Leah Busque- TaskRabbit

Leah Busque was born in November 1979, and graduated from Sweet Briar College in 2001 with degrees in Mathematics and Computer Science. While she was working as a software engineer at IBM, a pivotal moment in 2008 ignited her entrepreneurial journey: she found herself in need of dog food late one evening but lacked the time to go out and get it.

Four months later, she departed from her job and founded RunMyErrand in Boston, which eventually evolved into TaskRabbit. During the Great Recession, she created a platform enabling users to post errands, where “Taskers” would place bids to complete them. The company experienced rapid growth, expanding to significant cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, while securing over $50 million in funding.

By 2016, Busque moved from her role as CEO to become Executive Chairwoman. The following year, TaskRabbit was acquired by IKEA, which incorporated the service into its furniture assembly and home services. After the acquisition, she took on the role of general partner at Fuel Capital, focusing on investments in early-stage tech startups. Additionally, she initiated projects like Precedent Collective to support founders from underrepresented backgrounds.

Leah’s journey exemplifies how a sharp eye for detail, a last-minute dog food shortage, and a blend of technical expertise and courageous decision-making can result in significant transformation. Beginning her career as an engineer, she developed a nationwide platform driven by community support, secured considerable funding, and successfully exited to one of the largest retailers globally by her late 30s. Today, she dedicates her time to mentoring and investing in emerging entrepreneurs, showcasing how addressing simple challenges with contemporary technology can lead to lasting change.