Top 30 Inspiring Women Entrepreneurs in 2024
The year 2024 has brought forth a new wave of female entrepreneurs who are making significant strides in the business world. These women are not only highly motivated, but they also bring a unique passion and energy to their work, driving innovation and creating products and services that are transformative and empowering. As we continue to witness their remarkable contributions, it is essential to recognize and celebrate their achievements. In this article, we present a curated list of the Top 30 Inspiring Women Entrepreneurs in 2024, showcasing the value they bring to their respective industries. Each of these women is paving the way with their innovative approaches and breakthroughs, and it is imperative to keep a close eye on their continued ascent. Their dedication and unique offerings serve as a testament to their unwavering commitment to excellence and their potential to inspire and lead the way for future generations of entrepreneurs.
- Michelle Cordeiro Grant
Michelle Cordeiro Grant is the founder and current CEO of WearLively, a direct-to-consumer lingerie and activewear brand. She founded the company in 2016 to create a brand that empowers women and promotes body positivity. WearLively offers a range of comfortable and stylish bras, underwear, and activewear designed to fit a variety of body types. Under Grant's leadership, WearLively has grown rapidly, with a focus on sustainability and ethical manufacturing practices. The company has been featured in prominent media outlets such as Forbes, Vogue, and Glamour. Before founding WearLively, Grant worked as a senior merchant at Victoria's Secret and as a director of merchandise at Thrillist Media Group. Her experience in the fashion industry has helped her build a successful brand that resonates with consumers.
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- Falguni Nayar
Falguni Nayar is an Indian billionaire businesswoman and the founder and CEO of Nykaa, a beauty and lifestyle retail company. Born on February 19, 1963, Nayar had a successful career as an investment banker before launching Nykaa in 2012 at age 50. With a vision to build a multi-brand, omnichannel beauty-focused retail business, Nayar has empowered customer choices and enabled brands to reach the breadth and depth of the country. Nykaa has grown rapidly, with a portfolio of over 1,000 brands across makeup, skincare, hair care, fragrances, bath and body products, and more. The company has expanded its retail network by opening 180–200 new stores across India by 2023 and has launched Nykaa Fashion, a premium fashion portal featuring leading high-street and designer brands. In November 2021, Nykaa went public at a valuation of over $12 billion, making Nayar India's richest self-made female billionaire with a net worth of $7.7 billion. She is now among India's 20 richest people and is a board member of several companies, including ACC, Dabur, Endurance Group, and Tata Technologies.
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- Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, born on March 23, 1953, in Bangalore, India, is a renowned Indian businesswoman and the founder of Biocon Limited, a biotechnology company. Over the past four decades, she has led Biocon as its chairman and managing director, making significant contributions to the healthcare and biopharmaceutical industries. Mazumdar-Shaw's entrepreneurial journey began in 1978 when she started Biocon in her garage to harness India's scientific talent. Under her leadership, Biocon has become a multinational company known for its innovative work in insulin products and enzymes. Shaw has earned numerous accolades, including being recognized as a "Technology Pioneer" by the World Economic Forum and receiving the Order of Australia for her significant service to advancing bilateral relations with India. In 2011, she was on the Financial Times's top 50 women in business list, and in 2019, she was listed as the 68th most powerful woman in the world by Forbes.
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- Karime German
Karime German is the co-founder of Grin Scooters, a software company that runs a network of shared electric scooters. Grin Scooters was established in 2018 by Bryan Zambrano, Jonathan Lewy, Karime German, and Sergio Romo, based in Mexico. The company is known for providing a dockless electric scooter-sharing system in various locations across Latin America. The company's business model involves users installing the Grin app, which displays all the available scooters near them. Users can then scan the QR code on the scooter to start a trip, and the price of the trip is immediately withdrawn from their payment information. The company has raised $72.7 million in funding. Before joining Grin Scooters, Karime German was the head of people and culture and co-founder at Grow Mobility, a Latin American mobility platform. She also co-founded Mureni, a Mexican startup that provides a platform for buying and selling second-hand luxury goods.
