Phia startup accused of fraudulent commission collection

A media investigation has alleged that Phia, a sustainable e-commerce startup co-founded by Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni, engaged in fraudulent practices to collect sales commissions.

Marketed as a climate-friendly platform that promotes secondhand clothing to reduce carbon footprints, Phia reportedly secured over $43 million in seed funding and reached a reported valuation of $185 million by early 2026. However, computer experts investigating the platform's code claim the company used a plug-in extension to facilitate fraudulent transactions.

The investigation suggests the extension would quietly open an invisible background tab during user transactions, digitally registering Phia as an affiliate marketer for purchases it did not actually facilitate.