# Aashi Vel

> Aashi Vel is the co-founder and CEO of Traveling Spoon, which connects travelers with vetted local hosts for private home meals, cooking classes and market visits. An industrial designer and patent holder educated at Savannah College of Art and Design and Berkeley Haas, she co-founded the business with Steph Lawrence after they met in 2011. Her work combines experience design, cultural exchange and income opportunities for home cooks.

- **Role:** Co-Founder & CEO at Traveling Spoon
- **Organizations:** Traveling Spoon, World Food Travel Association, Eclipse PDC, Eleven LLC, Kohler Co.
- **Education:** Master of Business Administration, University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business, BA; graduated magna cum laude, Savannah College of Art and Design
- **Known for:** Co-founded Traveling Spoon in 2013 with Steph Lawrence., Industrial-design patent holder with products recognized by design and packaging awards., Graduated magna cum laude from Savannah College of Art and Design.

## Career timeline

- **Before 2011** — Worked for 11 years in industrial design, including at Eclipse PDC and Eleven LLC.
- **2011** — Met Steph Lawrence at Berkeley Haas orientation; began developing Traveling Spoon.
- **2012** — Traveling Spoon’s first pilot customers took food experiences in India in January.
- **2013** — Completed her Haas MBA; co-founded and launched Traveling Spoon in July.
- **2015** — Traveling Spoon automated its online marketplace and offered experiences in 20 countries.
- **2019** — Profiled by the World Food Travel Association as co-host of its Eat Well Travel Better podcast.
- **2020** — Traveling Spoon announced its acquisition of MealSharing and introduced online cooking classes.
- **2022** — Traveling Spoon reached 65 countries; a WFTA interview described her board service.
- **2025** — Reported Traveling Spoon operating in 65 countries and more than 230 cities in Berkeley Haas’s fall alumni notes.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Traveling Spoon in 2013 with Steph Lawrence.
- Industrial-design patent holder with products recognized by design and packaging awards.
- Graduated magna cum laude from Savannah College of Art and Design.
- Traveling Spoon won the People’s Choice Award at Women 2.0 PITCH LV 2013.
- Presented the HaasX talk Travel Off the Eaten Path at the 2018 Berkeley Haas Alumni Conference.

## Latest updates

- **2025-12** — In the fall 2025 Berkeley Haas magazine, Vel reported that Traveling Spoon operated in 65 countries and more than 230 cities. The issue’s URL is dated December 2025.
- **2025-01** — Appeared on Soul of Travel episode 213, discussing cultural exchange, indigenous food traditions, foraging and the influence of industrial design on her business.
- **2024-10** — Interviewed on Savoir Faire Audio Experience about connecting travelers with home cooks.

## Links

- Website: https://www.travelingspoon.com/founders
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aashi-vel-9240201

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/aashi-vel
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-22