October DealsAmazon USOctober deal check: compare before you payAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsSlow PC?RecommendedPC slow today? Run a repair scan before it gets worseResolve common Windows issues and optimize system performance.Scan NowOctober DealsAmazon USDeal season is back - check today's better picksAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.See Picks×
Skip to content
The Finance Base
The Money Desk · Blog
Re:

Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni’s Phia Raises $35M to ‘Make Shopping Fun Again’

Phia’s January 2026 $35 million Series A backs an app and browser extension for product comparison and resale discovery. Here’s what its reported metrics, revenue model and privacy history mean for shoppers.
From TheFinanceBase Team4 min to read
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Phia announced a $35 million Series A in January 2026 at a reported $185 million valuation. The shopping app and browser extension helps users compare products and find resale alternatives; it says its model earns revenue when shopping activity leads to sales. A later May report updated the financing figures to $35.5 million and a $185.5 million valuation.

What Phia does

Phia is a shopping app and browser extension co-founded by Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni. As TechCrunch described it in January 2026, the service can help shoppers find secondhand versions of products they are considering, as well as similar items from less expensive brands. TechCrunch illustrated the idea with a hypothetical $200 Anthropologie dress and an $80 Poshmark listing; that was an example, not a verified price comparison or a promise that an item will be available. TechCrunch, January 27, 2026.

In its September 2025 seed announcement, Phia described its iOS app and mobile extension as tools to compare prices, estimate resale value, summarize product details and track price drops. The company said it covered more than 40,000 retail and resale sites at that time; those are historical company claims, not confirmation of current feature availability or coverage. Phia via PR Newswire, September 18, 2025.

What the $35 million announcement means

Phia’s January 27, 2026 announcement said it had raised $35 million in a Series A led by Notable Capital, with participation from Khosla Ventures and returning investor Kleiner Perkins. The company put its valuation at $185 million. TechCrunch also reported the round as $35 million that day. These are January announcement figures, not a claim that the company’s financing terms have remained unchanged. Phia via GlobeNewswire, January 27, 2026; TechCrunch, January 27, 2026.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
#1 Best Overall
Visa Physical Gift Card $200 (plus $6.95 Purchase Fee)
  • Gift Cards are shipped active and ready for use.
  • This card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Funds do not expire. If available funds remain on your card after the valid thru date has passed, please call customer service for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout. No fees after purchase.
  • To access your card information safely, type the complete website address shown on your Gift Card (MyGift.GiftCardMall.com) directly into your browser's address bar. Don't use search engines or shortened versions of the website address, as these may lead you to fake or fraudulent sites. Do not provide any Gift Card details (example: Card Number) to someone you do not know or trust. If you believe you've reached an illegitimate website, contact cardholder service at 1-888-524-1283. Be cautious of phishing sites, there are a variety of scams in which fraudsters try to trick others into paying with gift cards.
  • To report your Lost or Stolen Physical Visa Card, call Customer Service 24/7 at 1 (888) 524-1283 to cancel your Gift Card as soon as you can. You will be asked to provide the Gift Card number and other identifying information.
  • Use your Visa Gift Card in the U.S. everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted, including online.

A May 29, 2026 Vogue Business report described the Series A as an oversubscribed $35.5 million round, total funding of $43.5 million and a $185.5 million valuation. Those later reported figures should be kept distinct from the January headline numbers. Vogue Business, May 29, 2026.

The raise gives Phia capital to pursue its commerce and shopping-agent ambitions, but a funding announcement by itself does not establish that the product will be profitable, that its reported user growth will continue, or that shoppers will save money on every purchase.

Rank #2
Amazon eGift Card - Amazon Logo
  • Amazon.com Gift Cards never expire and carry no fees.
  • Multiple gift card designs and denominations to choose from.
  • Redeemable towards millions of items store-wide at Amazon.com or certain affiliated websites.
  • Available for immediate delivery. Gift cards sent by email can be scheduled up to a year in advance.
  • No returns and no refunds on Gift Cards.

What Phia has reported about growth

The figures below come from Phia or a publication reporting company figures; they are not independently audited in the cited accounts.

Measure Reported figure and source
Users and brand partnerships 500,000 users within five months of launch and more than 5,000 direct brand partnerships, according to Phia in September 2025. Phia via PR Newswire.
Secondhand catalog More than 300 million secondhand fashion items indexed, according to Phia in September 2025. Phia via GlobeNewswire.
Users and retail-brand partners More than 1 million users and more than 6,200 retail-brand partners ten months after launch, according to Phia in January 2026. Phia via GlobeNewswire.
Revenue growth and platform performance Phia reported 11x revenue growth since launch, an 80% reduction in search latency and a 40% increase in monetized gross merchandise value in its January 2026 announcement. The release did not provide a basis here for treating these as independently verified results. Phia via GlobeNewswire.
Reported brand-partner outcomes Phia said partners saw 13% higher conversion, 30% stronger new-customer acquisition, 15% higher average order value and returns reduced by more than 50%, in its January 2026 release. The company did not present these as independently audited figures. Phia via GlobeNewswire.
Users, brand partners and catalog Vogue Business reported Phia figures of 1.5 million users and 9,600 brand partners after 14 months, and a catalog of 350 million items, in May 2026. Vogue Business.

