Latest news with #DaniellaPierson
Elle
7 days ago
- Business
- Elle
Daniella Pierson's Mission to Champion Female Entrepreneurs
The Newsette founder Daniella Pierson has a new venture to add to her portfolio: Chasm. According to TechCrunch, all-women teams currently receive just 1.8 percent of VC funding. This initiative aims to close that gender gap in entrepreneurship, supported by an impressive roster of members, including musician Lionel Richie and Sneex inventor Sara Blakely. Essentially, investors like Richie and Blakely will pay $25,000 a year to be a member of Chasm. With the funds Pierson receives from her high-status friends, she will then disperse monthly grants to young, female entrepreneurs, giving them tools and resources for their businesses to thrive. 'Chasm is going to make a massive dent in the gender gap by focusing on one solution that has a domino effect: creating more successful female entrepreneurs,' Pierson says in a press release. 'If you think about who has the most wealth and power in the world, they have two things in common: They are men and they are entrepreneurs. We're creating an ecosystem rooted in community, insight, and real resources.' As a 29-year-old BIPOC entrepreneur, Pierson says she takes the issue personally. She started The Newsette while still in college and grew it into a powerhouse email juggernaut before leveraging her rapidly expanding network to launch Chasm. Chasm will offer only one grant per month; those interested can apply for these funds by filling out a form online. The site also offers resources for young entrepreneurs, welcoming every woman to join the community. These could be as simple as a membership to Instacart+, the first partner of the new company, which allows less time to be spent at the grocery store for working women. It even has a newsletter, much like Newsette. With her impressive list of backers, Pierson emphasizes, in an email interview, that members are value-driven, hence them giving the $25,000 as a direct grant rather than as an investment. 'They get to see what they're fueling every single day, whether that's through our grant winners, or real stories of impact,' she says. 'Many of these people are dear friends who believe fully in the mission.' The organization is also not a nonprofit. 'The only way to create sustainable, systemic change is by introducing a business model that can fund itself,' Pierson adds. 'If I raise $10 million in donations, I can make $10 million of impact. But, if I use my media background and network to build Chasm into a $500 million company, then we inspire other member-to-many models. That's when billions start flowing toward real, scalable solutions. If I can prove that this model drives both value and change? That's a tide that lifts every boat.' Pierson is also a co-founder of the 'mental fitness ecosystem' Wondermind with Selena Gomez, a website offering resources to those in need. The singer and actress made headlines weeks ago as the startup laid off the majority of its already small staff amid financial troubles. Pierson left the company in 2023, and Chasm continues Pierson's mission-led work. Others involved in Chasm include Instacart CEO and chair Fidji Simo, entrepreneurs Tony and Sage Robbins, and Drybar co-founder Alli Webb.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
China Insight: Will China's Cultural Tourism Boom Power Fashion's Next Growth Engine?
In the post-pandemic economy, consumer desire is no longer driven solely by products but also by experiences that spark cultural resonance and emotional connection. As China navigates economic headwinds, a key question emerges: can the integration of culture and tourism serve as a catalyst to boost consumption and ignite new engines of growth, particularly in the fashion and lifestyle sectors? More from WWD Why Saudi Arabia and Qatar Are Primed for New Design Events as Contract Business Drives Demand Daniella Pierson Launches Chasm to Close the Gender Gap Through Entrepreneurship Not a Lot of Love for 520: Brands Rethink Local Campaigns Amid China Uncertainty The month of May — bookended by the May Day Golden Week and the Dragon Boat Festival — has become a vital barometer for evaluating China's cultural tourism momentum. The surge in domestic travel and experiential consumption during these holidays is not only reinvigorating local economies but also reshaping the urban fashion landscape in unexpected ways. According to official data, 314 million domestic trips were made during the May Day holiday alone — a 6.4 percent increase year-over-year — generating 180.27 billion yuan (about $24.97 billion) in tourism-related spending, up 8 percent from the previous year. While per capita spending has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels, the rebound in demand signals a clear shift: consumers are prioritizing culturally immersive, emotionally resonant experiences that often intersect with fashion and lifestyle consumption. Cultural Immersion Meets Fashion Aspirations Trends such as 'reverse tourism' — in which travelers explore lesser-known towns and