Forbes contributor Geri Stengal famously stated, “What’s good for women is good for the economy.” This sentiment holds true for startups as well. Despite being underrepresented among entrepreneurs, women are increasingly making their mark in the entrepreneurial world. Here’s a closer look at ten women-led startups that are on the rise, with impressive female founders blazing trails to make women entrepreneurs the rule rather than the exception.
WayUp
Founded by Liz Wessel and J.J. Fliegelman in September 2014, WayUp is a platform that connects college students with part-time, summer, and entry-level job and internship opportunities. With half a million students and recent grads using the platform, WayUp continues to grow and has secured $7.8 million in funding. Twitter: @lizwessel
Revel Systems
Lisa Falzone and Christopher Ciabarra founded Revel Systems in 2010, offering an iPad-based point of sale system. With a valuation of $400 million and partnerships with Apple Computers and Intuit, Revel Systems is a significant player in the point of sale market. Twitter: @LisaFalzone
inDinero
Founded by Jessica Mah, inDinero provides accounting services and software for businesses. After raising around $10 million from investors, inDinero has become a one-stop-shop back-office solution, serving a wide range of businesses. Twitter: @jessicamah
Traveling Spoon
Aashi Vel and Stephanie Lawrence co-founded Traveling Spoon, a food tourism startup that connects foodies with local hosts worldwide to experience authentic, locally prepared food. Operating in 38 cities across 15 countries, Traveling Spoon was born out of their MBA classes, launched in 2013, and has continued to thrive. Twitter: @travelingspoon
Mogul
Tiffany Pham, a Yale and Harvard Business School graduate, is the founder and CEO of Mogul, a technology platform that empowers women to share ideas, seek advice, and access content based on their interests. Mogul reaches millions of women worldwide and is a hub for women from diverse backgrounds. Twitter: @tifftpham
Brit + Co
Brit Morin, formerly at Google, founded Brit + Co, a media and commerce company that inspires and enables women to explore their creativity. With $27 million in estimated funding, Brit + Co has created a DIY online platform targeting girls and women. Twitter: @brit
Loverly
Kellee Khalil founded Loverly in 2012, combining her experience in the bridal industry with a desire to make wedding planning easier. Loverly offers a wedding inspiration and e-commerce engine that has experienced 400% year-over-year growth. The startup has raised an estimated $6 million in funding. Twitter: @kellee
Alfred
Jessica Beck and Marcela Sapone created Alfred to provide individuals with personal butlers to manage various tasks. With $12.5 million in funding, Alfred offers an automatic, hands-off service for various life necessities, from groceries to tailoring. Twitter: @HelloAlfred
23andMe
Named after the body’s 23 chromosomes, 23andMe was founded in 2006 by Linda Avey, Paul Cusenza, and Anne Wojcicki. This personal genomics and biotechnology company offers home-based saliva collection kits to provide genetic information. With $111.9 million in funding, 23andMe operates in the U.S., UK, and Canada. Twitter: @23andMe
The League
Amanda Bradford is the founder and CEO of The League, a dating app designed to offer more context and quality matches. Launched in 2014, The League distinguishes itself with its exclusivity and privacy controls. The startup secured $2.1 million in early 2015. Twitter: @amandabradford
