Draft:Fran Maier
 | Review waiting, please be patient.
This may take 8 weeks or more, since drafts are reviewed in no specific order. There are 2,704 pending submissions waiting for review.
Where to get help
How to improve a draft
You can also browse Wikipedia:Featured articles and Wikipedia:Good articles to find examples of Wikipedia's best writing on topics similar to your proposed article. Improving your odds of a speedy review To improve your odds of a faster review, tag your draft with relevant WikiProject tags using the button below. This will let reviewers know a new draft has been submitted in their area of interest. For instance, if you wrote about a female astronomer, you would want to add the Biography, Astronomy, and Women scientists tags. Editor resources
Reviewer tools
|
| Submission declined on 17 June 2025 by CoconutOctopus (talk). This submission's references do not show that the subject qualifies for a Wikipedia article—that is, they do not show significant coverage (not just passing mentions) about the subject in published, reliable, secondary sources that are independent of the subject (see the guidelines on the notability of people). Before any resubmission, additional references meeting these criteria should be added (see technical help and learn about mistakes to avoid when addressing this issue). If no additional references exist, the subject is not suitable for Wikipedia.
Where to get help
How to improve a draft
You can also browse Wikipedia:Featured articles and Wikipedia:Good articles to find examples of Wikipedia's best writing on topics similar to your proposed article. Improving your odds of a speedy review To improve your odds of a faster review, tag your draft with relevant WikiProject tags using the button below. This will let reviewers know a new draft has been submitted in their area of interest. For instance, if you wrote about a female astronomer, you would want to add the Biography, Astronomy, and Women scientists tags. Editor resources
This draft has been resubmitted and is currently awaiting re-review. |  |
Fran Maier | |
|---|---|
| Born | Fran Allocca [1] New Mexico, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Stanford University (AB, MBA) |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Known for | |
Fran Maier (born Fran Allocca) is an American technology entrepreneur, best known as the founder and chief executive officer of BabyQuip, a global marketplace for baby-gear rentals.[2][3]
She previously served as president and chief executive officer of the privacy-focused technology firm TRUSTe. She is also the co-founder of the online dating platform Match.com.[4]
Early life and education
[edit]Maier spent her early life in New Mexico and graduated from Santa Fe High School before entering Stanford University, where she earned an AB in public policy in 1984 and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business in 1989.[5][6] At a class reunion in 1994 she re-connected with classmate Gary Kremen, a meeting that led directly to her involvement with the founding team of Match.com.[7]
Career
[edit]Match.com (1994–1998)
[edit]Maier joined the nascent Match.com in late 1994. She co-founded the online dating platform in 1995, and under her management, it grew to about 100,000 subscribers across major U.S. cities.
Maier subsequently became Match.com’s director of marketing.[8] The Atlantic later noted that she played a key role in shaping the site’s business approach, introducing a subscription model and expanding its reach to varied groups, such as tech professionals and LGBTQ users.[9]
Women.com and BlueLight.com (1999–2001)
[edit]Maier served as chief marketing officer at Women.com and later at Kmart-backed BlueLight.com, overseeing its e-commerce and internet service provider businesses during the dot-com boom.[10]
TRUSTe/TrustArc (2001–2014)
[edit]In 2001, Maier joined TRUSTe as executive director.[8] At the time, TRUSTe had recently been recognized by the Federal Trade Commission as a Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) Safe Harbor provider and was launching its Children’s Privacy Seal Program. In 2008, during her leadership, TRUSTe transitioned from a nonprofit organization to a venture-backed for-profit company, securing investment from Accel Partners.[11]
BabyQuip (2016–present)
[edit]In 2016, Maier invested in and became chief executive of Babierge, a Santa Fe-based baby-gear rental start-up, and later relaunched it as BabyQuip, in the same year.[12][13][14] The company operates a platform that allows local providers, referred to as "Quality Providers," to rent baby gear to travelers.[5][15]
By 2023, BabyQuip reported more than 1,500 operating locations and US$8.5 million in capital raised.[5] In 2024, net revenue of BabyQuip was more than $6 million.[16]
Personal life
[edit]Maier has two adult sons; her older son, Joseph Maier, serves as BabyQuip’s chief technology officer and appeared with her on Shark Tank.[2][17]
Awards and recognition
[edit]In 2016, Maier received Jerry I. Porras Latino Leadership Award by the Stanford Graduate School of Business.[18] In 2025, Maier was included in Forbes’s 50 Over 50: Lifestyle list.[19] The same year, she was also included in Inc. magazine’s Female Founders 500 list.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ Krasnow, Bruce (2016-06-28). "Baby gear on demand". The Santa Fe New Mexican. pp. B4. Retrieved 2025-08-31 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Garcia, Kylie (2025-06-29). "Two New Mexico businesses reflect on 'Shark Tank' and life beyond". Yahoo News. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
- ^ Firshien, Sarah (2019-12-17). "How to Pack for Children? Leave It to the Experts (Published 2019)". The New York Times. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
- ^ a b Garcia, Justin (2025-03-14). "Breaking barriers: National magazine names two New Mexicans as top female entrepreneurs". Yahoo Finance. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
- ^ a b c Stengel, Geri. "Latina Founder Overcame Sexism And Ageism To Raise $8.5 M, Now She Faces VCs Spooked By The Collapse Of SVB". Forbes. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
- ^ Krasnow, Bruce (2016-06-28). "Baby gear on demand". The Santa Fe New Mexican. pp. B4. Retrieved 2025-08-31 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Warner, Andrew (2010). "How the Founder of Match.com Lost Her Business (And Went On to Found TRUSTe)". Mixergy. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
- ^ a b Angwin, Julia (February 12, 1998). "LOVE'S LABOR LOST Online matchmaker still seeks love, money". San Francisco Chronicle. pp. B3. Retrieved 2017-09-28.
- ^ Kushner, David (2019-04-06). "Recruiting Women to Online Dating Was a Challenge". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
- ^ March, Leah (2025-08-26). "From Match.com to Forbes: Fran Maier's success story". Alburquerque Business First. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
- ^ Hansell, Saul (2008-07-15). "Will the Profit Motive Undermine Trust in Truste?". The New York Times. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
- ^ Pofeldt, Elaine (2017-01-29). "This Startup Aims to Take the Pain Out of Traveling with Babies". Forbes. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
- ^ Krabbe, Collin (2022-04-28). "Baby gear rental startup from Match.com co-founder raises $3 million". The Business Journals. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
- ^ Firshein, Sarah (2020-01-12). "Leave anxiety behind. Let experts pack for kids". Richmond Times-Dispatch. pp. D13. Retrieved 2025-08-31 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Gollan, Doug (2022-04-03). "BabyQuip Aims To Revolutionize Travel With Young Children". Forbes. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
- ^ Garcia, Kylie (2025-06-28). "Two New Mexico businesses reflect on 'Shark Tank' and life beyond". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
- ^ Smith, Andrew (2023-10-17). "BabyQuip Baby Gear Rental Update | Shark Tank Season 11". Shark Tank Recap. Retrieved 2025-08-31.
- ^ "20th Annual Latino Leadership Banquet Celebrates GSB Diversity". Stanford Graduate School of Business. 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
- ^ McGrath, Maggie (2025-07-30). "50 Over 50: Lifestyle". Forbes. Retrieved 2025-08-31.