Meet the 21 startups cofounded by women that reached unicorn status in 2019, hitting a valuation of $1 billion or more
- A record 4,399 investments were made in female-founded startups in 2019, according to new data from All Raise and Pitchbook.
- The funding helped boost a record number of startups with at least one female cofounders to unicorn status in 2019, meaning that they hit a valuation of $1 billion or more.
- Here are the 21 startups with female cofounders that hit valuations over $1 billion in 2019.
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A record 4,399 investments were made in female-founded startups in 2019, according to new data from All Raise and Pitchbook. That's a 500% increase from the number of investments made in 2009.
Admittedly, that number takes on a different meaning when compared relative to the entire venture capital landscape. As Axios points out, only 16% of total venture funding went toward women last year - down from 18% in 2018.
In fact, a new Crunchbase report shows that women consistently receive less funding at all rounds - while male-only founders raised $195 billion in 2019, female-only founded companies raised just $6 billion. Companies with founding teams consisting of both men and women did better, raising $20.9 billion in total.
But some blockbuster funding rounds helped usher in an unprecedented number of companies with at least one female co-founder into the "unicorn club," the report says. That, in itself, is viewed with optimism by some female investors in Silicon Valley.
"What I love about the female-founded unicorns that have emerged this year is what incredible role models they are for the entrepreneurs of tomorrow. From Rent the Runway to Glossier, these founders are setting examples that will inspire the next generation," Inspired Capital founder Alexa von Tobel told Business Insider's Megan Hernbroth at the end of last year.
We took a look at the Crunchbase data to see what startups had made that elite club, and who its founders are.
These are the 21 companies that are being hailed as trailblazers for women in tech: