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Maryellis Bunn

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Maryellis Bunn is an American entrepreneur and founder of the interactive retail experience company Museum of Ice Cream (MOIC), and serves as the CEO of its parent company, Figure8, Inc.[1]

Maryellis Bunn
Born
Laguna Beach, California
NationalityAmerican
Known forMuseum of Ice Cream

Early life and education edit

Bunn was raised in Laguna Beach, California.[2] She moved to New York City for higher education, graduating from New York University and earning a joint degree in business and design from Parsons School of Design.[2][3]

Career edit

Early career edit

Before founding MOIC, Bunn worked in design and business strategy consultation for various firms, including Facebook, Instagram, Staples, and Fortune. She also held a role as Head of Forecasting and Innovation at Time, Inc.[4][2]

Museum of Ice Cream edit

Bunn co-founded MOIC with Manish Vora, who has a background in investment banking and previously served as the CEO of Lightbox.[2] The company, under the parent company Figure8 Inc., focuses on multi-sensory and inclusive experiences, often inspired by ice cream.[1][5]

MOIC started as a pop-up exhibit in Manhattan's Meatpacking District in 2016.[6] The exhibit gained popularity, leading to additional pop-up locations and eventually permanent sites in several cities, including Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco, and New York.[4] Bunn has coined the term "experiums" to describe these spaces, emphasizing their nature as a fusion of experiences and museums.[6][7] MOIC attracted over 1 million visitors across various locations in 2018.[8] This phase of her career led to her recognition in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for Art & Style in 2018.[9][10]

Bunn and Vora initially self-funded MOIC's venture.[2] In anticipation of further growth, Bunn secured $40 million in Series A funding in 2019, aiding in expansion to several U.S. cities, Singapore, and Shanghai.[6][11][12] The flagship location opened in New York's Soho neighborhood in 2019.[13][11][14] Subsequent permanent MOIC locations have opened in Singapore and Austin in 2021, and Chicago in July 2022.[15][16][17][18] In August 2022, MOIC opened a location in Shanghai, China in collaboration with the U.S. brand Shake Shack.[19]

In 2020, Bunn and MOIC faced criticism for their response to the Black Lives Matter movement, particularly regarding a sign with the names of victims of police brutality. An apology was issued, and corrective measures were taken.[20][21]

Moreover, allegations of a hostile work environment at MOIC were investigated, with the company stating that protocols are in place to ensure a healthy work environment.[20][22]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Roof, Katie (2019-08-14). "Museum of Ice Cream Valued at $200 Million". wsj.com. Wall Street Journal.
  2. ^ a b c d e Wiener, Ana (2017-10-02). "The Millennial Walt Disney". nymag.com. Intelligencer.
  3. ^ Madell, Robin (2020-01-17). "The 27-year-old cofounder of Museum of Ice Cream turned a viral trend into a $200 million experience-first company. Here's how, and why she's not afraid of copycats". Business Insider.
  4. ^ a b Eldor, Karin (2019-03-07). "Maryellis Bunn, Founder Of Museum Of Ice Cream, Plans To Change The World". Forbes.
  5. ^ Stabile, Angelica (2019-10-09). "Museum of Ice Cream's new flagship created by 'Millennial Walt Disney'". FOXBusiness. Retrieved 2023-06-05.
  6. ^ a b c Cao, Sissi (2019-10-09). "Everything You Think You Know About the Museum of Ice Cream Is Wrong: Interview With CEO". Observer.com. Observer.
  7. ^ Silman, Anna (2020-02-21). "Could You Survive a Day at the Museum of Ice Cream With No Phone?". The Cut.
  8. ^ "What If the Museum of Ice Cream Is the Future of Retail?". Bloomberg.com. 2018-08-15.
  9. ^ "Maryellis Bunn, 25". Forbes. 2017-11-14. Retrieved 2023-06-05.
  10. ^ "The 2017 Ad Age Creativity 50". Ad Age. 2017-12-18.
  11. ^ a b Gonzales, Guadalupe (2019-11-20). "How This 27-Year-Old Turned a Whimsical Summer Project Into a Business Valued at $200 Million". inc.com. INC Magazine.
  12. ^ Holmes, Helen (2019-08-16). "The Museum of Ice Cream's $200 Million Valuation Represents a Bleak Future". Observer.
  13. ^ Silman, Anna (2020-02-21). "Could You Survive a Day at the Museum of Ice Cream With No Phone?". thecut.com. The Cut.
  14. ^ Fabricant, Florence (2019-12-10). "Museum of Ice Cream Returns With a Bigger Space". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.
  15. ^ SZ Goh, Kenneth (2023-02-07). "Maryellis Bunn, co-founder of Museum of Ice Cream is a maker of sweet memories". thepeakmagazine.com. The Peak.
  16. ^ Chai, Amanda (2023-01-27). "Museum of Ice Cream can live on beyond Instagram, says co-founder Maryellis Bunn". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923.
  17. ^ Mckenzie, Richmond (2022-07-15). "Here's the Scoop: Museum of Ice Cream Chicago Opens on Michigan Avenue". WTTW News.
  18. ^ Ben, Miller (2021-10-06). "Museum of Ice Cream to open in Chicago's Tribune Tower". www.bizjournals.com.
  19. ^ Davis, Alice (2022-08-29). "Museum of Ice Cream's fifth location opens its doors in Shanghai | Planet Attractions". www.planetattractions.com.
  20. ^ a b Wilson, Alexandra; McGrath, Maggie (2 July 2020). "The Meltdown at the Museum of Ice Cream". Forbes. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  21. ^ Lakin, Max (22 June 2020). "When Luxury Stores Decorate Their Riot Barricades with Protest Art". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  22. ^ Reynolds, Megan (2 July 2020). "Unsurprisingly the Museum of Ice Cream Seems Like a Very Shitty Place to Work". Jezebel.
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