Unveiling Business Venture with Meraki Co.: Giana Jarrah Navigating Lehigh's Entrepreneurial Network
Lehigh University's entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem is playing a pivotal role in supporting mission-driven startups like With Meraki Co., a women's health company founded by Giana Jarrah '22.
With Meraki Co. has expanded its sales into Canada and is actively working on expanding to other countries globally. The company, which started as a senior capstone project at Lehigh, has sold over 10,000 units and generated six figures in revenue. This success can be attributed to the hands-on support and resources provided by Lehigh's ecosystem.
Giana Jarrah '22, the founder and CEO of With Meraki Co., enrolled at the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science at the university. She credits the Southside Bethlehem Keystone Innovation Zone (KIZ) for supporting her company with grants, tax credits, patents, new product development, hiring team members, and R&D investments.
Lehigh's ecosystem also offers academic integration, hands-on venture launch support, community connection, mentorship, and funding pipelines to equip students to launch companies, movements, and missions. Jarrah has benefited from legal structuring assistance, financial modeling, team-building support, and access to alumni advisors and investors.
The company has scaled operations while staying true to its core mission: empowering women with real solutions backed by science. With Meraki Co. has launched a second product, With Harmony, targeting hormonal balance and microbiome health, as well as an immune boosting supplement, gut health powder supplement, and vaginal health guidebook.
With Meraki Co.'s growth, it has amassed a loyal community base through viral TikTok educational content, boasting over 150k followers. The company was awarded $5,000 for winning the live pitch competition at the annual Innovate! Celebrate!* Ceremony and won one-on-one startup coaching and prototyping funds at EUREKA! Pitch Night.
Jarrah's entrepreneurial journey is a testament to Lehigh's commitment to nurturing resilience and innovation among its entrepreneurs. She is now hiring interns, especially young women of color, and introducing them to the world of startups. Jarrah also shares what she's learned as a woman entrepreneur with Lehigh students in her office.
Lehigh University is recognized among Pennsylvania’s key institutional partners contributing talent pipelines and research expertise that tech startups rely on for workforce development and innovation capacity. This integrated approach of combining academic excellence, research-driven insights, and a supportive network is crucial for mission-driven startups’ growth and long-term success within the Lehigh entrepreneurial ecosystem.
References:
- Lehigh University News
- With Meraki Co.
- Lehigh's Entrepreneurship and Innovation Ecosystem
- Baker Institute for Entrepreneurship, Creativity and Innovation
- Southside Bethlehem Keystone Innovation Zone
- Giana Jarrah '22, the entrepreneur behind With Meraki Co., a women's health startup, credits the Southside Bethlehem Keystone Innovation Zone for providing crucial support to her company.
- Founded by Jarrah, the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science alumna, With Meraki Co. has expanded its sales across Canada and aims to grow globally, selling over 10,000 units and generating six figures in revenue.
- Jarrah has taken advantage of academic integration and hands-on venture launch support offered by Lehigh's entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem, which has equipped her with legal structuring assistance, financial modeling, and access to alumni advisors and investors.
- With Meraki Co.'s core mission focused on empowering women with science-backed solutions, Jarrah has launched additional products such as With Harmony, aimed at hormonal balance and microbiome health, immune boosting supplement, gut health powder supplement, and a vaginal health guidebook.
- Jarrah's entrepreneurial journey and dedication to women's health have gained traction, with the company amassing a large following on TikTok and winning the live pitch competition at the annual Innovate! Celebrate! ceremony, securing $5,000 in prize money and startup coaching.
- As her company continues to thrive, Jarrah has made a commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion by hiring interns, especially young women of color, and sharing her insights with Lehigh students in her office.
- With Meraki Co.'s success, Lehigh University remains a key institutional partner for tech startups, providing talent pipelines, research expertise, and a supportive network that are critical for mission-driven startups' growth and long-term success within the Lehigh entrepreneurial ecosystem.
- As a leader in entrepreneurship, education, culture, and science, Lehigh's integrated approach to combining academic excellence, research-driven insights, and a supportive network is essential for small businesses and startups seeking finance, innovation, and a path to success.
