Ashley Merrill

Ashley Merrill is a prominent entrepreneur and business leader, best known as the founder and former CEO of Lunya, a luxury sleepwear brand for modern women and, more recently, men through its men's line, Lahgo.

Education and Background

Ashley Merrill holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and an MBA from UCLA's Anderson School of Management. She also has a culinary school certificate from the Kitchen Academy.2

Career

• Lunya: Founded in 2012, Lunya specializes in luxurious and minimalistic sleepwear. Merrill's inspiration for Lunya came from her own dissatisfaction with available sleepwear options, which she found either too frumpy or too lingerie-like. She started the company while pregnant with her first child, driven by the realization that if she couldn't take the risk without kids, she wouldn't be able to do it with them.4
• Lahgo: This is the men's version of Lunya, also founded by Merrill.5
• Other Ventures:
  • NaHCO3: Principal at this impact investing firm, where she leverages her background in venture, technology, and the arts to invest in ways that create opportunity and move humanity forward.5
  • The Deep: Co-founder of this media platform that makes philosophy and personal exploration accessible through thought-provoking questions.25
  • Outdoor Voices: Served as the Executive Chairperson from March 2020 to December 2022.2
  • Previous Roles: She has held various positions at Evolve Media Corporation, including Managing Director for Momtastic and roles in business development at Atomic Online and Gorilla Nation. She also worked as an analyst at Funk Ventures.2

Leadership and Philosophy

Merrill emphasizes the importance of building a strong team, identifying a specific target customer, and slow, sustainable growth. She believes in the value of investing in oneself and encourages women to prioritize their own comfort and worth, reflecting Lunya's mission of helping women feel valued through their sleepwear choices.13

Personal Life

Ashley Merrill is a mother of two and resides in Santa Monica, California. She is known for her disciplined morning routine, which includes early rising, deep-thinking work, and a commitment to fitness. She balances her work schedule with family and personal time to ensure she gets enough of each.6

Community Involvement

Merrill is involved with several organizations, including the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), and Girls Inc. She is also an active supporter of various other organizations such as Sola, Upstream, and United Medical Corps.25