5 Successful UPenn Entrepreneurs Who Turned Their Ideas Into Reality

Do you have a passion for entrepreneurship and innovation? Look no further than the University of Pennsylvania for inspiration. UPenn has a vibrant entrepreneurial community that has produced numerous successful entrepreneurs. In this article, we will take a closer look at five UPenn alumni who turned their ideas into reality and achieved tremendous success.

1. Elon Musk

Elon Musk is widely recognized as one of the most innovative entrepreneurs of our time. Musk received dual Bachelor of Science degrees in economics and physics from UPenn in 1995, after transferring from Queens University in Canada.

Musk co-founded Zip2, a web software company that he sold for $307 million in 1999. He then founded X.com, an online payment company that eventually became PayPal, which was sold to eBay for $1.5 billion in 2002. Musk has also founded numerous other companies, including SpaceX, Tesla, and SolarCity.

Musk’s success proves that solving big problems can lead to big profits. He has a passion for clean energy and space exploration and is constantly striving to make the world a better place.

2. Kevin Ryan

Kevin Ryan is a serial entrepreneur who graduated from UPenn in 1985. He co-founded DoubleClick, an online advertising company that was sold to Google for $3.1 billion in 2007. Ryan also co-founded Gilt Groupe, a luxury fashion flash-sale website that was sold to Hudson’s Bay Company for $250 million in 2016.

Ryan is a true innovator, and his success can be attributed to his drive and determination. He started DoubleClick in 1996 with just $100,000 and grew it into a billion-dollar company.

3. Jennifer Hyman and Jennifer Fleiss

Jennifer Hyman and Jennifer Fleiss are the co-founders of Rent the Runway, a company that rents designer dresses and accessories. The two women met while studying at Harvard Business School but both had previously studied at UPenn. Hyman received a degree from the College of Arts and Sciences in 2002, while Fleiss received a degree in 2005 from the Wharton School.

Rent the Runway has achieved tremendous success since its founding in 2009. The company was valued at $1 billion in 2019, and it has become a popular destination for women who want to rent designer clothing for special occasions.

4. Jon Oringer

Jon Oringer is the founder of Shutterstock, a stock photography company. Oringer graduated from UPenn with a degree in computer science in 1998. He founded Shutterstock in 2003 because he realized that there was a need for affordable stock photos.

Oringer started Shutterstock with just 30,000 of his own photographs and has been able to grow the company into a billion-dollar enterprise. Shutterstock now has over 350 million images and videos available for purchase, and it has a market cap of over $3 billion.

5. Alexa von Tobel

Alexa von Tobel is the founder of LearnVest, a personal finance website. Von Tobel graduated from UPenn in 2006 with a degree in psychology and anthropology. She founded LearnVest in 2009 because she believed that everyone should have access to financial planning and advice.

LearnVest has become a popular destination for people who want to take control of their finances. The company was acquired by Northwestern Mutual in 2015 for $250 million.

Conclusion

These five UPenn alumni are proof that with hard work, determination, and a great idea, anyone can become a successful entrepreneur. Whether it’s solving big problems, disrupting industries, or making life easier for people, these entrepreneurs have shown that anything is possible.

If you have an entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for innovation, take inspiration from these success stories and turn your own ideas into reality.