Businesses that are founded and run by women

Female-led start-ups face challenges that are unique to female entrepreneurs, such as gender discrimination and unequal access to funding, but also bring a diverse range of perspectives, skills, and experiences to the business world.

For instance this (Why Women-Owned Startups are a Better Bet) research done on Female start-ups states:

“Businesses founded by women ultimately deliver higher revenue—more than twice as much per dollar invested—than those founded by men, making women-owned companies better investments for financial backers.”

Successful female-led start-ups

Rent the Runway, The Wing, Bumble: These are the companies that disrupt traditional industries, create jobs, and inspire other women to become entrepreneurs.

Promoting and empowering female entrepreneurship can create a more diverse and fair business environment, where women are given equal chances to thrive and make a positive impact.

Here are some examples of successful female-led start-ups:

1. Rent the Runway: Founded by Jennifer Hyman and Jennifer Fleiss, Rent the Runway is an online service that allows customers to rent designer clothing and accessories. https://www.renttherunway.com/

2. The Wing: Audrey Gelman and Lauren Kassan co-founded The Wing, a women-focused co-working and community space. Unfortunately it was shut down in August 2022 due to financial problems caused by the pandemic.

3. Bumble: Whitney Wolfe Herd founded Bumble, a dating app where women make the first move. https://bumble.com/

4. Away: Steph Korey and Jen Rubio co-founded Away, a company that sells stylish and durable luggage.

   http://www.awaytravel.com/
   

5. Glossier: Emily Weiss founded Glossier, a beauty company that offers skincare and makeup products.

   http://www.glossier.com/
   

6. Affectiva: Founder Rana el Kaliouby is the CEO of Affectiva, a start-up that uses artificial intelligence to understand and quantify human emotions.

   http://www.affectiva.com/
   

7. Stitch Fix: Katrina Lake founded Stitch Fix, an online personal styling service that uses data to recommend clothing to its customers.

   http://www.stitchfix.com/
   

8. Foundations Revealed: Cathy Hay founded Foundations Revealed an online learning community for historical dressmakers.

   https://foundationsrevealed.com/

These are just a few examples of successful female-led start-ups, and there are many more out there. These companies have not only disrupted their respective industries but also paved the way for more women to become entrepreneurs and business leaders.

Empowering female entrepreneurship promotes gender equality, drives innovation, and boosts economic growth. Creating a supportive and inclusive environment enables all women to start and run successful businesses.

Get more insights from 10 Key Steps for Launching a New Venture