The Rounds
Decades ago, no one bought milk at the store. Instead, milkmen delivered dairy in reusable glass bottles. This zero-waste model inspired Alex Torrey WG21 and Byungwoo Ko WG20 to create The Rounds, a subscription service that keeps subscribers stocked with necessities like toiletries, dry goods, and, yes, milk, at least of the non-dairy variety. Just like milkmen — the startup was originally named Mlkmn — subscribers avoid single-use plastic. Last year, the firm raised nearly $40 million; it has expanded from Philadelphia to Atlanta, Miami, and Washington, DC. “We’re building what we believe is the future of last-mile logistics,” says Torrey.