30 products everyone loves that come from female-founded startups
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The startup ecosystem is not known to be particularly friendly toward women. Earlier this year, TechCrunch reported that only 17% of the 43,008 venture-funded companies in its directory CrunchBase have at least one female founder. It's a disappointing figure, but it reminds us that the only way to go from here is up.
A growing number of women are successfully breaking through barriers to bring innovative ideas and quality products to the market. As I learned about their stories, I was struck by how different and perhaps, even more compelling, how similar they were.
Many of these founders left their jobs at large and established corporations to pursue the rigorous, but rewarding journey of entrepreneurship. They faced countless struggles and experienced satisfying triumphs in the process of bringing innovation to their respective industries. They are mothers, wives, friends, colleagues, and classmates who are driven by the problems experienced by themselves, their peers, and their loved ones to create better solutions.
We've highlighted 30 female-founded companies below that inspire us to solve problems, create, and support other women.
Jen Rubio and Steph Korey: Away Travel
Luggage is the last thing you'd expect people to get excited about, but cofounders Jen Rubio and Steph Korey made it happen with their luggage company Away. Both Rubio and Korey are former Warby Parker heads, and Korey was a consultant for mattress startup Casper, and they sought to bring the same direct-to-consumer excitement and success to the luggage space.
Their passion for travel and e-commerce is evident: In the beginning, they dug deep and interviewed hundreds of travelers to learn everything about how and why they travel, and ultimately translated their insights into lightweight, yet durable pieces of luggage that are much more affordable than high-end brands.
Though it only launched in 2016, Away is already a celebrity staple and has landed partnerships with big names like West Elm.
Shop carry-ons and other suitcases and travel accessories at Away.
Melissa Mash, Deepa Gandhi, and Jessy Dover: Dagne Dover
Dagne Dover is the women's handbag company we can't stop talking about — they just get work bags, weekend bags, and backpacks so right. Cofounders Melissa Mash, Deepa Gandhi, and Jessy Dover are now the CEO, COO, and creative director, respectively, of the company that is holding its own against Coach, Michael Kors, Kate Spade, and Tory Burch for the attentions of workingwomen.
The founders come from UPenn's Wharton School and the Parsons School of Design and have retail experience from Coach and Club Monaco, backgrounds that certainly translated into their stylish and functional bag business.
Shop totes, pouches, wallets, and other bags at Dagne Dover.
Cynthia Salim: Citizen's Mark
While working in the UN community in Geneva, founder Cynthia Salim noticed it was difficult to find high-quality women's workwear. Her socially responsible clothing brand Citizen's Mark makes tailored Italian wool blazers for the modern professional woman and strives to change the way the fashion industry views workingwomen.
Salim was named to Forbes' 30 Under 30 list earlier this year and has received recognition from the World Policy Institute for her work in sustainability.
Shop Citizen's Mark's inaugural collection of blazers.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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