Raising capital for a startup isn't always easy, especially early on. And studies have shown that raising capital can be even more difficult for female founders. There are several potential reasons for the gap, including a relative lack of women who invest in startups, but it's a real issue. That makes the women who do manage to raise significant capital even more impressive, and worth spotlighting. Here's our roundup of the DMV startups founded by women that have managed to raise some serious cash as they grow their companies.
Jess Gartner, Allovue - $6.9M
Allovue is a Baltimore-based edtech startup designed to help school districts plan out resource use to better serve students. Jess Gartner founded the company in 2013, and it now offers a platform that collects and analyzes finiancial data to help principals and other administrators make the best decisions in spending the education budget.The company's most recent funding was a $51. million Series A round led by Rethink Education in December, 2015.
Susan Tynan, Framebridge - $20.5M
Framebridge is a custom framing startup that streamlines the process online to limit the time and cost of the traditional method. Susan Tynan founded the company in 2014 after time spent as an executive at LivingSocial. She's raised money quickly, most recently a $9 million round led by SWaN & Legend Venture Partners and including previous investors New Enterprise Associates and Revolution Ventures.
Ximena Hartsock, Phone2Action - $5.25M
Phone2Action runs a digital communications platform for advocacy that streamlines the process of connecting people with elected officials on behalf of its client organizations. Ximena Hartsock co-founded the Arlington-based company in 2012, offering client a way of boosting presences on social media and analyzing the data it collects for those organizations. The startup closed $4.7 million Series A funding round in July, after last raising a $600,000 seed round back in 2013.
Melissa Hunfalvay, RightEye - $2.1M
RightEye uses advanced sensor technology and software to create eye tests that can evaluate and even offer therapy for concussions, attention deficit disorder and other medical conditions. Melissa Hunfalvay co-founded the Bethesda-based company in 2012, launching the first eye-tracking test kit this January and closed a $2.11 million round in March from unknown investors.
Anne Balduzzi, SameGrain - $1.55M
Social media app startup SameGrain, is built around the idea of connecting people using millions of potential shared data points while ensuring privacy. Anne Balduzzi founded the Baltimore-based company in 2011 and has raised four seed rounds, most recently an $825,000 round in November, 2014. The company is currently raising a $2 million round.
Donna and Rosy Khalife, Surprise Ride - $2.2M
Kids activity box startup Surprise Ride sends subscribers a differently themed package every month with a new set of puzzles, games, healthy snacks and other goodies. Sisters Donna and Rosy Khalife founded the company in 2012 and remain based in D.C. After pitching on ABC's Shark Tank in late 2013, they eventually accepted a $50,000 investment from judge Kevin O'Leary earlier this year. Around the same time, the company closed a $2 million seed round.
Dale Pfeifer, GoodWorld - $2.63M
Social enterprise startup GoodWorld lets users make direct donation to partner charities via a hashtag on social media. Dale Pfeifer founded the company in 2014 and runs it out of tech incubator 1776. GoodWorld most recently scooped $485,000 in funding from Washington, D.C.'s Innovation Finance Fund to match the same amount from its initial seed in early 2015 and adding the $1.65 million raised in a seed round led by Nyca Partners in July, 2015.
