HIBT Lab! Malala Fund and Our Place: Shiza Shahid

How I Built This · 8 Sept 2022 · 45m

What this episode covers

Shiza Shahid, who co-founded the Malala Fund and later the cookware company Our Place, explains her journey from a Stanford student organizing a summer camp for Malala Yousafzai to launching a profitable for-profit business. She details the design philosophy behind Our Place’s flagship product, the Always Pan, which uses lightweight cast aluminum and ceramic nonstick to simplify cooking for home cooks. Shahid discusses overcoming supply chain complexities by leveraging her co-founder’s manufacturing background and using storytelling to build a brand that celebrates diverse cultural traditions.

Mentioned

Companies
Malala Fund, Our Place, McKinsey, Now Ventures
Products
Always Pan
Also
Stanford University

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • The Startup CPG Podcast · 30m

    Founder Feature: Tabi and Meena Hoshmand of Tursh

    Tabi and Meena Hoshmand, co-founders of Tursh, discuss bootstrapping their Afghan-inspired green chutney brand from their respective homes in New York and Los Angeles. They detail the product's development based on their mother's recipe, the strategic decision to hire an external designer to translate their cultural vision into commercial packaging, and their cautious, slow-and-steady approach to scaling into boutique retail. The sisters also reflect on the emotional journey of reconnecting with their heritage and the operational realities of running a two-person, side-hustle CPG business.

  • Core77 Podcast · 1h 14m

    Afterschool Podcast, Episode 20 - Ti Chang, 'Women in Industrial Design' Show Organizer (06/12)

    Ti Chang, co-founder of Crave, explains how she bootstrapped her first company, Incognito, by sourcing jewelry-grade manufacturers in China via Alibaba and validating the market through the Venus trade show in Berlin. She details the pivot to Crave after merging with co-founder Michael Tapolovac, leveraging angel funding to scale production and launching the Duet vibrator through a successful crowdfunding campaign on Siki. Chang also discusses her role organizing the Women in Industrial Design show, highlighting the systemic lack of recognition for female designers and the importance of creating visible platforms and supportive workplace environments.

  • Core77 Podcast · 1h 27m

    Afterschool Podcast, Episode 19 - Craighton Berman, Founder of Manual (04/16)

    Craighton Berman, founder of the brand Manual, discusses his transition from independent design studio to launching the Manual Coffee Maker (MCM) via Kickstarter. He details the product's design, which uses borosilicate glass and bamboo to create a ritualistic pour-over experience, and explains his strategy for scaling production and managing the crowdfunding campaign. Berman also reflects on the broader industry shift toward quality materials and the role of platforms like Kickstarter in enabling micro-entrepreneurship in industrial design.

  • Core77 Podcast · 55m

    Afterschool Podcast, Episode 1 - Rich Brilliant Willing

    Theo Richardson, Alex Williams, and Charles Brill, co-founders of the Brooklyn design studio Rich Brilliant Willing, discuss their journey from RISD graduates to running a furniture and lighting company. They explain how the 2008 financial crisis pushed them to bypass traditional licensing models and instead design and manufacture their own products, such as the XL Perch and Delta Fabric lamp series, to maintain speed and control. The founders detail their collaborative process, the shift from seasonal trade show launches to a more continuous product release strategy, and the challenges of maintaining their creative partnership while scaling the business.

  • Core77 Podcast · 57m

    Afterschool Podcast, Episode 4 - Martin Kastner (9/9)

    Martin Kastner, founder of Crucial Detail, discusses his transition from a traditional blacksmith in the Czech Republic to an industrial designer in Chicago. He details his collaborative work with the restaurant Alinea, where he designed custom tools like a paraffin wax vessel to deliver hot and cold potato soup, and the Porthole infusion vessel for Aviary. Kastner also reflects on the operational challenges of scaling the Porthole via a successful Kickstarter campaign, including manufacturing delays and managing difficult backers.

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by How I Built This. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.