The Founder of Match.com Is Now in the Baby Business — and Her Best Success Tips Are Relevant to All BIZ Experiencess Super-founder Fran Maier has been building businesses for more than 25 years.

By Robert Tuchman Edited by Jessica Thomas

Key Takeaways

  • Trust and safety are critical to success.
  • Your brand should solve a problem.
  • Women founders should tackle their ideas with confidence.

This week on How Success Happens, I spoke with super-founder Fran Maier. She is best known for co-founding and launching Match.com and is now CEO of BabyQuip. Maier has more than 25 years of experience in B2B and B2C internet businesses, and I was curious to hear about her BIZ Experiencesial journey and success tips.

You can listen to my whole conversation with Maier above, and I've pulled out three key takeaways.

Related: This Angel Investor Has Funded More Than 150 Businesses. Here's What She Learned When She Started Her Own.

Trust and safety are critical to success

Being a parent, Maier knew people wouldn't want to go to Craigslist to rent baby gear due to safety concerns. Additionally, as an Airbnb host, she knew that families would not want to buy gear they would never use again or even know how to use. She trusted that this segment of traveling parents would go crazy for BabyQuip.

Timestamp — 30:20

Related: She Picked Up a Side Hustle Her Husband Saw on 'Shark Tank' — Now It Brings in More Than $100,000 Per Year

Your brand should solve a problem

Just like Match.com, BabyQuip is solving a significant problem. Parent reviews continuously note that BabyQuip saved their vacation and has come to the rescue. The BabyQuip brand alleviates the need to buy or bring bulky gear while traveling on family vacations by renting full-sized cribs, strollers, car seats, toys and so much more.

Timestamp — 35:20

Related: Sarah Jessica Parker Uncorks Secrets to Wine Brand Success in Her Latest BIZ Experiencesial Venture

Women founders should tackle their ideas with confidence

Trust that you know your market. Many women BIZ Experiencess start businesses after they spend years at corporations, Maier notes. When they see an opportunity, they should trust themselves and go after it with confidence.

Timestamp — 43:00

Related: Lo Bosworth's Health Woes Led to a Thriving Wellness Brand. Here Are Her Biggest Success Tips.
Robert Tuchman

BIZ Experiences Staff

Host of How Success Happens

Robert Tuchman is the host of BIZ Experiences's How Success Happens podcast and founder of Amaze Media Labs the largest business creating podcasts for companies and brands. He built and sold two Inc. 500 companies: TSE Sports and Entertainment and Goviva acquired by Creative Artists Agency (CAA).

Want to be an BIZ Experiences Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Most Popular

See all
Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for BIZ Experiencess to pursue in 2025.

By Eve Gumpel
Science & Technology

OpenAI's Latest Move Is a Game Changer — Here's How Smart Solopreneurs Are Turning It Into Profit

OpenAI's latest AI tool acts like a full-time assistant, helping solopreneurs save time, find leads and grow their business without hiring.

By Ben Angel
Social Media

How To Start a Youtube Channel: Step-by-Step Guide

YouTube can be a valuable way to grow your audience. If you're ready to create content, read more about starting a business YouTube Channel.

By Jason R. Rich
Starting a Business

I Built a $20 Million Company by Age 22 While Still in College. Here's How I Did It and What I Learned Along the Way.

Wealth-building in your early twenties isn't about playing it safe; it's about exploiting the one time in life when having nothing to lose gives you everything to gain.

By Emil Barr
Money & Finance

These Are the Expected Retirement Ages By Generation, From Gen Z to Boomers — and the Average Savings Anticipated. How Do Yours Compare?

Many Americans say inflation prevents them from saving enough and fear they won't reach their financial goals.

By Amanda Breen
Science & Technology

AI Isn't Plug-and-Play — You Need a Strategy. Here's Your Guide to Building One.

Don't just "add AI" — build a strategy. This guide helps founders avoid common pitfalls and create a step-by-step roadmap to harness real value from AI.

By Nicholas Leighton