5 tech companies founded by women
The tech and software industry has long been male-dominated, with women making up a significantly smaller percentage of the workforce, particularly in leadership roles. Studies from 2022 show that women comprised only 28% of the tech workforce, with just 5% holding leadership positions.
Despite the need for greater workplace diversity, many women have broken barriers to build some of the most innovative and successful companies in the world. These trailblazers have not only transformed the tech industry but are also paving the way for future generations of women in technology.
Here are five notable tech companies founded by women that have reshaped their respective industries:
1. Bumble: Whitney Wolfe Herd
Whitney Wolfe Herd has one of the most inspiring female founder stories!
Before launching the dating app Bumble in 2014, Wolfe Herd was a co-founder and the VP of Marketing at Tinder. She was responsible for the app’s iconic name, inspired by the flame logo and the idea of tinder – an easily combustible material used to start fires. However, in 2014, she resigned from Tinder and filed a lawsuit against the company for sexual harassment and discrimination, which was later settled.
This experience led her to create Bumble, a dating app where women make the first move. Wolfe Herd designed the platform to provide a safer space for women in online dating, addressing the frustrations that often arise when men initiate conversations.
By the end of its first few years, Bumble had generated $10 million in revenue in 2016, $100 million in 2017, and $190 million in 2018. Today, Bumble is valued at over $1 billion, making Whitney Wolfe Herd the world’s youngest self-made female billionaire.
2. Starling Bank: Anne Boden
After a 30-year career in financial services, Anne Boden founded Starling Bank in 2014. She set out to modernise banking after the 2008 credit crunch exposed the industry’s outdated systems. Rather than trying to reform traditional banks, Boden saw the best solution was to build a new one from scratch. She envisioned a bank where accounts could be opened in minutes instead of weeks, with instant spending notifications and 24/7 support.
Despite her expertise and groundbreaking approach to digital banking, Boden knew she didn’t fit the mould of the traditional industry:
After leaving Ireland and returning to the UK, Boden began her venture by reaching out to firms via email, seeking support to launch her new bank. After eight months of persistence, she convinced top firms to take on substantial work while also assembling a small team. By the end of 2015, Boden secured £48 million in backing from billionaire investor Harald McPike, and in July 2016, Starling received its banking license.
Anne Boden was awarded an MBE for services to financial technology in 2018. As of January 2024, Starling Bank was valued at approximately £1.5 billion, with around 4.2 million retail and business customer accounts.
3. Canva: Melanie Perkins
Before creating one of the world’s largest design platforms, Australian-born Melanie Perkins launched an online platform primarily for publishing yearbooks. At just 19 years old, Perkins noticed how difficult it was for her mother, a teacher, to create annual yearbooks. This inspired her to develop Fusion Books, a software that simplified the process.
Building on the success of Fusion Books, Perkins recognized a gap in the market for an all-in-one design platform accessible to everyone. After years of rejection, she and her team secured investment from American startup investor Bill Tai, who also introduced her to Lars Rasmussen, co-founder of Google Maps and Google Wave. Rasmussen eventually became Canva’s tech advisor.
Canva launched in 2013, co-founded by Melanie Perkins, Cliff Obrecht, and Cameron Adams. In 2023, Perkins was featured on Forbes’ billionaires list and was inducted into the 30 Under 30 Hall of Fame.
As of 2024, Canva boasts 130 million active users, with revenue rising to $2.7 billion.
4. TaskRabbit: Leah Busque
Just as Leah Busque and her husband were about to take a taxi to meet friends for dinner, they realised they had run out of dog food. After a back-and-forth discussion about the problem, Busque had a realisation:
A few months later, Leah Busque left her job at IBM to work full-time on her project, which eventually became TaskRabbit – an online marketplace connecting customers with people willing to complete small tasks and errands. After some experimentation, Busque realised her idea had strong potential, particularly among busy mothers.
The business launched with 100 “Taskers” in the Boston area but quickly expanded across the U.S. In 2013, TaskRabbit went global, entering the UK. The platform also introduced a bidding model, allowing Taskers to set their own rates and enabling companies to hire temporary workers.
In 2017, TaskRabbit was acquired by IKEA in a deal reportedly valued at around $50 million.
5. Eventbrite: Julia Hartz
After moving to the Bay Area to be closer to her husband, Julia Hartz and her partner, Kevin, decided to launch their own tech startup. Julia, who came from a media background, was drawn to the fast-evolving world of technology, while Kevin was a co-founder of the money transfer company Xoom.
Together, they identified a gap in the market for an easy-to-use, self-service ticketing system for event organisers.
After bringing on Renaud Visage as Chief Technology Officer, Eventbrite was born in 2006. In its early days, the small Eventbrite team relied on customer feedback to improve the platform in real-time. Since then, the company has grown rapidly, achieving major milestones such as ticketing a Black Eyed Peas concert in Central Park and helping an organizer sell $1 billion worth of tickets to an event in mid-2012.
In 2018, when the company went public, it was valued at $1.8 billion. Julia Hartz has since been recognised on Fortune’s 40 Under 40 business leaders list and named one of Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs.
