# Rent The Runway: Jenn Hyman

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2017-08-07
- Length: 54m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-08-07-rent-the-runway-jenn-hyman

## Summary

Jenn Hyman, co-founder of Rent the Runway, explains how she and Jennifer Flice launched a platform to rent designer dresses, starting with a bold pitch to Diane von Furstenberg and a $1.75 million seed round. Hyman details the operational challenges of building a logistics-heavy technology company, including managing inventory, photography, and a massive dry-cleaning operation, while navigating significant gender bias and sexual harassment from early investors. The company grew to $100 million in annual revenue and nearly six million users by focusing on the emotional value of fashion and diversifying its capital sources. In a postscript, Dustin Hogard of Wazoo Survival Gear describes designing the Cash Belt, a survival tool integrated into a wearable belt, through custom manufacturing and a successful Kickstarter campaign.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-08-07-rent-the-runway-jenn-hyman#t=0) Introduction: Jenn Hyman and Rent the Runway
- [3:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-08-07-rent-the-runway-jenn-hyman#t=181) Early Career at Starwood and the Honeymoon Registry Idea
- [9:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-08-07-rent-the-runway-jenn-hyman#t=574) Meeting Jennifer Flice and the Birth of the Dress Rental Concept
- [12:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-08-07-rent-the-runway-jenn-hyman#t=749) Pitching Diane von Furstenberg and Securing Designer Partnerships
- [22:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-08-07-rent-the-runway-jenn-hyman#t=1350) Validating the Model with Harvard Pop-Ups and Initial Inventory
- [25:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-08-07-rent-the-runway-jenn-hyman#t=1516) Raising Venture Capital and Overcoming Investor Bias
- [33:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-08-07-rent-the-runway-jenn-hyman#t=1997) Facing Sexual Harassment and Gender Discrimination in VC
- [41:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-08-07-rent-the-runway-jenn-hyman#t=2498) Scaling Leadership, Culture, and Profitability
- [51:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-08-07-rent-the-runway-jenn-hyman#t=3080) Dustin Hogard and the Design of the Cash Belt

## Topics

- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies, founders before launch

## Mentioned

- Rent the Runway (company)
- Diane von Furstenberg (other)
- Starwood (company)
- Harvard Business School (other)
- Nieman Marcus (company)
- Bloomingdale's (company)
- Wazoo Survival Gear (company)
- Cash Belt (product)
- U.S. Bank (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Founder Feature: Val Emanuel of Rif Care](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-01-03-founder-feature-val-emanuel-of-rif-care) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [007: CNC Knitted Scarves & $100K Kickstarter Success, Fabienne Serrière of Knit Yak](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-05-03-007-cnc-knitted-scarves-100k-kickstarter-success-fabienne-serriere-of-knit-yak) (Product Startup)
- [006: Customizable swimwear with Kelsey Duffy of Versakini](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-04-19-006-customizable-swimwear-with-kelsey-duffy-of-versakini) (Product Startup)
- [Founder Feature: Stephanie Berwick of Pastazerts](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-05-23-founder-feature-stephanie-berwick-of-pastazerts) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [044: Turning customizable jackets into a multi-million dollar business, Elyse Daniels of Exodus Wear](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-03-14-044-turning-customizable-jackets-into-a-multi-million-dollar-business-elyse-dani) (Product Startup)

## Citing this page

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