Warby Parker

What
Warby Parker was conceived to disrupt the overpriced eyewear market controlled by a few large companies that reap huge profits due to lack of customer choice. Using the web as a way to limit costs and engage directly with customers, the company offers stylish prescription eyewear at a fraction of the existing price (starting at $95).

Disrupting
The eyeglass market. It's on the verge of doing the impossible—breaking a monopoly. And now that they've figured out glasses, can't they apply that to other categories?

Source: Warby Parker

Headquarters: New York, NY
CEO: Co-founders: Neil Blumenthal, Andrew Hunt, David Gilboa, Jeffrey Raider
Year Founded: 2010
Number of Employees: 150
Funding: Warby Parker has raised more than $50 million.
Key Investors: Lerer Ventures, General Catalyst Partners, MentorTech Ventures, Tiger Global, FirstRound Capital, Thrive Capital

Vital Stats

• Name derived from two characters in a Jack Kerouac journal: Zagg Parker and Warby Pepper
• Company annual report provides as many employee food-eating as financial metrics
• Warby Parker employees ate 3,600 bagels and a lot of salad (2507 lbs. of it in 2012)
• 1001: highest number of daily visitors to HQ showroom
• $3659: sales per square foot in HQ showroom
• 6 showrooms opened in 2012
• Distributed more than 250,000 glasses to those in need

On Disruption