Nicole Farb
{{Short description|American entrepreneur and business executive}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Nicole Shariat Farb
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| alma_mater = Booth School of Business
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| spouse = Michael Farb
| children = 2
| years_active = 2013 - current
| known_for = Co-founder, CEO, Darby Smart
| notable_works =
}}
Nicole Shariat Farb is an American entrepreneur and business executive. She is a co-founder and the chief executive officer of the video community Darby Smart.{{Cite web |url=https://www.sfgate.com/homeandgarden/article/Darby-Smart-DIY-kits-from-best-of-Pinterest-4735662.php |title=Darby Smart DIY kits from best of Pinterest |website=SFGate |access-date=2018-04-17|date=2013-08-15 }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/20-female-founded-startups-that-kicked-butt-took-names-in-2017.html |title=20 Female-Founded Startups That Grew Like Crazy in 2017 |date=2017-12-19 |website=Inc.com |access-date=2018-04-17}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.adweek.com/digital/darby-smart-launches-darby-video-app-for-how-to-videos/ |title=Darby Smart Launches Darby Video App for How-To Videos |language=en-US |access-date=2018-04-17}} Prior to founding the company, Farb worked as a Head of Emerging Private Companies at Goldman Sachs.{{Cite web |url=https://www.levo.com/posts/the-pivot-founder-of-darby-smart |title=The Pivot: Nicole Shariat Farb, Founder of Darby Smart |date=2015-09-16 |website=Levo League |access-date=2018-04-17}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/bizwomen/news/profiles-strategies/2015/01/the-co-founder-of-darby-smart-on-her-secret-weapon.html |title=The co-founder of Darby Smart on her secret weapon for success in the startup world: stalking |website=www.bizjournals.com |access-date=2018-04-17}} Farb has also appeared several times on Good Morning America as a DIY expert.{{Cite web |url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-1208-tvhighlights-20161208-story.html |title=Thursday's TV highlights: 'Taraji's White Hot Holidays' and more |last=Cooper |first=Matt |website=Los Angeles Times |access-date=2018-04-17|date=2016-12-08 }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.disneyabcpress.com/abc/pressrelease/good-morning-america-highlights-for-abc-news-good-morning-america-may-8-12/ |title=Good Morning America: Highlights for ABC News' 'Good Morning America,' May 8–12 |language=en-US |access-date=2018-04-17}}{{Cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/parenting-hack-make-homemade-slime-kids/story?id=46595844 |title=Parenting hack: How to make homemade slime for kids |date=2017-04-07 |website=ABC News |language=en |access-date=2018-04-17}} She is also active in pursuing diversity and equality in the tech industry.
Early life and education
Farb was raised in Orange County, California.{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/these-8-pairs-redefine-the-term-power-couple-2015-10#nicole-shariat-farb-and-michael-farb-are-juggling-twin-babies-and-a-life-of-adventure-with-their-careers-as-startup-founders-2|title=These 8 Pairs Are Redefining the Term 'Power Couple'|publisher=Business Insider|first=Molly|last=Mulshine|date=October 1, 2015}} When she was 10 years old, she started a business making and selling hair bows.{{cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/bizwomen/news/latest-news/2015/11/8-female-founders-on-making-the-leap-from.html?page=4|title=8 Female Founders on Making the Leap From Corporate climber to Entrepreneur|publisher=Biz Woman|first1=Melissa|last1=Wylie|first2=Mary|last2=Johnson|date=November 19, 2015}} After graduating high school she briefly pursued a career in acting, before studying journalism at Loyola University. After Loyola, she received her Master's in Education from University of California, Irvine and worked as a teacher before attending business school at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.{{cite web|url=http://www.iwantherjob.com/your-career/interview/nicole-shariat-farb|title=Introducing Nicole Shariat Farb|publisher=I Want Her Job|date=December 5, 2014}}
Career
