She connected early with the Baker Institute for Entrepreneurship, Creativity and Innovation, which helped her craft a business model and hone her pitch. Then came a string of wins:
- EUREKA! Pitch Night – where she won one-on-one startup coaching and prototyping funds
- Joan F. & John M. Thalheimer ’55 Grand Prize – awarded $5,000 for winning the live pitch competition at the annual Innovate! Celebrate! Ceremony
- Lehigh Ventures Lab - $10,000 in seed funding from the program
With the company now formally incorporated, With Meraki Co. began manufacturing its flagship product, With Clarity—a probiotic-prebiotic supplement supporting vaginal and urinary tract health with science-backed ingredients. Giana wasn’t just building a product, she was building a movement to destigmatize women’s wellness.
Beyond Graduation: Startup Momentum
Lehigh’s support for Giana didn’t stop after she walked across the commencement stage in 2022; instead, it opened new doors.
She pitched at Startup Lehigh Valley and took home both the $20,000 grand prize and a $5,000 Ben Franklin Technology Ventures assistance award. That led to a $100,000 Early Stage Firm fund investment from Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania seed fund and her startup’s residency at Ben Franklin Technology Ventures in Bethlehem. Giana is set to receive a second round of six-figure funding from Ben Franklin at a seven-figure valuation.
Lehigh Ventures Lab and its extended ecosystem continued to support her through:
- Legal structuring assistance
- Financial modeling
- Team-building support
- Access to alumni advisors and investors
Results That Speak Volumes
Today, With Meraki Co. has:
- Sold more than 10,000 units and generated six figures in revenue
- Grown a loyal community base through viral TikTok educational content, amassing over 150k following
- Expanded sales into Canada and actively working on expanding to other countries globally.
- Scaled operations, while staying true to its core mission: empowering women with real solutions backed by science
- Launched a second product, With Harmony, targeting hormonal balance and microbiome health, as well as an immune boosting supplement, gut health powder supplement and vaginal health guidebook.
Leading by Example, Giving Back with Purpose
Giana now welcomes Lehigh students into her office to share what she’s learned as a woman entrepreneur. She’s committed to hiring interns, especially young women of color, and introducing them to the world of startups. “It’s not just about building a company. It’s about creating a legacy of empowerment. Lehigh gave me the platform, the people, and the push. I want to do the same for others,” explained Jarrah. She also credits the Southside Bethlehem Keystone Innovation Zone (KIZ), a local financial incentive program of which Lehigh is a primary funding partner, that supports startups through grants and tax credits. “KIZ helped my company secure patents, develop new products, hire team members and invest in R&D. It’s one of the key resources that helped me turn my dream into reality.”
Lehigh’s Ecosystem for Entrepreneurs: The Spark and the Structure
Giana’s story illustrates the powerful, practical support Lehigh provides:
Through this ecosystem, Lehigh equips students not just to graduate with degrees—but to develop entrepreneurial mindsets, launch companies, movements and missions.
