Trisha Bantigue

Yo, have you heard about Trisha Bantigue? She’s the real deal, a total boss in the startup world. Born in the Philippines, she moved to the US when she was just 10, and holy shit, she paid her way through college by competing in pageants. That hustle and grit? Yeah, that’s what drove her to start Queenly, a sick online marketplace for formalwear. She founded it in 2019, and it’s already big, backed by YC’s W21 batch and Andreessen Horowitz. No cap, that’s major.

Before she jumped into the startup life, she crushed it at top tech giants, Facebook, Google, Uber, Numerator. So she’s got that deep tech background, but her real passion is building stuff that solves real problems. Queenly isn’t just some marketplace; it’s about creating a trusted, easy way for people to rent or buy fancy dresses, making formalwear accessible and less wasteful.

And get this, she was recognized on Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2022 in the Art & Style category. That’s no fluke; it’s proof she’s changing the game. She’s also been super open about the mental health toll that startup hustle takes. She’s not just celebrating wins; she’s honest about the struggles too. That kind of transparency? It proves she’s in it for the long haul, not just chasing clout.

Her process? It’s all about perseverance, hustle, and turning obstacles into fuel. From pageants to tech giants, then to founding her own company, she’s proof that if you’re willing to grind and stay true to your vision, you can crush it even against the odds. She’s a reminder that starting something isn’t just about the idea, it’s about resilience, guts, and having a clear why.

In short, Trisha Bantigue is a powerhouse who’s redefining what it means to build a business and stay human through the chaos. She’s inspiring as hell, and honestly, she’s just getting started.