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

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]

Early life and education

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

Early career

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

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

  1. 1 2 Roof, Katie (2019-08-14). "Museum of Ice Cream Valued at $200 Million". wsj.com. Wall Street Journal.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 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. 1 2 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. 1 2 3 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. 1 2 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. 1 2 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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