Maryellis Bunn

Maryellis Bunn is an American entrepreneur and founder of the interactive retail experience company Museum of Ice Cream (MOIC), and serves as the CEO of its parent company, Figure8, Inc.

Early life and education
Bunn was raised in Laguna Beach, California. She moved to New York City for higher education, graduating from New York University and earning a joint degree in business and design from Parsons School of Design.

Early career
Before founding MOIC, Bunn worked in design and business strategy consultation for various firms, including Facebook, Instagram, Staples, and Fortune. She also held a role as Head of Forecasting and Innovation at Time, Inc.

Museum of Ice Cream
Bunn co-founded MOIC with Manish Vora, who has a background in investment banking and previously served as the CEO of Lightbox. The company, under the parent company Figure8 Inc., focuses on multi-sensory and inclusive experiences, often inspired by ice cream.

MOIC started as a pop-up exhibit in Manhattan's Meatpacking District in 2016. The exhibit gained popularity, leading to additional pop-up locations and eventually permanent sites in several cities, including Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco, and New York. Bunn has coined the term "experiums" to describe these spaces, emphasizing their nature as a fusion of experiences and museums. MOIC attracted over 1 million visitors across various locations in 2018. This phase of her career led to her recognition in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for Art & Style in 2018.

Bunn and Vora initially self-funded MOIC's venture. In anticipation of further growth, Bunn secured $40 million in Series A funding in 2019, aiding in expansion to several U.S. cities, Singapore, and Shanghai. The flagship location opened in New York's Soho neighborhood in 2019. Subsequent permanent MOIC locations have opened in Singapore and Austin in 2021, and Chicago in July 2022. In August 2022, MOIC opened a location in Shanghai, China in collaboration with the U.S. brand Shake Shack.

In 2020, Bunn and MOIC faced criticism for their response to the Black Lives Matter movement, particularly regarding a sign with the names of victims of police brutality. An apology was issued, and corrective measures were taken.

Moreover, allegations of a hostile work environment at MOIC were investigated, with the company stating that protocols are in place to ensure a healthy work environment.