The Rise of Women Entrepreneurs: Innovation and AI in 2024

A New Era of Female Founders

A seismic shift is happening in the entrepreneurial world. Women are starting businesses at record rates, driving innovation and reshaping industries. A 2025 Gusto survey reveals that women launched a staggering 49% of new businesses in 2024 – a remarkable 69% increase from 2019. This surge signifies not just a trend, but a transformation, highlighting the growing ambition and influence of women in business.

Empowerment Through Entrepreneurship

Fanny Tristan, founder and CEO of Her Soul Supply, embodies this empowering trend. Initially launching her therapy practice in 2020, Tristan witnessed increased demand as the focus on mental health, especially for Black women, intensified. However, as business slowed in 2023, Tristan sought diversification. Recognizing a need for support among single women of color, she launched Her Soul Supply in 2024. This wellness coaching business offers education, travel, and community, fostering personal growth and empowerment.

Her expansion into a new venture highlights a common theme: the entrepreneurial drive to address unmet needs and empower communities.

Navigating the Challenges of Startup Life

The entrepreneurial journey, while rewarding, is fraught with challenges. Gusto's survey pinpoints time management and cash flow as major hurdles. Balancing business demands with other commitments is a constant struggle, especially for women who may also face disparities in accessing funding.

Mukarram Igamberdieva and her daughter Mohina Abdullaeva, founders of World Network NYC, understand these complexities firsthand. While Igamberdieva works as a financial consultant and Abdullaeva studies at Baruch College, they launched their part-time business connecting Central Asian travelers with cultural events and real estate opportunities in the US. Balancing these multiple roles requires meticulous planning and resourcefulness.

"Balancing time, work, business, and personal life can be overwhelming," Igamberdieva admits. "[I] create a strict schedule, prioritize tasks, and automate or delegate where possible."

Abdullaeva adds, "I think one of the biggest challenges has been getting the funding necessary to kickstart and serve as many clients as possible," further highlighting the financial obstacles new ventures face.

The AI Revolution: Powering Business Growth

Amid these challenges, a powerful tool is emerging: Artificial Intelligence. Gusto's research reveals that nearly half of new businesses are leveraging AI, streamlining operations and boosting productivity. This technology is democratizing the business landscape, enabling startups to compete with established corporations.

LaTecia Johnson, founder and CEO of INGENIUS, exemplifies this AI-driven revolution. Her platform empowers brands and creators to manage media campaigns and optimize partnerships, harnessing the power of AI to analyze complex data.

"AI allows us to now process this data pretty quickly, and it gets really insightful about the processing of that data," Johnson explains. "So what we like to say at INGENIUS is that we get people 80% of the way there, and the 20% that is remaining is that human element that simply can't be replaced."

Johnson’s success in raising $2 million in pre-seed funding underscores the increasing recognition of AI's transformative potential.

A Future Forged by Female Founders

The convergence of rising female entrepreneurship and the power of AI is shaping a dynamic future for business. The stories of these women demonstrate the resilience, innovation, and determination driving this exciting new era. Their journeys, filled with both challenges and triumphs, serve as an inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs and a testament to the power of women in business.