In The Bag

Melissa Mash heard women's gripes about their bags firsthand while working for leather goods giant Coach, from laptops ruined by spilled water bottles to crushed sunglasses. She vowed to create a perfect, intuitive bag for working women, with pockets for every need, a spill-proof exterior, and no gaudy branding. A Wharton MBA and four years later, handbag and accessory startup Dagne Dover has raised a $1.25 million seed round and is set to raise equity financing soon. Mash is also a new mom -- although she says her 40-hour labor was a breeze compared to fundraising for a bag business in the male-dominated VC world.