Browse Case Studies

TripAdvisor was founded by Steve Kaufer in 2000 after he struggled to research travel destinations online. The company pivoted from a partnership-based model to a user-generated content platform that aggregated hotel and attraction reviews, monetizing through affiliate fees from travel companies. The platform grew to 400 million monthly visitors and achieved a $210 million acquisition by IAC followed by a multi-billion dollar IPO in 2011.

Food52 is a hybrid platform founded by Amanda Hesser in 2008 that combines a food blog with e-commerce for kitchen and home products. The company achieved profitability during the pandemic and is now valued at approximately $300 million.

Too Good To Go is a marketplace app founded by Lucie Basch and Danish co-founders that connects consumers with restaurants and grocery stores selling surplus food in 'surprise bags' at reduced prices. Since launching in 2016, the company has raised over $30 million and expanded to 17 countries, positioning itself as a social enterprise tackling global food waste through collective consumer action.

Poshmark, launched in 2011 by Manish Chandra, is a mobile marketplace for second-hand clothes and accessories designed to replicate the social experience of thrifting with friends. The platform grew rapidly through strong community engagement, with users actively advocating for platform decisions like shipping fees. The company was acquired by Naver Corporation for $1.2 billion in 2023 and now has over 100 million registered users worldwide.