Melissa Mash co-founded Dagne Dover in New York City in 2013 alongside Jessy Dover and Deepa Gandhi — all three met at Columbia Business School. Coming from backgrounds in finance (Melissa at Morgan Stanley), fashion (Jessy), and product development (Deepa), they spotted a gap in the market for bags that were as smart on the inside as they were beautiful on the outside. They turned down a Shark Tank offer and built the brand on their own terms. Dagne Dover's neoprene tote became a cult item among professional women who needed a bag that could keep up with their lives.
