Startups

This buzzy custom mattress startup moved to NYC

The Wharton MBA founders of Helix Sleep said they had stronger professional networks in New York City. That's also where many of their friends, family and significant others are.

Helix Sleep's branding. (Courtesy photo)

Three Wharton MBAs founded a custom mattress startup that’s getting a whole lot of press.
Following its launch, the company, called Helix Sleep, got writeups in Fast Company, Inc., Refinery29 and more.
The three founders, who got their MBA this spring, relocated the company to New York City for personal and professional reasons, said cofounder Adam Tishman.
He wrote:

On the business side this included stronger professional networks/investor base and on the personal side family/significant others/friends. We currently do not have a direct Philly presence anymore except that we stay close with Wharton/Wharton Entrepreneurship and one of our industry advisors [who prefers to remain anonymous] is located in Philly.

It’s not that surprising that Helix left for NYC — that’s pretty standard, at least in what we’ve seen, from startups founded by Wharton MBAs (Carlos Vega’s Tesorio is one notable exception, as is Allison Berliner’s Cataluv and Scott Bierbryer and Ashrit Kamireddi’s VeryApt).
And it’s not so straightforward that it should be seen as a loss.
Wharton MBAs are going to launch startups. Is it necessarily a comment on Philly if they leave? They did, after all, come to the city for the school. Maybe it’s more of a comment on Philly’s tech scene if they stay. “The Warby Parker of mattressesindeed.

Companies: Wharton School
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