Co-Founders Alexis and Corbin began dreaming up a company that would employ and empower women transitioning out of homelessness during their junior year at Vanderbilt. Alexis was on a medical leave of absence at the time and had become interested in the idea while wandering downtown, befriending people experiencing homelessness. After months of market research, she began fasting and praying about the potential to pursue the still-unnamed company after graduation.

Around that time, one of her best friends, Ray, called. A few relevant things to know about Ray: he had been homeless most of his life, and he had terminal cancer. When Ray called, he bluntly told Alexis he was dying and asked her to come. In a conversation that would become their last, Ray shared his life reflections before declaring, "Alexis, I have a duffel bag of money, and I want you to have it when I pass." And just like that, a man who didn’t even own a mattress became the primary “investor” in a company meant to employ other people experiencing homelessness. Corbin and Alexis went full-time with Resera upon graduation in 2018, building the business from dorm rooms and park benches to eventually become the jewelry production facility it is today.