# Anna Harman

> Anna Harman is the co-founder and CEO of Studs, the New York-based ear-piercing and earrings brand she launched with Lisa Bubbers in November 2019. A former mutual-fund lawyer and Bridgewater Associates operator turned consumer-retail entrepreneur, Harman built Studs to fill the gap between Claire's and the tattoo parlor: a clean, needle-piercing studio paired with curated 'Earscapes' of affordable jewelry. The store was profitable in its first month and has since grown to dozens of locations nationwide, raising a $20M Series B in 2021 and roughly $25.6M in total funding.

- **Role:** Co-Founder and CEO at Studs
- **Organizations:** Studs, Bridgewater Associates, Store No. 8 (Walmart), Jetblack, Fitz, Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** A.B. in English, Princeton University, J.D., Boston University School of Law
- **Known for:** Co-founded and scaled Studs into a national ear-piercing and jewelry brand profitable in its first month, Pioneered the 'Earscape' concept - curated arrangements of earrings for layered piercings, Raised approximately $25.6M in total funding, including a $20M Series B in 2021

## Career timeline

- **2011** — Associate at Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP, working as a mutual-fund formation lawyer
- **2012** — Joined Bridgewater Associates, becoming COO of Research Analytics
- **2016** — Moved to New York to join Fitz, an in-home closet-organizing and wardrobe-editing startup
- **2017** — Director at Store No. 8, Walmart's retail innovation incubator
- **2018** — Acting Chief Customer Officer at Jetblack
- **2019** — Co-founded Studs with Lisa Bubbers; first store opened November 2019 and was profitable in its first month
- **2021** — Studs raised a $20M Series B round
- **2024** — Studs expanded past 30 stores; flagship at 12 Prince Street, Soho, and a location at Rockefeller Center

## Achievements

- Co-founded and scaled Studs into a national ear-piercing and jewelry brand profitable in its first month
- Pioneered the 'Earscape' concept - curated arrangements of earrings for layered piercings
- Raised approximately $25.6M in total funding, including a $20M Series B in 2021
- Grew Studs to dozens of stores across multiple states
- Built a brand with a median customer age of 27, popular with Gen Z and millennials

## Latest updates

- **2024-04** — Featured in Fortune on Studs' growth, with 22 locations across 12 states and plans for 30+ stores.
- **2024-05** — Appeared on Fox News Radio discussing the Studs transformation 'from books to bling.'

## Links

- Website: https://studs.com
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-harman-3b421029
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annasophieharman/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/anna-harman
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-06-14