Equity How A Suitcase Propelled Steph Korey And Jen Rubio To Stardom In the first of our Founded series, Away co-founders reveal how to work with setbacks, dismal statistics, and the unknown. By Emily J. Brooks Equity In the first of our Founded series, Away co-founders reveal how to work with setbacks, dismal statistics, and the unknown. By Emily J. Brooks Previous article Our Wish For The Future Next article A Working Mum’s Love Letter To Serena Williams Steph Korey and Jen Rubio started at Warby Parker on the same day, so when the idea for a direct-to-consumer luggage company came about, it was only a matter of time before the pair revolutionised the luxury travel industry.Much like Warby Parker’s direct-to-consumer eyewear brand (the company became the first to sell affordable glasses online), Korey and Rubio’s company, Away, undercuts the luxury luggage market. Designing suitcases with the same double spinner wheels and German polycarbonate shells of premium $700 suitcases, the company’s markup from production cost is only slight and includes a lifetime guarantee. After interviewing 800 frequent flyers before manufacturing, the founders settled on a US$225 suitcase with a patented compression system and built-in USB charger, contributing to first year sales exceeding US$12 million. Founded is a series featuring female-founded startups going places. Meet the women driven by creativity and innovation. Listen up, wisdom awaits. foundedstartups Best Of Future Women Leaders How this CEO stamps out passive-aggressive behaviours By FW Leaders The six values guiding this former Premier By FW Wellbeing It took an ADHD diagnosis and a breakdown to change my relationship with work By Sally Spicer Leadership New FW partnership to boost number of women in cybersecurity By FW Gender diversity Soft Power By Briana Blackett Gender diversity Be honest. Did you think Bluey was a boy? By Briana Blackett Gender diversity Cyber expert laments “lost generation” in online misogyny panel By Sally Spicer Gender diversity Is this at the bottom of your To-Do list? By Briana Blackett Your inbox just got smarter If you’re not a member, sign up to our newsletter to get the best of Future Women in your inbox.