiss is a highly accomplished entrepreneur and business leader. She is best known for co-founding the fashion rental service, Rent the Runway.

Jennifer Fleiss has a strong background in business, having graduated from Harvard Business School. She also co-founded the company with Jennifer Hyman.

As a business leader, Fleiss has been recognized for her innovative approach and entrepreneurial spirit. She has been featured in various publications for her success in the fashion industry.

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Jennifer Fleiss grew up in New York City.

She graduated cum laude from Yale University with a BA in Political Science in 2005. This impressive academic achievement set the stage for her future success.

Fleiss later attended Harvard Business School, where she met the future co-founder of Rent the Runway, Jennifer Hyman. This chance meeting would go on to shape her entrepreneurial journey.

She started her career crafting long-term company strategy in the Strategic Planning Group at Morgan Stanley. This experience likely honed her skills in business development and strategic planning.

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Fleiss then moved on to Lehman Brothers’ Asset Management Group, where she analyzed business growth opportunities through acquisitions, international expansion, and new product strategies. This experience would serve her well in her future entrepreneurial endeavors.

In 2008, Fleiss co-founded Rent the Runway with Jennifer Hyman, serving as head of business development and a member of the firm's Board of Directors. This marked the beginning of a successful entrepreneurial chapter in her life.

Fleiss left Rent the Runway in 2017 to co-found Jetblack, a text-based concierge shopping service, with Mark Lore. This new venture allowed her to apply her skills in business development and strategic planning to a new industry.

In 2021, Fleiss joined Volition Capital, bringing her expertise in business development and strategic planning to a new role.

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Rent the Runway is a fashion tech company that Jennifer Fleiss co-founded with Jennifer Hyman. The company raised a $60 million Series E in 2016, the biggest round of the year for a women-led startup.

Rent the Runway allows customers to rent designer clothes and accessories, rather than buying them outright. This innovative approach has helped the company grow into a category-defining brand.

In 2016, Rent the Runway turned a profit for the first time, and surpassed $100 million in revenues. This milestone marked a significant achievement for the company.

Jennifer Fleiss will remain on the board of Rent the Runway, where she'll advise on recruitment. She'll also continue to co-present the company's foundation's startup bootcamp and venture competition, Project Entrepreneur.

Rent the Runway's Unlimited subscription service provides customers with regular access to designer clothes for a flat fee of $1,700 per year. This model has contributed to the company's profitability and steady cash flow.

Jennifer Fleiss and Jennifer Hyman each own 13% stakes in Rent the Runway, which has earned them an estimated $80 million each.

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Jennifer Fleiss has received numerous awards and honors for her achievements in the fashion industry. She was named one of Fortune's "40 Under 40" and "Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs".

Jennifer Fleiss has also been recognized by Forbes as one of their "Disruptors 2013". This award highlights her innovative approach to business.

In addition to these awards, Jennifer Fleiss has been featured on Inc.'s "30 Under 30" list. This list recognizes young entrepreneurs who are making a significant impact in their industries.

Jennifer Fleiss has also been named one of Fast Company's "Most Influential Women in Technology". This award showcases her influence in the tech industry.

Here are some of the notable awards and honors Jennifer Fleiss has received:

Jennifer Fleiss is stepping down from her executive role at Rent the Runway, a fashion tech company she co-founded with Jennifer Hyman in 2009.

Fleiss will remain on the board of the company and advise on recruitment, an area of interest for her.

She had been waiting for Rent the Runway to turn a profit before leaving, which it did in 2016.

The company surpassed $100 million in revenues for the first time in 2016 and debuted a store-within-a-store format at high-end mall chain Neiman Marcus last year.

Fleiss and Hyman each own 13% stakes in Rent the Runway, making them two of the richest self-made women to watch, with estimated fortunes of $80 million each.

Fleiss didn't disclose what she'll be working on next, but indicated she'd like to focus on something earlier-stage.

Hyman will continue to scale the company in preparation for an eventual IPO, but there's no time pressure due to the company's profitability and regular cash flow from its Unlimited subscription service.

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Jennifer Fleiss has a new role as the cofounder and CEO of Code Eight, a portfolio brand under Wal-Mart's experimental Store No. 8.

Code Eight will develop one-on-one personalized shopping experiences, marking the first step toward creating an innovation ecosystem where new ideas can thrive.

Jennifer Fleiss exited Rent the Runway, a company she co-founded with Jennifer Hyman, to take on this new role.