Episode 22:9 Ilana Alberico on Embracing Innovation and Intergenerational Wellness

Join host Nancy Griffin as she interviews Ilana Alberico,founder and CEO of SpaSpace, about her journey in the spa and wellness industry. Discover how Ilana is transforming SpaSpace in Chicago into a hub for intergenerational connection, and innovation and learn about her experiences as a female entrepreneur in the tech space.

About Ilana

Ilana Alberico is a multi-exit entrepreneur and strategist with over two decades of experience at the intersection of wellness, hospitality, and technology. She has founded, scaled, and sold multiple companies across spa management, consumer products, and SaaS, earning a reputation for translating visionary ideas into enduring businesses.

Ilana’s career highlights include:

• Drove mergers and acquisitions that scaled into North America’s leading luxury spa management company.
• Founding and selling a SaaS platform that pioneered AI-powered personalization and scaled into a multimillion-dollar ARR business.
• Launching Privai, a natural skincare line, acquired in 2022 and now distributed across luxury resorts and retail channels.
• Serving as President of Spa Space at Arch Amenities Group, where she drove innovation and culture for a global wellness enterprise spanning hundreds of locations.
• Awards include 2017 Innovate Award from the International Spa Association, 2019 T.I.E. Atlanta Entrepreneurship Award, Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies X2

Known for her ability to bridge creative vision with commercial discipline, Ilana has advised Fortune 500 hospitality brands, private equity groups, and family offices alike. Her approach blends strategic foresight, design intelligence, and operational excellence, ensuring every project delivers both meaningful experiences and measurable returns.

Beyond her ventures, Ilana is an owner and advisor partner to SpaSpace and currently enrolled in the School of Continuing Studies at Georgetown, advancing her knowledge of Cyberspace Analytics and Technology focused on the intersection of AI, ethics, and human-centered design. She also serves on the board of the Tampa Bay International School, advancing education in bilingualism, leadership, andsocial responsibility.

Key Takeaways

• SpaSpace day spa in Chicago has been reinvented to become a social wellness club, providing a third space for intergenerational relationships to flourish.
• SpaSpace is a digital community platform where members and providers are able to continue their connection digitally in their private groups, sharephotos with each other, and ask an expert.
• Female-only founding teams globallygarnered 2.3% of all VC dollars. In 2025, startups founded exclusively by women received just 0.7% of all U.S. VC funding, a sharp drop from about 2% the year before, and the lowest share since tracking began.
• Resilience is essential for entrepreneurs: being comfortable with failure is a prerequisite for building, scaling, and eventually selling a successful business.