Celebrating the 2025 Inc. Female Founders 500: Meet the Women Defining the Future of Business
Meet the Top Entrepreneurs Behind a Female Founder Boom
Inc.’s Female Founders 500 is more than just a list—it’s a recognition of the ambition, tenacity, and impact of female entrepreneurs across sectors, from healthcare and sustainability to fintech and consumer goods. These 500 founders are setting new standards for leadership, breaking barriers, and scaling with purpose.
The Methodology: How the Female Founders 500 Are Chosen
The selection process consists of rigorous three rounds of judging; evaluating both quantitative and qualitative success metrics.
Revenue growth, funding, and audience size
Impact-driven milestones and industry leadership
Social media momentum and cultural relevance
This year’s honorees represent approximately $9 billion in 2024 revenue and $10.6 billion in funding, proving the collective economic power of female entrepreneurs.
The Honorees: Meet the Female Founders Defining the Future
Among the 500 founders recognized this year, we’re proud to highlight the exceptional leaders from our portfolio who are shaping industries and paving the way for the next generation of female entrepreneurs:
Ariana Ferwerda, Karelle Golda & Kiley McKinnon, Halfdays
For launching the mountain-ready performancewear brand’s first year-round outdoor and activewear collection, leading to 86 percent year-over-year revenue growth.
For expanding offerings of customizable pet wellness plans, winning the 2024 Benefits Trailblazer Award for Best Lifestyle Solution, and nearly tripling their B2B annual recurring revenue in 2024.
Fatma Collins & Julie Rogers, Ten Little
For creating podiatrist-approved vegan shoes for children, winning the Good Housekeeping Parenting Award, and cultivating a loyal community with 62 percent of purchases from repeat customers.
Kameale Terry & Evette Ellis, ChargerHelp!
For improving the reliability of EV charging stations and launching a groundbreaking report on the state of charging infrastructure in the U.S.
Lauren Makler & Halle Tecco, Cofertility
For destigmatizing and streamlining fertility care and achieving an 80 percent year-over-year increase in matches between egg donors and intended parents.
For quadrupling head count and securing a $1.9 million contract with the Air Force to permanently redact sensitive documents.
For leading a baby and child recommerce platform that sells open-box, overstock, and customer-returned products, and growing revenue sevenfold.
These women have demonstrated resilience, vision, and execution, solving real-world problems while scaling their companies with impact and purpose.
The Takeaway: What It Takes to Build and Scale
What does it take to build and scale a successful company? The 2025 Inc. Female Founders advisory board shares their best advice:
Pace Yourself
“This is a marathon, not a sprint. Define your own goals and run your own race.” – Cate Luzio, Luminary
Take Care
“Invest in yourself so you can consistently operate at the level of excellence required to do great things.” – Dany Garcia, The Garcia Companies
Embrace Failure
“True success comes from turning setbacks into stepping stones. Don’t let fear stop you.” – Pinky Cole Hayes, Slutty Vegan
Listen to Your Customers
“Your customers should always serve as your north star, guiding your decision-making.” – Anu Duggal, Female Founders Fund
Understand the Economics
“Passion alone isn’t enough—your business needs a scalable model with strong fundamentals.” – Katherine Power, Greycroft
Build Your Community
“Entrepreneurship isn’t a solo journey. Instead of asking ‘How do I solve this?’ ask, ‘Who can help me solve this?’” – Tiffany Dufu, The Cru
Trust Your Team
“Empower your team to take ownership. The best leaders give their people the freedom to succeed.” – Kay Koplovitz, USA Networks
For founders at any stage, these insights serve as a roadmap for long-term success—one built on resilience, adaptability, and strategic thinking.
Final Thoughts
As we celebrate this year’s honorees, we also recognize that this is just the beginning. The next wave of female founders is already emerging, and with continued support, investment, and opportunity, the landscape for women in business will only continue to expand.
Here’s to the leaders, innovators, and changemakers who are proving that the future of business is female-led, impact-driven, and built to last.
View the full list of the 2025 Inc. Female Founders 500 honorees here.
Read more on The Inc. Magazine
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