LAST WEEK, WE featured a list of young male international and Irish entrepreneurs who are shaking things up on the tech circuit.
This week, we have an all-female list, featuring some big hitters but also some names who will be making waves in the future.
Watch out for them.
USA: Elizabeth Holmes, Theranos (31)
Holmes is the CEO of Theranos, which she founded at the age of 19. This innovative and smart blood test company is now valued at over $10 billion, and Holmes is now the youngest self-made billionaire on the 2014 Forbes 400 list.
USA: Julia Hartz, Eventbrite (35)
President of Eventbrite, an online ticket selling agent (founded by Hartz, husband Kevin and Renaud Visage), Hartz is responsible for the company’s in-house strategy and growth, as well as sustaining its 500-strong team of ‘Britelings’ and ensuring the company culture remains award-winning.
At Eventbrite, you’ll find 45% female staff and 50% executive staff.
Canada: Heather Payne (27)
The founder of HackerYou and Ladies Learning Code, Payne is spreading the message about coding and investment in a very inspiring way. Not one to rest on her laurels, she’s also an angel investor. “If I can do it, you can do it,” she says.
Kenya: Jamila Abass, Susan Eve, Linda Kwamboka
These three women founded MFarm, which Forbes describes as ”a mobile software solution that connects Kenyan farmers with farm produce consumers in urban and export markets via SMS“. MFarm won a €10,000 investment in the IPO48 competition for tech start-ups.
Jamila works on the apps side of things, Susan is the COO and Linda is in charge of product development and marketing.
Norway: Hanna Aase, Wonderloop
Aase created this invite-only video profile network, helping people create videos to network, connect, and spread their message in a new way. She launched her first social media company at 24.
“To start your own business you have to realise that sacrifices have to [be] made to do so, or you don’t want it enough,” she tells women. Interestingly, she even finalised funding over Snapchat.
Ireland: Cristina Luminea (28), Thoughtbox
Luminea is Founder and CEO of Thoughtbox, a product based “on the very simple notion of letting your imagination run wild with a cardboard box”. The company aims to make learning fun for kids, and in order to make its games free to children, it partners with brands and NGOs to help build and distribute them.
USA: Jessica Mah, inDinero
Started a small company? Need to look after the financial side of things, but need help? That’s where Mah’s company steps in. Its all about running the back-office side of things, but easily.
Ireland: Iseult Ward and Aoibheann O’Brien, Foodcloud
Ever wonder what happens to the food left over in places like restaurants and delis – and if it’s just getting chucked in the bin?
This quandary inspired these two women to set up the not-for-profit Foodcloud, which lets businesses redistribute their surplus food to community groups who then use the food to help people in need. Their idea saves food, waste, and CO2 emissions, while helping those in need.
England: Kathryn Parsons, Decoded (33)
Parsons founded Decoded because, much like Payne, she wanted to help people learn to code. The digital learning company trains people with no knowledge of computer programming how to code in just day. It also teaches people how to build an app, and Parsons says that the company is out to “demystify” coding
China: Zhou Qunfei, Lens Technology (45)
Qunfei is older than most of the other people on this list, but she’s truly a tech inspiration. This Chinese entrepreneur left school at 15 and became a migrant worker, but took part-time university courses. She went on to establish Lens Technology in 1993, and now has a net worth of $10 billion. You’ll see her company’s glass on the new Apple Watches (she already works with Apple, Samsung, and Huawei).
Emer, Kate and Aoibheann O’Daly, Love and Robots
3D printing is relatively new, but it has already been harnessed to great effect by the O’Dalys, founders of Love & Robots. Their site offers a range of unique and personalised gifts, many of which are created using 3d printing. Every item is custom-made in Dublin, using high-quality materials.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
have your say