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- Jasmine Crowe
Jasmine Crowe is an award-winning entrepreneur, TED speaker, and leader who is the founder and CEO of Goodr, a tech-enabled sustainable food waste management company. Her goal is to foster change and create awareness about today's most pressing socio-economic issues, including food waste and hunger. Goodr, which was founded in 2017, leverages technology to combat hunger and reduce food waste by redirecting surplus food from various sources to people in need. Under her leadership, Goodr has redirected nearly ten million pounds of surplus food to millions of food-insecure individuals. Crowe's work has been widely recognized, and she has been featured in prominent media outlets such as CNBC, Oprah Magazine, Inc., Forbes, and Fast Company. She has also been named by Entrepreneur Magazine as one of the top 100 influential female founders. Crowe's passion for ending hunger and eliminating food waste has established her as a prominent figure in the social entrepreneurship space
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- Upasana Taku
Upasana Taku is an Indian businesswoman and the co-founder of MobiKwik, a digital wallet and payment system. She is the Chairperson of the Board, Executive Director, Co-Founder, and COO of the MobiKwik Group. Taku holds an engineering degree from Punjab Technical University and a master's degree in management science and engineering from Stanford University. With over 17 years of experience in digital payments, Taku and her husband, Bipin Preet Singh, founded MobiKwik in 2009, with Singh developing the concept for the platform. Taku encouraged Singh to resign from his job and launch the startup, which has since grown to become one of India's leading digital payment platforms. The company has grown rapidly, with over 100 million users and a presence in more than 2,500 cities. Taku's leadership has been instrumental in MobiKwik's success, and she has been recognized for her contributions to the Indian startup ecosystem. In 2016, she was named one of the "100 Most Influential Women in India" by Fortune India.
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- Morgan DeBaun
Morgan DeBaun is the CEO and co-founder of Blavity, a digital media company that focuses on creating content for and by black millennials. DeBaun started Blavity in 2013 to address the lack of representation and diversity in the media landscape. The company has grown rapidly, with a focus on creating engaging content that resonates with its target audience. Blavity's flagship platform, The Shade Room, has become one of the most popular social media accounts on Instagram, with over 10 million followers. The company has grown rapidly and has established itself as the world's leading enterprise for premium content and a network for black culture and technology. Blavity has launched several successful ventures, including AfroTech in 2016, 21Ninety in 2017, and the acquisition of Shadow and Act, a black entertainment website, and Travel Noire, a black travel website. DeBaun has been instrumental in Blavity's success, and she was named one of the "100 Most Influential Women in America" by Essence Magazine in 2016. In 2021, she joined the Mountain Dew pitch competition panel to support black-owned businesses and foster economic empowerment.
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- Payal Kadakia
Payal Kadakia is an Indian-American business executive and the founder and CEO of ClassPass, a fitness and wellness platform. Kadakia, born in the United States, has been an influential figure in the technology and wellness industries. Before founding ClassPass, she held senior roles at Bain & Company and Warner Music. Kadakia's entrepreneurial journey began when she founded Sa Dance, an extension of MIT Chamak, the university's first Indian dance company. She later founded ClassPass in 2011, which is a monthly subscription service that provides access to a wide variety of fitness, wellness, and beauty experiences. It allows users to book classes and appointments at participating businesses using credits, which are included in their membership plan. The platform offers a range of experiences, including yoga, cycling, Pilates, strength training, massage, acupuncture, facials, and haircuts. ClassPass has partnered with over 30,000 studios, gyms, spas, and salons worldwide, allowing users to access a diverse range of experiences. Kadakia is also the artistic director of The Sa Dance Company and the author of LifePass.
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- Reshma Saujani
Reshma Saujani is the founder and CEO of Girls Who Code, a non-profit organization that aims to close the gender gap in technology and change the image of what a programmer looks like and does. Born on November 18, 1975, in Illinois, USA, Saujani began her career as an attorney and activist. In 2010, she ran for the U.S. Congress and visited local schools, where she saw the gender gap in computing classes firsthand, which led her to start Girls Who Code. The organization offers a range of programs, including a 7-week summer immersion program, a 2-week specialized campus program, after-school clubs, and a 13-book New York Times best-selling series. Girls Who Code has reached over 185,000 girls and inspired millions more. The organization's mission is to inspire, educate, and equip young women with the computing skills to pursue 21st-century opportunities. Girls Who Code values diversity, equity, and inclusion as essential to its mission and is committed to reaching girls around the world. The organization has partnered with over 30,000 organizations worldwide, and its programs provide local community support so that girls can stay engaged after the program ends. Saujani is also the author of Brave, Not Perfect, a movement encouraging women to live their bravest, fullest lives. She has been recognized for her contributions to the industry and was named to Fortune Magazine's 40 Under 40 list in 2015.
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- Zhang Xin
Zhang Xin is a prominent Chinese businesswoman and co-founder of SOHO China, a leading real estate development company. Born on August 24, 1965, in Beijing, China, Zhang Xin grew up during the Cultural Revolution and worked in factories in Hong Kong before moving to the UK to study economics. She co-founded SOHO China with her husband, Pan Shiyi, in 1995, and the company has played a pivotal role in shaping the Beijing skyline through its innovative and iconic architectural projects. Zhang Xin is known for her collaborations with international architects, which have contributed to the company's reputation as one of the largest developers of prime office properties in China. In addition to her business acumen, Zhang Xin is a dedicated philanthropist and co-founded the SOHO China Foundation, which focuses on promoting education to improve social mobility. The foundation's initiatives, such as the SOHO China Scholarships, have had a significant impact on supporting Chinese students in their higher education at leading international universities. Zhang Xin's leadership, business achievements, and commitment to philanthropy have established her as a highly influential figure in the global business community.
