In recent years, the number of women leading their own businesses has had a surge in growth. According to the National Women’s Business Council, women are starting businesses at an unprecedented rate – with the number of businesses owned by women increasing by 21 percent since 2007; and the number of businesses owned by women of color surging 46 percent over the same period.
Today, more and more women are leaping into the exciting world of startups. These innovative female-founded startups are disrupting industries, creating jobs, inspiring other women, and pushing boundaries. Here is a list of ten awesome women-founded startups you need to know about.
WalkMe
WalkMe, founded by Dan Adika in 2011, is a cloud-based digital guidance platform that helps businesses guide users online and make the most of their products and services. Today, WalkMe is the most widely used real-time guidance platform, with customers such as Dell, AT&T, Verizon, and Microsoft.
Ginger.io
Ginger.io was founded by Karan Chawla in 2011. It is one of the leading mobile health companies, providing an app-based platform that helps people understand and manage their mental health. By providing mental health assessments, coach check-ins, and 1:1 coaching, Ginger.io helps support the emotional health of people across the world.
Plann
Plann, founded by Lizzie Bennet and Sahil Solanki in 2017, is a social-media-centric digital platform designed to help entrepreneurs create beautiful visuals and captivating designs that stand out on social media. Plann, currently used in over 30 countries, also helps in scheduling content, tracking performance, and optimizing posts for maximum user engagement.
Rothy’s
Rothy’s was founded by Roth Martin, Stephen Hawthornthwaite and Katherine Pruitt in 2016. It is an online eco-friendly fashion company that specializes in creating shoes and accessories out of recycled plastic water bottles. Their philosophy is to mix sustainability with style to create beautiful footwear that is both chic and good for the environment.
Coinbase
Coinbase was founded by Brian Armstrong and Fred Ehrsam in 2012. It is the most popular cryptocurrency exchange platform in the world, allowing users to buy, sell, and store digital currencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. With over 35 million users, Coinbase provides a safe and secure way for users to buy and sell digital assets.
Echoing Green
Echoing Green was founded by Cheryl Dorsey and Harvey Walden IV in 1987. It is an organization dedicated to identifying and investing in emerging leaders who are seeking to create a more equitable world. Echoing Green provides financial and technical support to talented entrepreneurs around the world, and has invested in over 900 Fellows with projects in 93 countries.
Snapsheet
Snapsheet, founded by Brad Weisberg in 2010, is a digital company that helps insurers process property damage claims faster and more efficiently. Snapsheet’s technology integrates with their customers’ systems to streamline the claim processing process and reduce manual effort.
23andMe
23andMe, founded by Anne Wojcicki in 2006, is a direct-to-consumer DNA testing service, with the goal of providing tools and information to help people better understand their genetic makeup and ancestry. Their saliva-based DNA kit, which customers can use to trace genetic traits, has been used by millions, including beloved comedian and actress, Maya Rudolph.
Clue
Clue, founded by Ida Tin and Maaike Everts in 2011, is a period and fertility health tracking app. It helps its users understand their bodies and reproductive health through personalized insights, educational content, and evidence-based research. Clue, which has over 10 million users worldwide, recently launched a new feature, Clue Connect, that allows users to invite their loved ones to follow their period, mood, and fertility tracking in real time.
Refresh
Refresh, founded by Maitri Johnson in 2013, is an app that helps people discover and connect with professionals in their local area. Refresh uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to recommend the best people for jobs, projects, mentorship, and networking opportunities. Refresh, which currently has offices in both San Francisco and New York, has helped over 800,000 users find the perfect connection with professionals in their local area.
As you can see, women are not only disrupting industries, but are pushing boundaries and creating jobs. These ten awesome women-founded startups are proof that there is no limit to what is achievable when you combine innovation and ambition. We hope that this list has inspired some of you to take the plunge into the world of startups and start something amazing.