county-level cities — are gaining popularity. At the same time, attractions centered on the renewal of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) have emerged as major draws. National trend culture is sweeping the country, with searches for ICH-themed tourism surging and ticket reservations for heritage-focused sites up 132 percent year-over-year. Immersive, hands-on experiences have become particularly attractive to younger audiences. Data from Ctrip shows that workshops like ceramic art classes in Jingdezhen and traditional kesi (silk tapestry) weaving in Suzhou now attract thousands of daily participants. The blending of cultural performance and tourism has turned cities like Henan's Luoyang, Anhui's Anqing and Xinjiang's Kashgar into popular destinations offering deeper, story-rich experiences. Events such as the Puppet Carnival in Fujian's Zhangzhou and hand-painted lantern exhibitions in Sichuan's Zigong Lantern Museum further demonstrate how traditional crafts are being revitalized through design-forward, tourist-friendly formats. In this shift, cultural tourism is not just a leisure activity — it's becoming a new platform for fashion expression and consumption. Macao's Cultural Reawakening and the Rise of Experiential IP The evolution is not limited to mainland China. In Macao, the May 7 relaunch of 'The House of Dancing Water' — a 2-billion Hong Kong-dollar reinvention of the acclaimed show that had been on hiatus for five years — marks a milestone in cultural tourism's commercial potential. Attended by high-ranking officials and industry leaders, the premiere underscored Macao SAR's strategic pivot toward 'tourism+' as a model for economic diversification. Lawrence Ho, chairman and chief executive officer of Melco International Development, described the show as a symbol of Macao's aspiration to fuse entertainment, culture and tourism into a global narrative. The production, co-created with Italy's Peparini Studios, integrates technological innovation, multicultural storytelling, and a performance ensemble representing over 30 countries — including retired Olympic athletes — into an immersive, fashion-adjacent spectacle. The show's impact goes beyond the stage. With advance ticket sales exceeding MOP 180 million (about $115.4 million) and City of Dreams hotel occupancy soaring to 92 percent, 'The House of Dancing Water' is expected to draw over 500,000 attendees annually and significantly boost local employment. Moreover, the performance has established a new commercial ecosystem. Custom-designed costumes (24 sets in total), re-orchestrated symphonic scores and newly introduced characters such as 'the Sailor' are driving secondary consumption through merchandise and IP-based fashion collaborations — demonstrating the economic value of experiential culture. Policy Momentum and Urban Collaboration Backed by favorable national policies — ranging from tax incentives to funding subsidies and streamlined project approvals — cities across China are actively investing in the convergence of cultural, tourism and fashion economies. Shanghai is leading this charge. The city's 2025 'First in Shanghai' campaign, 55 Shopping Festival, and Shanghai Summer international consumption season are all examples of how municipalities are integrating retail activations with cultural programming. The 55 Shopping Festival alone featured 13 high-impact IP events over May and June, including innovative retailtainment experiences and premium business district promotions. In Beijing, the Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism partnered with the Singapore Tourism Board and Pop Mart to launch the 'Beijing×Singapore Pop Toy Show Dual City Plan.' Running from May 31 to June 20, the collaboration will explore the fusion of pop culture, fashion toys, and urban tourism through landmark activations in both cities — highlighting how trendy IPs can fuel cross-border cultural consumption. From Soft Power to Hard Value In today's globalized economy, cultural exchange is more than a diplomatic nicety — it is a strategic growth engine. The true revitalization of a city is not defined by skyscrapers or mega-malls, but by its ability to inspire, engage, and convert cultural energy into commercial and social value. As cities continue to experiment with immersive formats and fashion-forward cultural tourism, the potential to unlock new consumption models is clear. The chemical reaction between culture, tourism, and fashion is still evolving — but its impact on sustainable growth could be profound. Editor's Note: China Insight is a monthly column from WWD's sister publication WWD China analyzing key trends in that important market. Best of WWD The Definitive Timeline for Sean 'Diddy' Combs' Sean John Fashion Brand: Lawsuits, Runway Shows and Who Owns It Now What the Highest-paid CEOs at U.S. Fashion and Retail Companies Make Confidence Holds Up, But How Much Can Consumers Take?
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A 29-year-old entrepreneur's side hustle brought in $40 million in a year. Now she wants to help other 'uninvestable' women.