The metrics suggest expansion in reported users, brand relationships and indexed inventory. They do not, on their own, show how many users make repeat purchases, how much revenue Phia earns, or whether shoppers consistently find a better price.

Free tools Windows power users keep installed

One-click scans. No signup required.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Rank #3
One4all Physical Gift Card
  • Sometimes a shopping spree is just the thing to make their day!
  • Give a gift they can spend on a new outfit, something for home, or a little extra self-care.
  • Exchange this RETAIL THERAPY One4all Favorites Gift Card at redeem.giftcards.com for a choice of eGift(s) to spend at one or more of these brands: Gap, Macy’s, Nordstrom, Panera Bread, The Cheesecake Factory, Ulta Beauty, Wayfair.
  • Redemption: Online exchange required before use. Visit redeem.giftcards.com and enter card details to select the eGift(s) you want from the participating brands.
  • No Returns or Refunds on gift cards.

How Phia makes money

TechCrunch reported that Phia takes a cut when purchases are made through the app, a model similar to affiliate marketing. Phia described its brand-partner arrangement in January 2026 as zero-dollar upfront and performance-based. The cited reports do not specify commission rates, attribution windows, or contract terms, so the precise economics cannot be inferred. TechCrunch; Phia via GlobeNewswire.

For shoppers, the financial point is practical: compare the final price, including shipping, taxes, condition and return terms, rather than treating a lower listed resale price as an automatic saving. A purchase routed through an app may also generate revenue for the service, so users should understand the app’s disclosures and permissions.

Rank #4
TJX Multibrand Physical Gift Card
  • One gift card, five incredible brands. A TJX gift card is perfect for celebrating birthdays, holidays, a new home or just because.
  • Score amazing savings on designer fashions for you, top-brand finds for your home, and everything you need for your outdoor adventures.
  • With thousands of new arrivals across all five brands every week, the selection is ever-changing.
  • The TJX gift card is redeemable at all HomeGoods, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Sierra, and Homesense stores (in the U.S. and Puerto Rico) and online at TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and Sierra.
  • Physical gift cards are delivered active via mail.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Product plans and privacy considerations

Vogue Business reported in May 2026 that Phia was developing a one-stop cart, a digital closet built from past purchases, rewards redeemable for gift cards, visual search and a planned personalized discovery agent. The report put its catalog at 350 million items at that time. These are reported features and ambitions as of that date, not a guarantee that every feature is currently available to every user. Vogue Business, May 29, 2026.

There is also a dated privacy issue worth knowing about. TechCrunch reported that cybersecurity researchers raised concerns about an extension feature capable of capturing HTML from visited websites. According to the report, Phia removed the feature after being notified, and the company said it had logged webpage content to determine whether a site was a shopping destination but had not stored the data. That account is not a complete audit of Phia’s current privacy practices. Users should review the extension’s current permission prompts and privacy policy before installing or continuing to use it. TechCrunch, January 27, 2026.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Best Value
Amazon eGift Card - Happy Birthday
  • Amazon.com Gift Cards never expire and carry no fees.
  • Multiple gift card designs and denominations to choose from.
  • Redeemable towards millions of items store-wide at Amazon.com or certain affiliated websites.
  • Available for immediate delivery. Gift cards sent by email can be scheduled up to a year in advance.
  • No returns and no refunds on Gift Cards.

What the founders say

Phoebe Gates described the ambition to TechCrunch as: “We want to make the entire ecosystem just way more efficient and make shopping fun again.” Sophia Kianni told the publication: “We are just at such a prime time of opportunity.” TechCrunch, January 27, 2026.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1
Visa Physical Gift Card $200 (plus $6.95 Purchase Fee)
Visa Physical Gift Card $200 (plus $6.95 Purchase Fee)
Gift Cards are shipped active and ready for use.
$206.95
Bestseller No. 2
Amazon eGift Card - Amazon Logo
Amazon eGift Card - Amazon Logo
Amazon.com Gift Cards never expire and carry no fees.; Multiple gift card designs and denominations to choose from.
$50.00
Bestseller No. 3
One4all Physical Gift Card
One4all Physical Gift Card
Sometimes a shopping spree is just the thing to make their day!; No Returns or Refunds on gift cards.
$50.00
Bestseller No. 4
TJX Multibrand Physical Gift Card
TJX Multibrand Physical Gift Card
Physical gift cards are delivered active via mail.; Can be redeemed online and in store for merchandise only
$50.00
Bestseller No. 5
Amazon eGift Card - Happy Birthday
Amazon eGift Card - Happy Birthday
Amazon.com Gift Cards never expire and carry no fees.; Multiple gift card designs and denominations to choose from.
$50.00

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

More post from the Money Desk

  1. The Money DeskBlogTheFinanceBase07 OCT 263 minMortgage or Car Loan Sticker Shock: What Borrowers Need to Know
  2. The Money DeskBlogTheFinanceBase07 OCT 264 minHow College Students Should Handle a First Credit Card
  3. The Money DeskBlogTheFinanceBase09 OCT 267 minMortgage Escrow FAQs: Taxes, Insurance, Shortages, and Refunds
Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?Free driver scan
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They SpreadFree repair scan

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.