Whitney Wolfe Herd led Bumble's historic IPO, Julia Hartz navigated Eventbrite through the pandemic, Anne Wojcicki advanced genomics with 23andMe, Leah Busque Solivan shifted from TaskRabbit to venture capital, Adi Tatarko grew Houzz into a global platform, Reshma Saujani founded Girls Who Code and advocates for mothers, Michelle Zatlyn enhanced internet security with Cloudflare, Limor Fried empowers DIY enthusiasts with Adafruit, Anne-Marie Imafidon promotes gender diversity in STEM, and Tracy Chou tackles tech's diversity issues with Block Party.
Where Are They Now? Following the Journey of Women Who've Led Tech Startups to Success
Whitney Wolfe Herd led Bumble's historic IPO, Julia Hartz navigated Eventbrite through the pandemic, Anne Wojcicki advanced genomics with 23andMe, Leah Busque Solivan shifted from TaskRabbit to venture capital, Adi Tatarko grew Houzz into a global platform, Reshma Saujani founded Girls Who Code and advocates for mothers, Michelle Zatlyn enhanced internet security with Cloudflare, Limor Fried empowers DIY enthusiasts with Adafruit, Anne-Marie Imafidon promotes gender diversity in STEM, and Tracy Chou tackles tech's diversity issues with Block Party.
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Whitney Wolfe Herd Bumbles Queen Bee
After founding Bumble in 2014 and taking it public with a historic IPO in February 2021, Whitney Wolfe Herd became one of the youngest female tech CEOs to lead a company to go public. As of 2023, she continues to influence the technology and dating industry as Bumble's CEO, advocating for women's empowerment and ensuring that female voices are heard in the tech sector. Under her leadership, Bumble keeps innovating in the online dating sphere, maintaining its commitment to creating a safer and more respectful platform for its users. ### 2. Julia Hartz: Continuing to Elevate Eventbrite Julia Hartz, co-founder of Eventbrite, has led the company since its inception in 2006. After steering the company through its IPO in 2018, she remains at the helm as CEO, navigating the challenging waters of the event industry, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Julia has successfully pivoted Eventbrite to support virtual events and ensured its position as a leading platform for event organization and ticketing. Her focus on resilience and innovation secures Eventbrite's place in a rapidly changing market. ### 3. Anne Wojcicki: Pioneering Personal Genomics with 23andMe Since co-founding 23andMe in 2006, Anne Wojcicki has been a trailblazer in making personal genetic information accessible to the public. As CEO, she continues to push the boundaries of genomics and biotechnology, raising awareness about genetic health and predispositions. Under her direction, 23andMe has evolved beyond genetic testing for ancestry into a research hub, partnering with pharmaceutical giants to leverage genetic data for drug discovery and precision medicine. ### 4. Leah Busque Solivan: From TaskRabbit to Fuel Capital Leah Busque Solivan founded TaskRabbit and transformed the way gig economy platforms operate. After successfully running the company and eventually selling it to IKEA in 2017, Leah has shifted her focus to venture capital. As a General Partner at Fuel Capital, she invests in early-stage startups, leveraging her extensive experience to support the next generation of entrepreneurs, particularly focusing on those who aim to create socially impactful solutions in the technology space. ### 5. Adi Tatarko: Revolutionizing Home Renovation with Houzz Adi Tatarko, co-founder and CEO of Houzz, has led the company from a side project to a global platform that transforms home renovation and design. Since its start in 2009, Houzz has become the go-to resource for homeowners, designers, and contractors alike. Under Adi's leadership, Houzz continues to expand its marketplace, offering innovative tools and resources that streamline the home renovation process, making it more efficient and enjoyable for all stakeholders involved. ### 6. Reshma Saujani: From Girls Who Code to Marshall Plan for Moms Reshma Saujani founded Girls Who Code in 2012, addressing the gender gap in technology professions. After inspiring countless young women to pursue STEM fields, Reshma launched the Marshall Plan for Moms in 2021, advocating for policies to support mothers in the workforce. She remains a vocal advocate for women's rights and economic empowerment, pushing for systemic changes to help moms re-enter the workforce, access affordable childcare, and achieve pay equity. ### 7. Michelle Zatlyn: Securing the Internet with Cloudflare As co-founder and COO of Cloudflare, Michelle Zatlyn has played a crucial role in shaping the internet's safety and efficiency. Under her leadership, Cloudflare has become an indispensable service for millions of websites, protecting them from cyber threats and ensuring they run smoothly. Even after Cloudflare's IPO in 2019, Michelle continues to lead innovative projects within the company, focusing on internet security solutions and democratic access to web infrastructure. ### 8. Limor Fried: Advancing DIY Electronics with Adafruit Industries Founded by Limor Fried in 2005, Adafruit Industries has been at the forefront of the DIY electronics movement, providing tools, resources, and kits for electronic hobbyists of all levels. As an MIT engineer and a passionate advocate for open-source hardware, Limor continues to inspire and support the maker community. Through Adafruit, she empowers individuals to learn coding and electronics, fostering innovation and creativity among DIY enthusiasts worldwide. ### 9. Anne-Marie Imafidon: Strengthening STEMettes and Beyond After co-founding STEMettes in 2013, a social enterprise supporting young women in STEM fields, Anne-Marie Imafidon has continued her efforts to bridge the gender gap in technology and engineering. Her work extends beyond STEMettes, participating in various initiatives and platforms to promote diversity in STEM professions. Anne-Marie's commitment to inspiring the next generation of female tech leaders remains unwavering as she advocates for inclusive and equitable opportunities in the tech industry. ### 10. Tracy Chou: Tackling Silicon Valley's Diversity with Block Party Tracy Chou, once a software engineer at tech giants like Pinterest and Quora, has become a prominent advocate for diversity and inclusion in the tech industry. In 2020, she founded Block Party, an app designed to combat online harassment and make social media a safer space for marginalized groups. Tracy's career evolution from an engineer to a social entrepreneur highlights her dedication to addressing systemic issues in the tech world, fostering safer and more inclusive online communities.
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