Mariya Nurislamova

Shoutout to Mariya Nurislamova-she’s the real deal in the startup game. This woman jumped into the scene with Scentbird, which she co-founded and now runs as CEO. Think of it like Netflix, but for fragrances. She kicked it off back in Y Combinator’s S15 batch, so she’s been at this for a minute.

Her process? Pure hustle. She built Scentbird during the subscription box craze of the mid-2010s, and honestly, she crushed it-raised over 25 mil in VC cash, which is no joke. That’s how you show you’ve got something real. It’s not just about the money; she’s all about making scent accessible, cutting through the bullshit marketing and branding noise, and doing her own thing with zero apologies.

But Mariya’s not just about fragrances. She’s been involved in a bunch of other startups-Deck of Scarlet, Beta Week, Neuvey, Missionelle, The Iris Organization, Xtreme Mobile-she’s all about jumping into new projects, testing ideas, pushing boundaries. She’s got that entrepreneurial fire in her belly, always looking for the future trend, always innovating.

And here’s the kicker-she’s also a spiritual influencer. Yeah, she’s into that side of life too, which has stirred up some buzz in the beauty and fragrance worlds. She’s not afraid to be herself, blend business with a bit of soul, and that’s what makes her stand out. Like, she’s not just a founder-she’s a thought leader, sharing her insights on fundraising, marketing, branding at conferences, and basically inspiring other founders to go all in.

Bottom line? Mariya’s story is about taking a passion-scents-and turning it into a legit empire. She embodies what it means to hustle, stay authentic, and keep pushing. She’s a mix of sharp entrepreneur and spiritual guru, and she’s just getting started. No Cap, she’s a force to watch.