Social Entrepreneur and Tech Innovator; Co-Founder of Phia and Co-Host of The Burnouts Podcast
Sophia Kianni: Biography at a Glance
Time Magazine Best Inventions (Phia)
- Sophia Kianni is a social entrepreneur and tech innovator who co-founded Phia, an AI alignment layer for commerce with 1M+ users that helps consumers optimize shopping and product discovery.
- The youngest United Nations advisor in U.S. history, Sophia brings a distinctive perspective on what it means to build mission-driven companies at the intersection of technology, culture, and global influence.
- A leading Gen Z voice in entrepreneurship, Sophia shares how young founders are building brands, leveraging digital platforms, and creating businesses that reflect the values of a new generation.
- Through her work as a venture-backed founder and as host of The Burnouts, a business podcast with 800K+ followers and 700M+ views, Sophia offers insights into startup culture, product building, consumer behavior, and what it takes to launch a company in today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape.
- Sophia also brings deep experience in social impact and public leadership, having advised organizations including The New York Times, World Economic Forum, the EPA, and Born This Way Foundation on youth engagement, communication, and cultural change.
- Named to TIME’s 100 Next, Forbes 30 Under 30, and BBC’s 100 Women, Sophia inspires audiences with her perspective on entrepreneurship, innovation, leadership, and building companies with purpose.
Videos
Biography
Sophia Kianni is an Iranian-American entrepreneur. She is the founder of Phia, an AI alignment layer for commerce. Phia has 1M+ users and has raised $43M+ from Tier 1 VCs including Notable Capital, Khosla Ventures, and Kleiner Perkins. She also hosts The Burnouts, a business podcast with an 800k+ audience and 700+ million views. She graduated from Stanford University and is the founder of Climate Cardinals, the world’s largest youth-led climate nonprofit. She is the youngest United Nations advisor in U.S. history.
Sophia has amassed a following of over 500,000 followers across social media platforms and her work has been profiled by The New York Times, CNN, Vogue, Business Insider, BBC, NPR, ELLE, The Guardian, NBC, and even on the front page of The Washington Post. She has also authored opinion pieces for outlets such as TIME Magazine, MTV News, Cosmopolitan, Teen Vogue, and Yale Climate Connections.
Sophia is a prolific storyteller and has spoken at universities across the world including Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, MIT, Oxford, Cambridge, and Princeton, as well as at events including Web Summit, the European Union, BoF Voices, Global Citizen, Vogue Business Fashion Futures, and New York Times Events. She has sat on boards and advisory councils for The New York Times, World Economic Forum, Ashoka, American Lung Association, Reform Alliance, Lady Gaga's Born This Way Foundation, and EPA. She won the TED global idea competition and her debut TED Talk has 2+ million views.
She has been named VICE Media's youngest Human of the Year, a Gloria Steinem Fellow, a Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awardee, a National Geographic Young Explorer, one of BBC’s 100 Women, and named to TIME 100 Next and Forbes 30 Under 30.
Topics
Building Phia: Lessons in AI Entrepreneurship from a Viral Consumer Startup
Sophia Kianni, founder of Phia, an AI shopping assistant backed by Kleiner Perkins, Kris Jenner, and Hailey Bieber, shares how she transformed a simple idea into a viral consumer tech product with over 600,000 downloads. In this candid talk, Sophia breaks down what it really takes to build a company in the AI era—from identifying real user pain points to designing technology that delivers instant value.
She offers insights into responsible AI decision-making, fundraising in a crowded market, and turning early traction into lasting growth. Audiences will walk away with a modern playbook for AI-driven entrepreneurship that blends innovation, ethics, and community to scale from prototype to scalable consumer product.
It Starts with You: How Young Voices Can Change the World
At just 19, Sophia Kianni won the TED Global Idea competition, founded the world’s largest youth-led climate nonprofit, and became the youngest United Nations advisor in U.S. history. In this empowering talk, Sophia shares her journey from a passionate student to a global changemaker, proving that age is no barrier to impact. She inspires students to see their voice, creativity, and networks as powerful tools for driving change, whether on campus, in their communities, or across industries. With warmth, authenticity, and actionable insights, Sophia shows that leadership isn’t about waiting your turn; it’s about starting where you are.
Mission Is Strategy: Winning Consumers by Leading with Purpose
Sophia Kianni bridges the worlds of activism, technology, and innovation to help organizations understand what meaningful climate action looks like today. Drawing on her work with the United Nations, The New York Times, the World Economic Forum, and The Born This Way Foundation, she explores how forward-thinking companies can reduce their environmental footprint and authentically connect with consumers who demand accountability. Through real-world examples and data-backed insights, Sophia reveals how integrating sustainability into business strategy drives not just impact but brand trust, employee engagement, and long-term growth.
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FAQs
How do I book Sophia Kianni for my event?
Contact CAA Speakers at (424) 288-2898 or speakers@caa.com to book Sophia Kianni to speak at corporate or private events, keynote speeches, speaking engagements, workshops, fireside chats, motivational speaking, or virtual appearances.
Quick booking process- Email CAA Speakers with event details
- Get availability confirmation within 24 hours
- Review speaking fee and contract terms
- Sign agreement and finalize logistics
As one of the most influential talent agencies in the world, CAA handles all speaking engagements from contract to event day coordination.
Who is Sophia Kianni's booking agent?
