Top-Funded Female Entrepreneurs in San Diego
Ten women-led startups that have raised millions in venture capital.
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Founders,
Female entrepreneurs have raised 2 percent of total venture funding so far.
In San Diego, less than 10 percent of dollars go towards companies led by women.
Here’s a list of the top entrepreneurs that have raised venture funding locally.
Please enjoy this week’s breakdown.
A biotech company that specializes in making DNA sequencing devices.
Total funding raised in 2022: $401 million
Founder: Molly He
Notable investors: Janus Henderson Investors, Logos Capital, Meritech Capital Partners, Counterpoint Global, and T. Rowe Price, Foresite Capital, JS Capital Management LLC, RA Capital Management, and Venrock.
A life science company developing point-of care blood testing technology.
Total funding raised in 2022: $134.1 million
Founder: Dena Marrinucci
Notable investors: GreatPoint Ventures, Domain Associates, DNS Capital, Tao Capital, TYH Ventures, 7WireVentures, Wittington Ventures, General Catalyst, GreatPoint Ventures, DNS Capital, and Wasson Enterprise.
#3 Equip Health
A digital-health startup that provides family-based treatment to adolescents.
Total funding raised in 2022: $74.7 million
Founder: Kristina Saffran
Notable investors: Tiger Global, General Catalyst, 406 Ventures, The Chernin Group, F-Prime, Optum Ventures, Alex Morgan, and Katie Couric Media.
A direct-to-consumer startup which sells natural products with coconut oil sourced from the Philippines.
Total funding raised in 2022: $20 million
Founder: Kiana Cabell
Notable investors: Unilever Ventures, University Growth Fund, L Catterton, Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, Hilary Duff and Shay Mitchell.
#5 Luna DNA
A company that provides a platform for participants with certain conditions to share health information, including genetic and health history records.
Total funding raised in 2022: $11.4 million
Founder: Dawn Barry
Notable investors: F-Prime Capital, Illumina Ventures, RCH Venture Partners, Hemisphere Ventures, and Bridgelink Capital.
An insure-tech startup that taps artificial intelligence to project the dollars and cents financial risk of climate change.
Total funding raised in 2022: $9.5 million
Founder: Alisa Valderrama
Notable investors: Innovation Endeavors, MS&AD Ventures, Blackhorn Ventures.
A chemistry informatics company that serves the beauty industry.
Total funding raised in 2022: $7.29 million
Founder: Iva Teixeira
Notable investors: VMG Catalyst, Spark Growth Ventures, REDO Ventures, Capsum, John Heffner, Romain Gaillard and Andy Ballester.
#8 Dermala Inc.
A consumer dermatology company developing personalized microbiome-based solutions for acne and other skin conditions.
Total funding raised in 2022: $7.7 million
Founder: Lada Rasochova
Notable investors: Johnson & Johnson Innovation, True Wealth Ventures, Seventure Partners, and Cove Fund.
#9 Aquacycl
A startup developing wastewater treatment technology.
Total funding raised in 2022: $4 million
Founder: Orianna Bretschger
Notable investors: Mission Driven Finance, Plug and Play, JKS Ventures, Imagine H2O, Active Impact Investments, Plug & Play Topeka, Creative Destruction Lab, Unreasonable Group, SeedFolio.
#10 Sēkr
A platform which offers a mobile app for outdoor enthusiasts and campers.
Total funding raised in 2022: $2.25 million
Founder: Breanne Acio
Notable investors: Backstage Capital, Techstars, Ad Astra Ventures, Crescent Ridge Ventures and Andy Ballester.
In case you missed it
*This list was compiled leveraging Crunchbase’s data. The companies featured below are listed in order based on the highest total funding.
Amazing article. I wasn’t aware of these companies. Especially women-led.
The whole story as promised! Thanks, Fred.
These women are luminaries - we're lucky to have them here in San Diego, lighting the way for many more to follow.