Daniella Pierson is launching CHASM to help women secure venture capital funding. Pierson said she was laughed out of meetings with VCs when pitching her newsletter called The Newsette. She built a multimillion-dollar business anyway, and wants to help other women do the same. Before building her multimillion-dollar business, Daniella Pierson said she was "the poster child" for "do not invest in." Now, she aims to help other "uninvestable" women secure financing for their ideas with her new organization, CHASM, where she wants to help close the gender gap in VC funding. "I had zero investment, not because I didn't want it. I wanted it very badly," Pierson told Business Insider. "I went to dozens of VCs, and I was rejected, rejected, rejected, laughed out of every room." One "household name" told Pierson she spoke too much and too quickly, and didn't know what she was talking about: "I cried the whole Uber home." Despite the setbacks, Pierson made a name for herself with her newsletter, The Newsette, which she founded in 2015 during her sophomore year at Boston University. Until graduation, she would write the entire newsletter between 6 and 10 a.m., covering the latest news in beauty, fashion, and business, before rushing to classes. Then she'd work on it in the evenings and weekends too. "Even after we made a million dollars, I still wrote it," Pierson said. "I didn't have fancy VC money to fall back on." In 2021, The Newsette had a team of 14 and brought in revenues of $40 million in one year and made a profit in the tens of millions. The following year Pierson launched another newsletter, Wondermind, cofounded with Selena Gomez and the actor's mother, Mandy Teefey. That year, Forbes named Pierson the world's youngest, wealthiest self-made woman of color. It took Pierson more than five years of hard work to become successful beyond her "wildest dreams." Pierson said she grew up as "the dumb twin — that's not a nickname I gave to myself. That's something my lovely teachers and peers called me in public to my face." She faced numerous barriers and challenges as a female entrepreneur. She failed her business project at college and was almost kicked out a semester before graduation. She was diagnosed with OCD when she was 14, and also lives with ADHD, depression, and anxiety. Pierson doesn't want it to be this hard for other women like her. The amount of funding all-women teams receive is low. In 2022, they accounted for 2.1% ($5.1 billion), BI previously reported. In 2023, it dropped to 1.8% ($3.1 billion). "That made me really mad," Pierson said. "So I was like, what am I going to do? I'm going to close the gender gap." CHASM, which launched on May 20, has a "mentor-to-many" business model. Fifty high-profile entrepreneurs and investors, both men and women, pay a $25,000 membership fee to help aspiring female entrepreneurs from pitch to exit, offering insights, networking opportunities, and grants. Pierson said she wanted to provide women the tools, knowledge, and connections they need to thrive as entrepreneurs without facing the same roadblocks that she did. Pierson said women start out "50 feet below the playing field" when launching a business. She believes men are part of the solution. "The gap has opened wider because we're isolating men," Pierson said."That could be a controversial statement, but I don't think it is, because guess what? If 99.999% of the money, power, wealth, all of that belongs to men, we need some of them on our side." Pierson said she doesn't want to "just throw money at the problem." "I'd rather teach a woman how to fish than just give her a fish," she said. "I want to put them in the best position for success by giving them the ultimate Bible of everything." Some members already signed up for CHASM include Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx and Sneex; singer Lionel Richie; Fidji Simo, the CEO and chair of Instacart who is joining OpenAI later this year; and Tony Robbins, a motivational speaker and coach. "This is putting my heart and soul, and my time, where my values are, and I hope people really use this to become the most successful versions of themselves, no matter what industry they're in," Pierson said. "If I can do it, anyone can." Read the original article on Business Insider Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A 29-year-old entrepreneur's side hustle brought in $40 million in a year. Now she wants to help other 'uninvestable' women.
Daniella Pierson is launching CHASM to help women secure venture capital funding. Pierson said she was laughed out of meetings with VCs when pitching her newsletter called The Newsette. She built a multimillion-dollar business anyway, and wants to help other women do the same. Before building her multimillion-dollar business, Daniella Pierson said she was "the poster child" for "do not invest in." Now, she aims to help other "uninvestable" women secure financing for their ideas with her new organization, CHASM, where she wants to help close the gender gap in VC funding. "I had zero investment, not because I didn't want it. I wanted it very badly," Pierson told Business Insider. "I went to dozens of VCs, and I was rejected, rejected, rejected, laughed out of every room." One "household name" told Pierson she spoke too much and too quickly, and didn't know what she was talking about: "I cried the whole Uber home." Despite the setbacks, Pierson made a name for herself with her newsletter, The Newsette, which she founded in 2015 during her sophomore year at Boston University. Until graduation, she would write the entire newsletter between 6 and 10 a.m., covering the latest news in beauty, fashion, and business, before rushing to classes. Then she'd work on it in the evenings and weekends too. "Even after we made a million dollars, I still wrote it," Pierson said. "I didn't have fancy VC money to fall back on." In 2021, The Newsette had a team of 14 and brought in revenues of $40 million in one year and made a profit in the tens of millions. The following year Pierson launched another newsletter, Wondermind, cofounded with Selena Gomez and the actor's mother, Mandy Teefey. That year, Forbes named Pierson the world's youngest, wealthiest self-made woman of color. It took Pierson more than five years of hard work to become successful beyond her "wildest dreams." Pierson said she grew up as "the dumb twin — that's not a nickname I gave to myself. That's something my lovely teachers and peers called me in