Bossbox is the Birchbox for Female Founders
By now we’ve all heard about the persisting female problem in tech and that women are leaving the industry in droves. One company, Circle.jk, is seeking to capitalize on the opportunity by offering a subscription box to help women get their startups off the ground faster and cheaper. Like a Birchbox for female founders, the company’s first product, Bossbox, will offer female founder-friendly products that arrive in a monthly box.
“We’re building something that people want,” said founder and CEO Justin Sachs. Sachs had been hearing his female friends complain about the challenges of being a women in tech and realized their problems were nearly identical. “That was the ‘aha moment,’” Sachs said. “When you see a group of people coming up with the same solution to the same problem over and over, but not monetizing it yet, there’s a huge opportunity.”
Sachs recruited his college roommate, Christopher Lee, to build the site as he himself worked on business development and looked for customers. While Sachs himself is not a woman, his girlfriend is. And though she hasn’t articulated any interest in starting a company, Sachs hopes that Bossbox will provide her with the support she needs to make the leap.
“We’re not only solving their problem, but solving our own as well.”
“Both Chris and I have girlfriends which is great because it gives us a built-in customer base,” said Sachs. “We know what it’s like to have your girlfriend hit on. We’re not only solving their problem, but solving our own as well.”
The company plans to make money from margins they take off of the $25/month subscription fee (which the founders say is less than what most women spend on feminine products). The company launched in private beta in December with 2 customers and says so far, it’s growing by 200% month over month. The company doesn’t face any direct competition, but Sachs said companies like Amazon, Google and Facebook could move into the space. “It will be great validation when they do.”
See below for some of the latest offerings by Bossbox:
Put a Ring on it: Sterling Silver Princess Cut CA Solitaire Ring
Whether you’re single or married to your co-founder, nothing communicates intent more efficiency than an engagement ring. The faux diamond is the optimal accessory to convert networking opportunities into valuable leads with a lower risk of ‘ambiguidating’ or sexual harassment. Engagement rings suggest a higher level of relationship satisfaction and fidelity than wedding bands do, sending a gentle message that your business meeting is about just that: business. ($29.95 Value)
Put your eggs on ice: Certificate to freeze 1 Egg
Let’s face it: odds are if you’re starting a company, you’re not starting a family, at least not at the same time. Data shows that founders consistently underestimate the time it will take their startups to reach an exit event (and of course, most never do). When you can’t sync your business roadmap with your biological clock, it’s always best to take out insurance, or in this case, eggs. While the technology of Oocyte cryopreservation has improved dramatically over the past few years, its price tag is not startup founder-friendly. Keep in mind: egg freezing has somewhere between a 77–90% failure rate, which means its odds at succeeding are better than your startup’s. ($10,000 value)
Dress for Success: FLDS-Inspired Prairie Dress
While the soft comfort of athletic casuals may be great for writing code and answering emails, it’s death to a woman in the boardroom. Experts advise women to wear something that, “shows off their femininity while also being conservative.” You want to “stand out” they say, “but not too much.” A traditional prairie dress fits the bill. They even come in “power colors” like purple. ($85 value)
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