Introducing Meraki Co.: Giana Jarrah Navigates Lehigh's Entrepreneurial Universe
Lehigh University's Innovation Ecosystem Nurtures Successful Startups
Lehigh University's Innovation Ecosystem is a thriving hub that supports entrepreneurship and startup success. This is evident in the journey of Giana Jarrah '22, the founder and CEO of With Meraki Co., a company that empowers women with solutions backed by science.
Giana's entrepreneurial journey began during her time at Lehigh, where she faced recurrent UTIs and antibiotic resistance. This personal experience led her to focus on vaginal health, and Lehigh's ecosystem provided her with the resources, mentors, and opportunities to turn her innovative ideas into a marketable product.
With Meraki Co. has scaled operations while staying true to its core mission. The company has launched a range of products, including With Harmony, targeting hormonal balance and microbiome health, an immune boosting supplement, a gut health powder supplement, and a vaginal health guidebook.
The Southside Bethlehem Keystone Innovation Zone (KIZ) provided financial support to Giana's company, helping secure patents, develop new products, hire team members, and invest in R&D. Additionally, Lehigh's entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem offered Giana with mentors, resources, and experiential learning opportunities.
Giana's startup has also received significant recognition and funding. With Meraki Co. won one-on-one startup coaching and prototyping funds at EUREKA! Pitch Night, and Giana was awarded $5,000 for winning the live pitch competition at the annual Innovate! Celebrate! Ceremony. The company also received $10,000 in seed funding from Lehigh Ventures Lab and a $20,000 grand prize and a $5,000 Ben Franklin Technology Ventures assistance award at Startup Lehigh Valley.
With Meraki Co. has grown a loyal community base through viral TikTok educational content, amassing over 150k followers. The company has sold more than 10,000 units and generated six figures in revenue, and is actively expanding sales into Canada and other countries globally.
Giana is committed to giving back to the Lehigh community. She welcomes students into her office to share what she's learned as a woman entrepreneur and is dedicated to hiring interns, especially young women of color, and introducing them to the world of startups.
Lehigh's Innovation Ecosystem is a testament to the university's commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and startup success. With over 50 entrepreneurial programs and organizations, technical entrepreneurship (TE) program, experiential learning opportunities, strategic partnerships, and a university-wide commitment to innovation, the ecosystem provides students with practical skills, comprehensive support, and real-world experience essential for turning innovative ideas into viable companies.
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- Lehigh University's commitment to innovation is reflected in its thriving Innovation Ecosystem, which nurtures entrepreneurship and supports the success of startups.
- The university's ecosystem, comprising over 50 entrepreneurial programs and organizations, offers practical skills, comprehensive support, and real-world experience.
- One successful startup nurtured within this ecosystem is With Meraki Co., founded by Giana Jarrah '22, which focuses on women's health and wellness through science-backed solutions.
- Giana's journey started at Lehigh, where she faced health challenges that inspired her to focus on vaginal health. The university's resources and mentors enabled her to turn her entrepreneurial ideas into a marketable product.
- With Meraki Co. has launched several products, including With Harmony, aimed at hormonal balance and microbiome health, and has received financial support from the Southside Bethlehem Keystone Innovation Zone (KIZ).
- The startup, which has amassed over 150k followers on TikTok, has generated six figures in revenue and is actively expanding sales into Canada and other countries worldwide.
- Giana is dedicated to giving back to her alma mater, welcoming students into her office to share her entrepreneurial experiences and employing interns, particularly women of color, to introduce them to the world of startups.
- The University's dedication to entrepreneurship extends beyond finance and technology, with programs in science, engineering, business, health-and-wellness, and education, fostering a culture of innovation that prepares students for success in small businesses and beyond their commencement.
