Meghan Markle joined a number of powerful women at a summit in the Hamptons on Friday, sources told Page Six.
The Duchess of Sussex, 42, attended the G9 Ventures Summer Summit, hosted by powerbroker Amy Griffin.
She is believed to have flown in from Santa Barbara, California, on a private jet with her close friend, makeup guru Victoria Jackson — and sources say she was to gather tips for her new lifestyle business, American Riviera Orchard, which has yet to officially launch.
The annual event is held at the sprawling home Griffin shares with her husband, billionaire hedge funder John Griffin, a sprawling estate worth more than $13 million.
Guests expected to attend the event include Markle’s other close pal, designer Misha Nonoo, as well as Missy Robbins, the chef behind popular Williamsburg eatery Lillia and the Mission, makeup icon Bobbi Brown and entrepreneur Jamie Kern Lima, who we hear will be hosting a lunch interview with Griffin.
Weight Watchers CEO Sima Sistani was on the guest list, along with investor Kirsten Greene.
Lady Goop herself, Gwyneth Paltrow, is believed to be in attendance, along with celebrities Reese Witherspoon, who heads the billion-dollar brand Hello Sunshine, and Spanx founder Sara Blakely.
Griffin helps mentor early-stage startups and has coached brands including Goop, Athletic Greens, and Bumble.
Markle, whose representatives did not respond to Page Six’s request for comment, ran her own blog, The Tig, before meeting Prince Harry.
He will definitely be networking and soaking up all the tips he can get in preparation for his new venture at the summit.
She just finished filming her new lifestyle show for Netflix in Montecito, which doesn’t have a launch date yet.
As Page Six previously revealed, the mother of two is looking to follow in Martha Stewart’s footsteps, offering her followers a mix of food and lifestyle advice.
He can certainly take a leaf out of Griffin, 48 — the Wall Street Journal reports that among his inner circle he is known for his use of “soft power,” making introductions, pursuing founders at conferences and offering mentorship.
“Amy is more than an investor. She becomes your friend and advocate,” says Spanx CEO Blakely. “For founders, that can be more important than money.”
Griffin, whose family owns the Southern regional convenience store chain Toot’n Totum, worked in marketing after graduating from the University of Virginia and started angel investing in 2014. He launched G9 three years later.
“There was a time when I was sitting at a fundraising event and I thought, ‘Wait, I can invest money in something, watch it grow, and use my skills and help a founder?'” he told the WSJ.
“And people said to me, ‘Why don’t you do this full time? You’re already helping people by buying their products and then shipping them to everyone.’”
She confirmed the G9 fund was separate from her husband’s wealth from his hedge fund, Blue Ridge Capital, which closed in 2017.
G9 did not lead the investment round but contributed smaller amounts, ranging from tens of thousands of dollars to several million, the WSJ reported.
