Kate Glantz is an entrepreneur with a mission to make weddings a public good. She founded philanthropic wedding registry platform startup Heartful.ly early in 2015 after a career in international development. Following a term of service with the Peace Corps, she worked at the CDC, the State Department and returned to work for the Peace Corps at their D.C. headquarters. Her work has included diplomacy for the U.S. effort against HIV and AIDS and creating an advocacy campaign to fight malaria that reached 30 countries.
"I can do what they do and be medium or I can do what I'm doing and kick ass."
Glantz's search for a way to make a broader impact inspired the creation of Heartful.ly, but it was joining the Halycon Incubator last fall that really kickstarted things for her, transforming Heartful.ly from a well intentioned concept to a workable business model. Heartful.ly now offers a list of partnered non-profits to choose from as an alternative or in addition to other wedding registries, with nine percent per donation going toward Heartful.ly's revenue.
Glantz has been raking in awards since her launch. She's won a spot as a Tory Burch Foundation Fellow, won first prize at the InGENuitY 2015 Millennial Entrepreneur Pitch Contest and first place at the women's edition of Startup Weekend among others.
In any industry, there is the pitfall of thinking too much alike everyone else. How do you challenge yourself to think differently?
I always try to be transparent. I'm part of a new generation of founder, without a specific background, without thinking just one way, I can't [be caught] in what others are doing. I can do what they do and be medium or I can do what I'm doing and kick ass.
What is an unlikely place that you find sources of inspiration?
The story of Kate Spade. It's just so amazing. But I'm also always looking at what's trendy, what's in pop culture, for ideas.
What job have you had that has had the greatest impact on your career?
Serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer laid the whole foundation of my life and the way I see the world. It changes everything.
How will your industry change the most in the next five years?
We are part of so many industries. We are a wedding company, a fundraising company, we're social enterprise. What we are depends what room I'm in. But I think incorporating philanthropy and social values into weddings will be more common. Right now, vendors are just not keeping up. That's the gap I'm aiming to bridge.
What makes Washington, D.C. unlike anywhere else when it comes to innovation?
I love that founders in DC tech come from other industries. They saw problems there and now they're solving those problems through tech. D.C. isn't just a gaggle of people trying to invent next Candy Crush, we're taking on major challenges. This is meaningful, substantive stuff and that's really great to be around.
What’s something that you do every single day, no matter what you have going on?
I like to get my 10 thousand steps in [on my FitBit]. I need some type of exercise or movement every day. And really just getting out and being in world is so important. You can't stay still.
Who in D.C. is someone you admire?
Steve Hills, the president of The Washington Post. He was so great when I met him [Note: the Post sponsored and ran the InGENuitY event, where Heartful.ly took home the first place pitch competition prize].
How much of an effect did being part of the Halcyon Incubator have?
It was game-changing. All of the resources there, my mentor Kevin Alansky and the other staff, they made it possible. I would not have navigated the craziness of an early stage startup as well without them.
If you could change something about D.C. or the D.C. tech scene instantly, what would it be?
Sometimes it's not the easiest or most conducive place to run a consumer-facing business, especially with regards to raising capital. It's a very risk averse community of investors. It would be better if they could see [which startups] are worth taking a chance on.
What does it mean to be 'on fire?'
Honestly, it's just a visceral feeling to me. When the wheels are turning, and you're moving so quickly toward your vision. It's happening so fast and you feel it all. It's that energy.
