Meet Global Impact Award Finalist Lux & Nyx, a startup born from a deep desire to empower high-achieving women to bridge the gap between their identities and rise up as self-made individuals. Founder & Designer Lisa Hu (PMBA ’16) spent 13 years in the corporate world and was constantly frustrated by the lack of work bag options for women. She wanted something that was both polished and truly functional; a bag that could move with her through all aspects of her life. Knowing she wasn’t alone in this frustration, she set out to blend high fashion with real-world utility. The resulting research and prototyping led to the creation of Lux & Nyx’s stylish and functional line of work and handbags, which can now be found at Nordstrom and Macy’s.
Keep reading to learn about Lisa’s journey creating Lux & Nyx, her goals for the future, and how winning funding through the Global Impact Award would help propel her company forward.
Lisa, can you tell us about the origin story of Lux & Nyx and what drew you to found the company?
Lux & Nyx was born out of my personal frustration during my 13 years in corporate finance. I struggled to find a work bag that was both polished and truly functional—especially one that could support a laptop, travel essentials, and still look professional. Recognizing that countless women faced the same dilemma, I saw an opportunity to blend high fashion with real-world utility. After prototyping and testing different designs, I launched Lux & Nyx from my parents’ house, supported by the St. Louis community. What drew me to this venture was the desire to empower professional women with products that genuinely cater to their needs, ensuring they never have to choose between style and practicality again.
What critical problem is Lux & Nyx solving, and why is this solution needed now?
While women are rapidly rising to take on more leadership roles across the board, many work bags on the market are not keeping up with their rise. Lux & Nyx addresses the pressing gap in the women’s work bag market, where style often conflicts with functionality. Our data shows that the number one must-have feature is a dedicated laptop compartment—yet only 9% of bags on the market offer this. With more women stepping into leadership roles and demanding both sophistication and practicality, there’s a critical need for versatile, data-driven designs that empower them to succeed. By bridging the gap between fashion and function, Lux & Nyx ensures professional women have the tools they need—without sacrificing style—in today’s rapidly evolving work environment.
How has the company validated and refined its solution based on market feedback?
We continuously refine our solution by gathering extensive feedback through annual surveys and face-to-face interactions with over 5,000 professional women. Each new design is prototyped and tested, then updated based on real-world use cases and corporate partner input. This data-driven, iterative approach ensures our bags remain relevant, functional, and aligned with evolving market demands. As further validation, Lux & Nyx has been picked up by Nordstrom and Macy’s, marking a public acknowledgment of our strong product-market fit and consistent outperformance in both style and utility.
Where do you see Lux & Nyx making its biggest impact in the next five years?
Over the next five years, we see Lux & Nyx driving the most impact by expanding our data-driven, stylishly functional bags to a broader national and international audience—particularly through major retail partnerships like Nordstrom and Macy’s. We aim to empower millions of professional women, ensuring they never have to compromise between form and function. As we scale, we’ll also deepen our local impact by investing in St. Louis’s creative economy and forging new collaborations with fashion schools and community organizations. Ultimately, our goal is to become a globally recognized brand that not only elevates women’s confidence in the workplace but also revitalizes our hometown as a hub for design innovation and sustainable entrepreneurship.
How would the Global Impact Award help accelerate the company’s growth?
The Global Impact Award would supercharge Lux & Nyx by providing the capital and mentorship we need to scale effectively. We’ll use these resources to refine our operations, hire an operations leader for our expanding retail and corporate gifting channels, and meet rising demand without compromising quality. Additionally, the award’s support and network will amplify our brand visibility, allowing us to reach more professional women and further validate our data-driven designs. Ultimately, we’re aiming to build the next Kate Spade for professional women right here in St. Louis.
What is one piece of advice you would give to a future founder coming out of WashU?
Success often arrives at the moment you feel like giving up but choose not to. Keep pushing, stay open to feedback, and never lose sight of the impact you want to create.
Learn more and shop Lux & Nyx at luxandnyx.com
The Global Impact Award (GIA) is made possible by Washington University alumnus Suren G. Dutia and his wife, Jas K. Grewal. The goal of the award is to invest in individuals and high-growth entrepreneurial ventures associated with WashU that have a broad impact and exhibit an interdisciplinary approach to entrepreneurship.
The winner of the 2025 Global Impact Award will be announced at the WashU Innovation & Entrepreneurship Awards on Thursday, April 17. All are invited to attend the awards ceremony to see which team(s) will win up to $75,000 in non-dilutive funding for their venture.