public to my face." She faced numerous barriers and challenges as a female entrepreneur. She failed her business project at college and was almost kicked out a semester before graduation. She was diagnosed with OCD when she was 14, and also lives with ADHD, depression, and anxiety. Pierson doesn't want it to be this hard for other women like her. The amount of funding all-women teams receive is low. In 2022, they accounted for 2.1% ($5.1 billion), BI previously reported. In 2023, it dropped to 1.8% ($3.1 billion). "That made me really mad," Pierson said. "So I was like, what am I going to do? I'm going to close the gender gap." CHASM, which launched on May 20, has a "mentor-to-many" business model. Fifty high-profile entrepreneurs and investors, both men and women, pay a $25,000 membership fee to help aspiring female entrepreneurs from pitch to exit, offering insights, networking opportunities, and grants. Pierson said she wanted to provide women the tools, knowledge, and connections they need to thrive as entrepreneurs without facing the same roadblocks that she did. Pierson said women start out "50 feet below the playing field" when launching a business. She believes men are part of the solution. "The gap has opened wider because we're isolating men," Pierson said."That could be a controversial statement, but I don't think it is, because guess what? If 99.999% of the money, power, wealth, all of that belongs to men, we need some of them on our side." Pierson said she doesn't want to "just throw money at the problem." "I'd rather teach a woman how to fish than just give her a fish," she said. "I want to put them in the best position for success by giving them the ultimate Bible of everything." Some members already signed up for CHASM include Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx and Sneex; singer Lionel Richie; Fidji Simo, the CEO and chair of Instacart who is joining OpenAI later this year; and Tony Robbins, a motivational speaker and coach. "This is putting my heart and soul, and my time, where my values are, and I hope people really use this to become the most successful versions of themselves, no matter what industry they're in," Pierson said. "If I can do it, anyone can." Read the original article on Business Insider Sign in to access your portfolio
Business Insider
25-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
A 29-year-old entrepreneur's side hustle brought in $40 million in a year. Now she wants to help other 'uninvestable' women.
Before building her multimillion-dollar business, Daniella Pierson said she was "the poster child" for "do not invest in." Now, she aims to help other "uninvestable" women secure financing for their ideas with her new organization, CHASM, where she wants to help close the gender gap in VC funding. "I had zero investment, not because I didn't want it. I wanted it very badly," Pierson told Business Insider. "I went to dozens of VCs, and I was rejected, rejected, rejected, laughed out of every room." One "household name" told Pierson she spoke too much and too quickly, and didn't know what she was talking about: "I cried the whole Uber home." Despite the setbacks, Pierson made a name for herself with her newsletter, The Newsette, which she founded in 2015 during her sophomore year at Boston University. Until graduation, she would write the entire newsletter between 6 and 10 a.m., covering the latest news in beauty, fashion, and business, before rushing to classes. Then she'd work on it in the evenings and weekends too. "Even after we made a million dollars, I still wrote it," Pierson said. "I didn't have fancy VC money to fall back on." In 2021, The Newsette had a team of 14 and brought in revenues of $40 million in one year and made a profit in the tens of millions. The following year Pierson launched another newsletter, Wondermind, cofounded with Selena Gomez and the actor's mother, Mandy Teefey. That year, Forbes named Pierson the world's youngest, wealthiest self-made woman of color. Numerous barriers It took Pierson more than five years of hard work to become successful beyond her "wildest dreams." Pierson said she grew up as "the dumb twin — that's not a nickname I gave to myself. That's something my lovely teachers and peers called me in public to my face." She faced numerous barriers and challenges as a female entrepreneur. She failed her business project at college and was almost kicked out a semester before graduation. She was diagnosed with OCD when she was 14, and also lives with ADHD, depression, and anxiety. Pierson doesn't want it to be this hard for other women like her. The amount of funding all-women teams receive is low. In 2022, they accounted for 2.1% ($5.1 billion), BI previously reported. In 2023, it dropped to 1.8% ($3.1 billion). "That made me really mad," Pierson said. "So I was like, what am I going to do? I'm going to close the gender gap." CHASM, which launched on May 20, has a "mentor-to-many" business model. Fifty high-profile entrepreneurs and investors, both men and women, pay a $25,000 membership fee to help aspiring female entrepreneurs from pitch to exit, offering insights, networking opportunities, and grants. Pierson said she wanted to provide women the tools, knowledge, and connections they need to thrive as entrepreneurs without facing the same roadblocks that she did. Wider gap Pierson said women start out "50 feet below the playing field" when launching a business. She believes men are part of the solution. "The gap has opened wider because we're isolating men," Pierson said."That could be a controversial statement, but I don't think it is, because guess what? If 99.999% of the money, power, wealth, all of that belongs to men, we need some of them on our side." Pierson said she doesn't want to "just throw money at the problem." "I'd rather teach a woman how to fish than just give her a fish," she said. "I want to put them in the best position for success by giving them the ultimate Bible of everything." Some members already signed up for CHASM include Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx and Sneex; singer Lionel Richie; Fidji Simo, the CEO and chair of Instacart who is joining OpenAI later this year; and Tony Robbins, a motivational speaker and coach. "This is putting my heart and soul, and my time, where my values are, and I hope people really use this to become the most successful versions of themselves, no matter what industry they're in," Pierson said. "If I can do it, anyone can."
