Pro Tem and First Partner Celebrate Women Founders Moving California Forward
What you need to know: 11 California women founders were honored on the Senate floor to exemplify their leadership in business. Their work in numerous sectors is helping to drive the 4th largest economy in the world and is inspiring the next generation.
SACRAMENTO – Today, pro Tempore Monique Limón and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, in partnership with the F5 Collective, recognized eleven women who embody leadership and the entrepreneurial spirit of the state. As California continues its long legacy as the innovation center of the county, these leaders have expanded economic opportunities for women across all industries, setting an example for what it means to be a entrepreneur in this state.
I am proud to recognize these eleven women for the incredible work they do in their respective fields and for their immense contributions to California. They highlight the importance of supporting women in the workforce and are a proof point that when you invest in women, they will in invest in our state. We must continue to have women at the table to ensure our experiences, knowledge, and expertise are heard and valued.
Senate President pro Tempore Monique Limón
Supporting businesswomen in California means supporting the health of the economy. According to The California Chamber of Commerce, women currently own nearly 40% of all businesses in California, adding about $580 billion in revenue between 2019 and 2023. Across the country, women who hold a position in management or leadership result in 21% more profitability for that business. Despite these positive numbers, there is still work to be done. Women make up an overwhelming majority of people who hold an administrative position in artificial intelligence without the economic background to upskill. Investing in women and allowing them to climb the ladder in the workplace benefits employers, businesses, and the state.
California’s greatest strength has always been our people, and today’s honorees represent the bold, innovative spirit of women entrepreneurs across our state. By investing in more women-led businesses and entrepreneurs – and through the leadership of our California Women’s Wealth Advisory Council – we can unlock opportunity for more innovative ideas, close the women’s wealth gap, and strengthen California’s innovation economy for generations to come.
First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom
The First Partner launched California Women’s Wealth Advisory Council last year to help increase financial opportunities for women throughout the Golden State with the goal of closing the wealth gap. This work is key to helping women build capital and strengthen our communities.
The F5 Collective shares a similar mission of closing the gap by connecting small to mid-sized women-owned businesses to critical funding. 10% of profits made by businesses who utilize F5 goes toward grants for women-owned businesses across the world.
“Today, we don’t just honor eleven remarkable women. We honor a truth about California. The future is built here by people who choose to stay, who choose to build. While some headlines talk about departure, these women remind us why the world still arrives here. Creativity, audacity, resilience, and a belief that change starts now, and starts here."
Kelly Kimball, Founder and Managing Partner of F5 Collective
WOMEN FOUNDERS RECOGNIZED
Dr. Iman Abuzeid: CEO and co-founder of Incredible Health, the nation's largest AI-powered healthcare hiring platform, serving more than 1.5 million healthcare professionals and 1,500 employers.
Beatriz Acevedo: CEO and co-founder of SUMA Wealth, a fintech company using culturally intelligent technology to help the next generation build financial confidence and long-term wealth
Andrea Brimmer: Founder and CEO of Rivida, an agricultural technology company developing NASA-licensed technology that converts agricultural wastewater into clean irrigation water while recovering usable nitrogen.
Anna Cheniuntai: Co-founder and CEO of Apis Cor, a construction technology company using proprietary 3D-printing robotics to build homes faster, more affordably, and with less waste.
Lisa Curtis: Founder and CEO of Kuli Kuli Foods, the company that introduced moringa to the U.S. market while creating sustainable income opportunities for farming communities in West Africa.
Dr. Lisa Dyson: Founder and CEO of Air Protein, a California company developing breakthrough technologies that transform carbon into sustainable protein.
Sharon Healy: CEO of Sightglass Coffee, where she leads strategy, operations, and growth for one of California's premier specialty coffee companies.
Jade Marcus: CEO and co-founder of Mafix, a climate technology company developing next-generation fertilizers that improve soil health, increase crop yields, and remove carbon from the atmosphere.
Robin McIntosh: Co-founder and CEO of Avela Health, a neurodiversity-focused healthcare company delivering evidence-based, family-centered care for autism and ADHD.
Michelle Ruiz: Founder and CEO of Hyfé, a California company converting agricultural waste into high-value ingredients and chemicals that improve human health and reduce reliance on petroleum.
Joanna Strober: CEO and co-founder of Midi Health, a virtual care platform transforming menopause and perimenopause care through insurance-covered specialty healthcare.