Bill Gates Joins Customer Service Shift at Daughter’s AI Fashion Startup

Bill Gates recently took on a customer service role at Phia, an AI-powered fashion startup co-founded by his daughter Phoebe Gates and her Stanford roommate Sophia Kianni, to better understand the user experience firsthand. Phia aims to simplify shopping by comparing prices across over 40,000 websites, offering both new and secondhand options while promoting sustainability through lower-impact alternatives. Gates emphasized that direct interaction with customers is the best way to identify what works and what needs improvement, reflecting his belief in grounded leadership. Despite his involvement, Gates and his ex-wife Melinda French Gates have chosen not to fund the startup directly, encouraging their children to pursue independent paths. Business experts note that such hands-on engagement by CEOs, similar to Uber's Dara Khosrowshahi working as a delivery driver, can lead to valuable insights and drive meaningful business changes. Gates shared the experience on LinkedIn, highlighting the importance of connecting with customers and expressing his enthusiasm for re-engaging with the startup world.