Katrina Lake
Harvard Business School · Stitch Fix
She Shipped Clothing From Her Apartment and Built a $1.4 Billion Company
29 March 2026
Katrina Lake started Stitch Fix while studying at Harvard Business School in 2011. She personally selected and shipped clothing to her first 20 clients from her apartment, using a basic survey to understand their style preferences.
The Data-Driven Approach
Lake combined human stylists with algorithms to pick clothing for each customer. This hybrid approach — data science meets personal touch — was unique in fashion retail and drove high customer satisfaction.
Growing Against Scepticism
Many investors doubted a subscription clothing box could work. Lake was rejected by scores of VCs. She raised a modest seed round and grew methodically, proving the model with repeat customers.
Youngest Woman to IPO
Stitch Fix went public in 2017 at a $1.4 billion valuation, making Lake the youngest woman to take a company public on a major US exchange. At its peak, the company served over 4 million active clients.
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