- NY-based startup Warby Parker disrupted the eyewear industry by offering stylish, low-cost prescription glasses.
- Launched in 2010 by Wharton MBA students Dave Gilboa and Neil Blumenthal, Warby boasts a $1 billion valuation after raising $290 million from investors and has 112 stores.
- Warby is trying to challenge EssilorLuxottica, the $67 billion Italian behemoth that manufactures most eyewear brands and has over 9,000 stores (LensCrafters, Sunglasses Hut).
- To fuel growth, Warby plans on releasing less-expensive contacts ($440 per year) that are easier to slip-on.