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- Tory Burch
Tory Burch is an American fashion designer and entrepreneur who launched her eponymous label, Tory Burch, in 2004. The brand quickly gained recognition for its American, bohemian-preppy sportswear and has since become a global apparel and accessories brand. Burch began her fashion career under the tutelage of big names like Vera Wang and Narciso Rodriguez. She is known for her vintage-meets-far-flung aesthetic and her chic everyday staples, such as Tory Burch flats, sleek leather handbags, and crisp tailored tunics. Burch's fashion label, initially called "TRB by Tory Burch," was later shortened to "Tory Burch." Known for its classic lines with a modern sensibility and a no-nonsense aesthetic, the brand has redefined American luxury with a global point of view. The company's purpose is to empower women, and its products, including designer handbags, shoes, accessories, and ready-to-wear clothing, are carried at over 3,000 stores worldwide. In 2015, Burch launched a separate performance activewear line called "Tory Sport," further expanding the brand's offerings. Today, there are over 120 Tory Burch stores in the US and 300+ stores worldwide, and the brand is estimated to be valued at $1.5 billion.
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- Anne Wojcicki
Anne Wojcicki is the co-founder and CEO of 23andMe, a direct-to-consumer genetics testing firm based in South San Francisco, California. Born on August 28, 1973, in Chicago, Illinois, she is known for her work in the field of genetics and her efforts to make personal genomics accessible and understandable to the public. In 2006, Wojcicki co-founded 23andMe with her husband, Sergey Brin, and Linda Avey. The company's name is derived from the 23 pairs of chromosomes in human DNA. 23andMe's mission is to help people understand their genetic makeup and how it relates to their health and ancestry. The company offers a range of genetic testing services, including ancestry testing, health risk assessments, and carrier status testing. She has been recognized for her contributions to the field of genetics and has been named one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People. In addition to her work at 23andMe, Wojcicki is also involved in philanthropy and has supported various causes, including education and healthcare.
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- Bershan Shaw
Bershan Shaw is an American serial entrepreneur, business and life coach, motivational speaker, author, podcast host, and real estate developer. She is the CEO and founder of the Urawarrior app, a mental health application. Shaw is also the founder of Warrior Training International (WTI), a leadership and business development organization that provides interactive training solutions to help enterprises scale their businesses. She is recognized as America's #1 Female Motivational Speaker and has shared the stage with influential figures such as Les Brown, Tony Robbins, and Pitbull. Shaw is an advocate for women's empowerment and has initiated the Unstoppable Warrior Women Movement and the Pledge 15 initiative. Shaw is the author of the best-selling books "Unstoppable Warrior Woman" and "Urawarrior:365 Ways to Challenge You to a Better Life." She has received numerous awards and honors, including the BET Honors Trailblazer and Unstoppable Survivor Award, and has been featured in various media outlets, podcasts, and TV shows.
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- Hala Taha
Hala Taha is an American entrepreneur, digital media expert, podcaster, and speaker who is widely recognized as the CEO and founder of YAP Media, a social media and podcast marketing agency catering to top podcasters, celebrities, and CEOs. Taha is the host of the Young and Profiting (YAP) Podcast, which is ranked as the #1 education podcast across all apps, earning her the moniker "The Podcast Princess." The podcast has garnered significant acclaim, being honored as a 2022 Webby Honoree and featuring interviews with distinguished personalities such as Matthew McConaughey, Seth Godin, and Mark Manson. Taha's expertise spans marketing, social media, personal branding, side hustles, entrepreneurship, and podcasting, reflecting her multifaceted and influential presence in the digital media landscape. Additionally, YAP Media, under her leadership, has emerged as an award-winning social media marketing agency and podcast network, focusing on platforms such as LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube, and providing podcast production services for high-profile clients.
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- Eccie Newton
Eccie Newton is the co-founder of Karma Kitchen, a British startup that builds commercial kitchens with co-working and storage spaces. She founded the company in 2018 with her sister Gini Newton after struggling to find kitchen space for their first business, Karma Cans, a corporate catering company that delivers salads to offices. Karma Kitchen aims to provide space for food businesses to grow without the constraints of traditional kitchen spaces. The company's innovative approach involves creating communal eating cultures and providing facilities for food businesses to flourish. The company has secured £250 million in funding to extend its operations across Europe and plans to build close to 20 facilities with up to 50 kitchens in each over the next five years. Newton attended the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and earned a Master of Science (MS) in Terrorism and Conflict.
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