Jeff Raider On Founding Warby Parker And Harry’s

It’s hard enough to start one billion-dollar company. Jeff Raider has co-founded two. While at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 2010, he helped launch Warby Parker, the direct-to-consumer eyeglasses company with a social mission. Warby Parker is now worth some $1.75 billion, and has given away four million pairs of glasses to date. After graduating from Wharton, Mr. Raider opted not to stay with Warby Parker. Instead, he went to work at a private equity firm, Charlesbank. But after a short stint on Wall Street, Mr. Raider got the entrepreneurial bug again. In 2013, he co-founded Harry’s, a direct-to-consumer men’s shaving business, with Andy Katz-Mayfield. This time, he had the advantage of experience: He raised ample capital, staffed up and bought a factory early on. Recently, Harry’s expanded with a line of women’s products. This interview, which was condensed and edited for clarity, was conducted in New York City. Read more at The New York Times.