Tech is a male-dominated space. Stats show that women occupy only 5% of CEO positions in tech companies, and only 28% of startups have a female founder.
That’s quite understandable, given that women find it harder than average to raise startup capital to launch their businesses. Things can even be harder for aspiring women entrepreneurs in minority communities.
All is not doom and gloom, though. With the rise of the internet and tech-powered funding solutions, it is easier to apply business loans for women from anywhere at any time.
This article lays five tech startups launched by women.
Five successful digital businesses created by women
Increasingly, women are refusing to languish in the shadows, and if you are an aspiring woman entrepreneur with a burning business idea in tech, you are not alone.
Below is a rundown of five digital businesses showing that women belong everywhere.
Eventbrite
Eventbrite is an online platform co-founded by Julia Hartz, a former TV employee with a degree in Telecommunication. The digital platform allows users to organize local events and buy/sell events tickets online.
Hartz is a celebrated woman in the technology field and has twice appeared on Fortune magazine’s list of 40 business leaders under 40. Today, Eventbrite employs 1000+ people and makes over $200 million in annual revenue.
Market Orders
MarketOrders is a B2B award-winning platform connecting retailers to independent jewelry manufacturers and suppliers worldwide.
Sukhi Jutla co-founded the company; she is a role model and promoter for the Women in Fintech Global Initiative.
The platform employs innovative technology to enable jewelry retailers to buy jewelry directly and seamlessly from international suppliers at the best prices.
Bumble
Bumble is a top dating app launched in 2014 by Whitney Wolfe Herd, a woman named on the TIME 100 list in April 2018.
Whitney created the app to help level the dating field and switch the world to the changing dynamics of dating. The app allows women to make the first move searching for their significant others. It also allows people to network, connect, and meet friends online.
Bumble hit 100K downloads in its first month and is currently ranked among the top downloaded lifestyle apps in the App Store. Over 55 million people use the app, and it has been valued at $1billion by Forbes.
Starling Bank
Starling Bank is a UK digital, mobile-only bank founded in 2014 by Anne Boden, a Computer Science and Chemistry graduate.
Boden recognized how technology could help transform the banking sector to serve customers and manage their money without visiting banking halls while working at Lloyds Bank.
She then started Starling, an industry-leading digital bank that has been voted Britain’s Best four years in a row. Today, the online bank boasts over 2.5 million customers, with a new account created every 38 seconds.
TaskRabbit
TaskRabbit is an online marketplace founded in 2008 by Leah Bosque. The platform focus on helping busy people find skilled taskers and laborers to run errands and accomplish odd jobs on their behalf.
The idea was born out of necessity when Leah and her husband went out for dinner and ran out of dog food. They couldn’t find or connect to anyone in the store to drop them some food.
And just like that, Leah created an online platform that has spread to 47 US states, 4 UK cities, and 1 Canadian city.
The IKEA app later acquired the platform, and over 60,000 workers use it for regular work.
Current business opportunities for women to create companies
Women are making it big in the small business ecosystem, thanks to the internet, eCommerce, advanced business technology, and the rise of alternative lenders.
Today, aspiring women entrepreneurs can easily access funding to pursue numerous business opportunities from the comfort of their homes.
So if you have been thinking about starting your own business in the digital space, there can never be a good time.
Below is a list of top industries for women entrepreneurs to create companies:
- Blogging
- App Development
- eCommerce Store
- Event Planning
- Digital Marketing agency
- Social media management
- Remote customer service
- Web Design
- Bookkeeping
- Personal assistant
- Freelance Writing
- Beauty
- Health and wellness
How to apply for business loans for women
In recent times, alternative lenders, government-backed programs, foundations, companies, and microfinance have matched to close the historic funding gap and make it easier for entrepreneurs to access grants and small business loans for women.
Top among them are fintech lenders that employ advanced tech to process business loans without systemic racism or gender bias issues. They offer accessible applications and faster funding.
Don’t fuss even if you’re a foreigner without proper identification documents, don’t fuss. A few online lenders offer ITIN loans to immigrant entrepreneurs without a social security number.
Visit the link in the intro to learn more about business loans for women and apply for one that fits your business needs.