CAA Speakers is the preferred booking agency to contact for Sophia Kianni’s speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com for all Sophia Kianni in-person appearances and keynote speaking requests.
Contact Sophia Kianni's agent- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: caa.com/caaspeakers
- Response: Within 24 hours
CAA Speakers can check Sophia Kianni's speaking calendar with direct access to availability and official pricing. While many websites may list Sophia Kianni, CAA Speakers is the direct source for authentic information about availability and pricing.
What is Sophia Kianni's speaking fee?
Sophia Kianni's speaking fee varies by event type, location, and requirements. As a top keynote speaker, Sophia Kianni's fee reflects their expertise and market demand.
Speaking fee factors:- Event type and audience size
- Travel distance and logistics
- Presentation length and customization
- Virtual vs. in-person delivery
Additional costs: Travel, accommodation, A/V requirements, and optional meet-and-greets.
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for Sophia Kianni's current speaking fee and detailed cost breakdown.
How much does it cost to book Sophia Kianni as a keynote speaker?
The cost to book Sophia Kianni as keynote speaker includes their speaking fee plus travel and logistics expenses.
Total booking cost includes:- Sophia Kianni's keynote speaking fee
- Travel and accommodation
- Technical requirements and A/V setup
- Optional add-ons like book signing and meet & greets
- Virtual presentations
- Local/regional events
- Off-peak booking periods
- Flexible event dates
Email speakers@caa.com for Sophia Kianni's exact booking cost and customized pricing proposal.
How to contact Sophia Kianni for speaking engagements?
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for all Sophia Kianni speaking engagements.
Official contact for Sophia Kianni bookings:- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: https://www.caa.com/caaspeakers/sophia-kianni
- Response time: 24 hours
Include your event date, location, audience size, and budget when contacting CAA about booking Sophia Kianni.
Is Sophia Kianni available for virtual speaking events?
Yes, Sophia Kianni speaks at virtual events with professional-grade equipment and interactive presentation style.
Sophia Kianni's virtual event options:- Live virtual keynotes with Q&A
- Interactive workshops and breakouts
- Hybrid events (in-person + virtual)
- Pre-recorded presentations
Virtual events offer global reach, flexible scheduling, and reduced travel costs while maintaining Sophia Kianni's engaging presentation quality.
Contact CAA Speakers for Sophia Kianni's virtual event availability and technical specifications.
What events can I book Sophia Kianni for?
Book Sophia Kianni for corporate conferences, industry events, private functions, and virtual presentations. Sophia Kianni customizes content for any audience size or event type.
Event types:- Corporate meetings and conferences
- Industry summits and trade shows
- Private executive retreats
- Educational institution events
- Virtual and hybrid conferences
Sophia Kianni engages audiences from private executive meetings to large conferences with thousands of attendees.
Contact CAA Speakers to discuss how Sophia Kianni can customize their presentation for your specific event.
Sophia Kianni booking information and availability
Check Sophia Kianni's speaking availability through CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com. Book 3-6 months in advance for best date selection during peak seasons (September-November, March-May).
Availability factors:- Event date and location
- Speaking fee and budget
- Lead time for booking
- Peak conference seasons
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Contact CAA early in your planning process to secure Sophia Kianni for your preferred event date.
Book Sophia Kianni keynote speaker through CAA
Book Sophia Kianni through CAA Speakers for guaranteed authentic representation and professional event coordination. CAA is the preferred booking agent for Sophia Kianni, with direct access to their speaking availability and decades of experience representing the world’s top keynote speakers.
CAA booking advantages:- Direct access to Sophia Kianni's calendar
- 24-hour availability confirmations
- Professional contract negotiation
- Full logistics coordination
- Industry-leading client service
Trusted by Fortune 500 companies for their most important speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com to book Sophia Kianni for your next event.
Will Sophia Kianni speak at private events?
Yes, Sophia Kianni speaks at private corporate events, executive retreats, board meetings, and exclusive functions.
Private event types:- Executive retreats and board presentations
- Client entertainment and VIP gatherings
- Corporate celebrations and award ceremonies
- Private dinners and exclusive functions
Private event benefits: Customized content, enhanced interaction, complete confidentiality, and flexible scheduling.
Contact CAA Speakers for Sophia Kianni's private event availability and confidential pricing proposals.
How quickly will I get a response about booking Sophia Kianni?
CAA Speakers responds to Sophia Kianni booking inquiries within 24 hours during business days. Complex requests or international events may take up to 48 hours for detailed proposals.
Response timeline:- Initial acknowledgment: Within 24 hours
- Availability confirmation: 24-48 hours
- Detailed pricing proposal: 48-72 hours
- Urgent requests: Same-day priority response
Include complete event details (date, location, audience size, budget) for fastest response times.
How far in advance should I book Sophia Kianni?
Book Sophia Kianni 3-6 months in advance for best availability, especially during peak speaking seasons. Early booking ensures better date selection and rate negotiations.
Recommended booking timeline:- 3-6 months: Optimal availability and pricing
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Peak seasons: September-November and March-May book fastest. Contact CAA Speakers early for priority consideration.
How do I get Sophia Kianni pricing information?
Get Sophia Kianni pricing information by contacting CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com with your event details. Receive detailed cost breakdown within 24-48 hours with no obligation to book.
For accurate pricing, include:- Event date and location
- Audience size and type
- Event format and duration
- Budget parameters
CAA provides transparent pricing with all costs included - speaking fee, travel, accommodation, and technical requirements.
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