Gates of Emotion: Bill and Melinda React Worlds Apart to Daughter’s Big News

When Phoebe Gates, the youngest daughter of Bill and Melinda Gates, shared her decision to co-found Phia—an AI-driven fashion e-commerce app—her parents had very different reactions, shedding light on how even the most prominent families deal with generational aspirations.

 

Key Highlights:

 

•⁠  ⁠Phoebe teamed up with her Stanford roommate, Sophia Kianni, to create Phia. This app harnesses AI to compare prices for both new and second-hand fashion items across more than 40,000 websites, all with the goal of making shopping easier and helping users snag the best deals.

 

•⁠  ⁠Bill Gates took a cautious stance, expressing a bit of skepticism about the intense competition in the e-commerce space. He admitted feeling relieved that Phoebe didn’t seek his financial backing, as that would have meant he’d need to keep a close eye on her business, which he found could be a bit awkward.

 

•⁠  ⁠His perspective is rooted in his belief in fostering independence: “I would have kept her on a short leash and been doing business reviews, which I would have found tricky… I probably would have been overly nice but wondered if it was the right thing to do,” he shared with The New York Times.

 

•⁠  ⁠On the flip side, Melinda French Gates was more supportive yet firm. Both parents insisted that Phoebe and Sophia complete their degrees before diving into the startup world, highlighting the significance of education and resilience.

 

•⁠  ⁠Phoebe has candidly discussed the unique privilege and pressure that comes with being a Gates, but she believes that her parents’ contrasting advice has empowered her to forge her own path.

 

Outlook:

Phoebe’s journey illustrates the mix of privilege, expectations, and independence that children of high-profile parents often navigate. With Phia now up and running, her story is under the spotlight—not just for its potential business success, but for how the next generation of Gates is reshaping legacy and ambition.

 

Source: Times of India, Business Insider, New York Times, InStyle