Haji was CEO, SaveUp, at the time of her death.
By Kevin Manuel
WASHINGTON, DC: The CEO of SaveUp, Priya Haji, died on July 14 after suffering from pulmonary embolism, according to a statement released by her family and company.
Haji was a socially minded businesswoman who used her skills to start entrepreneurial projects that also helped the surrounding community. Her company SaveUp, gave incentives, such as entry into sweepstakes for activities on their financial accounts. The company was funded to the amount of $7 million by Blue Run Ventures and True Ventures.
The entrepreneur, whose recent work included East Palo Alto’s nonprofit drug treatment center, Free At Last, was 44. Palo Alto online reports that Haji was at home with her two young children when she collapsed. A nanny working for her called 911 but EMTs on the scene were not able to revive her.
Her family is still waiting for an autopsy to confirm the cause of death.
Haji was previously cofounded World of Good, which brought fair trade and sustainable goods made by female artists from developing countries. She was remembered for starting a health clinic for underprivileged people in her hometown of Bryan, Texas while still in high school.
Much support has flowed from the communities and businesses which she started and helped sustain. Many of the people she influenced along the way have showed an outpouring of love and support.
According to TechCrunch.com, in a 2011 interview with Forbes magazine, Haji revealed the reason why she is in the field of business,”
“My entrepreneurial imagination gets inspired by seeing how I can help people through an innovative use of business or technology. …I think the best ideas to solve the biggest problems are still out there to be done – and someone reading this article might have one. If that is you – trust yourself, and go for it! The worst thing that can happen is that it will not work, and who knows: You might create something even better than you imagined.”
Haji was featured by Makers, which profiles women’s stories. Her feature can be viewed here.