Chieh Huang
Chieh Huang co-founded Boxed in 2013, building a wholesale delivery leader from his parents' garage. A former lawyer and Zynga executive, he funds employee college tuition and runs the company with no layoffs. Huang has been recognized by Bloomberg Businessweek and Goldman Sachs among others.
Chieh Huang's Bio
Chieh Huang is the Co-founder and CEO of Boxed, the wholesale delivery service that launched in 2013 and reshaped how millennials shop for bulk goods. Often called the "Costco for millennials," Boxed enables customers to shop for bulk-sized items online or via mobile app and have them delivered directly to their door.
A 2003 graduate of Johns Hopkins University, Huang began his career as a corporate attorney after earning his J.D. from Fordham Law School in 2008. He later joined Zynga as Director of Zynga Mobile NY, where he gained critical experience in mobile gaming and user acquisition. In 2010, he made his first entrepreneurial bet on smartphone ubiquity with Astro, an early mobile app that laid the groundwork for his next venture.
Huang founded Boxed in his parents' garage, driven by a belief that wholesale shopping should be accessible without membership fees. The company grew rapidly, eventually going public and reaching a $900 million valuation. Under his leadership, Boxed has maintained a culture of employee care---funding college tuition for workers' children and upholding a no-layoff policy even during tough times.
Beyond Boxed, Huang has served as a director on the board of Six Flags Entertainment Corporation since August 2022. His journey from lawyer to mobile gaming executive to wholesale e-commerce pioneer reflects a consistent pattern: identifying where technology can democratize access, then building a business around that insight.
Career Timeline
2003 — Graduated Johns Hopkins University
Earned bachelor's degree from Johns Hopkins University
2008 — Earned J.D. from Fordham Law School
Completed law degree at Fordham University School of Law
2010 — Founded Astro Ape Studios
Launched first mobile app startup, betting on smartphone ubiquity; acquired by Zynga
2013 — Founded Boxed
Launched online bulk goods retailer from parents' garage, no membership fees
2015 — Boxed Series A Funding
Raised $26M; launched employee college tuition program for workers' children
2021 — Boxed IPO
Took Boxed public, reaching $900 million valuation
2022 — Board Director, Six Flags at Six Flags Entertainment Corporation
Appointed to board of directors in August 2022
Episodes
Advice Line: New Offerings, Bigger Markets
Guy Raz sits down with former HIBT guests Che Wong, Hernan Lopez, and David Neeleman for a special Advice Line mashup. Three founders call in with growth challenges: Christina Latraverse wants to scale Seagrass Pottery beyond Florida, Jim Kersley weighs retail expansion for Lemur Strap, and William Carroll looks to change how consumers think about tool rentals. Each caller gets candid advice on branding, distribution, and breaking ingrained buying habits.
Advice Line with Chieh Huang of Boxed
Guy Raz and Boxed co-founder Chieh Huang tackle real business challenges from three founders in this Advice Line episode. Alec from Surfing Cow wrestles with scaling his beef tallow skincare brand without losing its soul, Jessica from Tail Cinch debates selling through major pet retailers, and Eli from Makor Coffee balances product formulation with mass-market brewing. Chieh shares hard-won lessons from Boxed's rise and fall, focusing on co-manufacturer partnerships, capital strategy, and finding product-market fit.