Julia Wainwright founded The RealReal in June 2011, bringing luxury consignment online and into the modern world with a digital marketplace for authenticated luxury goods. The company changed the way people buy and sell high-end luxury across all categories. In addition, Wainwright raised sizable venture capital, built a membership of millions, sold millions of items to date, and then in 2019 took the company public as one of only 20 women in history to found and lead a company to an IPO. The company is a pioneer in sustainability efforts in the luxury space. In addition to sustainability partnerships with Gucci, Burberry and Stella McCartney, The RealReal is the first luxury member of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s CE100 USA and the first resale member of the UN Climate Change's Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action.
She has received several prestigious industry awards and accolades including as one of Entrepreneur Magazine’s 50 Most Daring Entrepreneurs, Fast Company’s Most Creative People, CNBC’s Disruptor 50, Inc. Magazine’s 100 Female Founders List, a Retail Innovator of the Year Award, and Business of Fashion’s Best of 500. She was recently celebrated by Forbes on their inaugural 50 Successful Women Over 50 list. She was on the cover of Forbes Magazine in June 2021.