Julia Collins already made history in Silicon Valley. Now she’s trying to build differently.
Collins became the first Black woman to co-found a startup valued at more than $1 billion when robotics-powered pizza company Zume reached unicorn status in 2018. The company ultimately raised hundreds of millions of dollars before shutting down in 2023. Entrepreneur
Her next chapter is Planet FWD, a sustainability technology company built to help consumer brands understand and reduce their environmental footprint.
Collins says she has now raised $25 million for the company. But the money is only part of the story.
Planet FWD provides technology that helps companies measure carbon emissions, analyze supply chains and identify opportunities to reduce environmental impact. Its work extends across industries including food, fashion and beauty. Afrotech
For Collins, the approach to raising money has also changed.
After experiencing the pressure that can come with enormous amounts of venture capital, she says she has been more deliberate about fundraising at Planet FWD—and about who gets a seat at the table. Collins told AFROTECH that she intentionally sought women and people of color among the company’s investors and decision-makers. Afrotech
That lesson carries weight because Collins has already seen what massive funding can—and cannot—do.
She recently reflected that rapid fundraising and growth can make it harder for founders to stop and examine what isn’t working. Zume raised $445 million before eventually closing. Founder Brew
Planet FWD represents a different test: whether Collins can pair capital with a more disciplined model while tackling a problem much larger than a single company.
And this isn’t her first successful sustainability venture. Collins also founded climate-friendly snack company Moonshot, which was acquired by Patagonia Provisions in 2023. Entrepreneur
For Black entrepreneurship, Collins’ story carries another dimension. She broke a barrier when Zume crossed the billion-dollar threshold. Now the more interesting question may be what she builds after making history.
The first milestone proved she could raise enormous capital. The next one may prove what she learned from it.
Sources: AFROTECH · Planet FWD · Entrepreneur · Founder Brew