Farb relocated to San Francisco, California and began working for Goldman Sachs where she was a vice president.{{Cite web |url=https://www.chicagobooth.edu/magazine/winter-2017/features/cupid-is-a-quant |title=Cupid Is a Quant |website=www.chicagobooth.edu |language=en |access-date=2018-04-17}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323528404578452841343130084 |title=Tech Poaches Wall Street Talent |last=Lessin |first=Jessica E. |date=2013-05-01 |website=Wall Street Journal |language=en-US |access-date=2018-04-17}} After experiencing frustration while crafting thank you cards following her 2011 wedding,{{Cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/maria-shriver/apps-i-live-crafting-innovator-nicole-shariat-farb-n128821 |title=Apps I Live By: Crafting Innovator Nicole Shariat Farb - NBC News |website=NBC News |language=en |access-date=2018-04-17|date=2014-06-11 }} she left Goldman Sachs to start Darby Smart.{{Cite web |url=https://www.xconomy.com/san-francisco/2014/07/14/craft-kit-maker-darby-smart-takes-on-supply-goliath-michaels/ |title=Xconomy: Craft Kit Maker Darby Smart Takes on Supply Goliath Michaels |date=2014-07-14 |website=Xconomy |language=en-US |access-date=2018-04-17}}
She recruited software engineer, Karl Mendes, as a co-founder and raised a $1 million seed round of funding.{{Cite web |url=https://www.sfstation.com/2013/08/27/interview-getting-crafty-with-darby-smarts-nicole-farb/ |title=Interview: Getting Crafty with Darby Smart's Nicole Farb |website=SF Station – San Francisco's City Guide |language=en-US |access-date=2018-04-17}}{{Cite web |url=http://fortune.com/2014/05/14/craft-kit-startup-darby-smart-raises-6-3-million-to-beat-hobby-lobby-on-the-web/ |title=Craft kit startup Darby Smart raises $6.3 million to beat Hobby Lobby on the web |website=Fortune |language=en |access-date=2018-04-17}} Darby Smart was launched in June 2013.{{Cite web |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/19/darby-smart_n_3467939.html |title=Darby Smart's Founder Nicole Farb Quit Goldman Sachs To Found A Startup |last=Winograd |first=David |date=2013-06-20 |website=Huffington Post |language=en-US |access-date=2018-04-17}} In Spring 2014, Darby Smart raised an additional $6.3 million in Series A funding led by Maveron.{{Cite web |url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/05/14/darby-smart-raises-6-3m-for-diy-craft-marketplace/ |title=Darby Smart Raises $6.3M For DIY Craft Marketplace – TechCrunch |website=techcrunch.com |date=14 May 2014 |language=en-US |access-date=2018-04-17}}
Farb led the company into a partnership with Urban Outfitters in Fall 2014. In 2015, she formed a partnership with the craft retailer Michael's. By 2016, Farb had launched the Darby Smart app which helps users create videos.
Farb has been vocal about diversity and inclusion issues in the tech industry,{{Cite web |url=http://fortune.com/2017/07/20/5-brainstorm-tech-highlights/ |title=Fake News, Cyber Security, Political Stalemate Top Concerns at Brainstorm Tech |website=Fortune |language=en |access-date=2018-04-17}} and was quoted in Emily Chang's 2018 book, Brotopia about her experience as a female entrepreneur in Silicon Valley.{{Cite book |title=Brotopia : breaking up the boys' club of Silicon Valley |last=Emily |first=Chang |isbn=978-0735213548 |location=New York, NY |oclc=1000234925|date = 2018-02-06}}
In 2018, Darby Smart was acquired by Grove Collaborative, and Nicole Farb joined the company's beauty venture.{{Cite web|date=2019-09-09|title=Grove Collaborative's CEO Discusses Clean Beauty & Sustainability Efforts|url=https://observer.com/2019/09/grove-ceo-stuart-landesberg-clean-beauty-sustainability/|access-date=2021-03-25|website=Observer|language=en-US}}
Personal life
Farb married Michael Farb, the co-founder of sports recruiting software company CaptainU, in 2011. The couple met while attending the Booth School of Business and have twin boys.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.darbysmart.com/ Darby Smart website]
- [http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/good-morning-america/episode-32687494/195502/ Farb on Good Morning America]
- [https://marketingland.com/struggle-real-marketing-millennials-176232 Farb discusses marketing towards millennials]
- {{IMDb name|8587033|Nicole Farb}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Farb, Nicole}}
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:American women company founders