From tackling food waste to supply chain management, these companies are making a difference in their respective industries. In this article, we will take a closer look at five women-owned tech companies worth watching. We will explore the unique ways in which each company is using technology to address critical issues and make a positive impact on society.

By shining a spotlight on these companies, we hope to inspire others and demonstrate the power of technology to effect change.

1. Goodr: Food Waste Redefined

Goodr is a women-owned tech company that is revolutionizing the way we think about food waste and hunger. The company was founded by Jasmine Crowe, an award-winning entrepreneur, TED Speaker, and leader who is passionate about making the world a better place. Jasmine recognized that hunger is not a scarcity issue, but rather a logistics problem. By creating a solution that focuses on reducing waste and feeding more people, Goodr has become a leader in the fight against hunger.

Food insecurity is a pervasive problem in America. According to Feeding America, over 42 million Americans, including 13 million children, live in households that are food insecure. This means that they lack access to enough food to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle. At the same time, it is estimated that up to 40% of the food produced in the United States goes to waste. Goodr has tackled this problem by developing a logistics platform that connects food businesses with surplus food to non-profits that serve people in need.

Goodr's platform uses blockchain technology to track food donations and ensure that food is distributed efficiently and effectively. This innovative approach has led to remarkable results. Goodr has diverted over 3.5 million pounds of food from landfills and provided over 4 million meals to people experiencing food insecurity. Their work has been recognized with numerous awards, including the 2018 Google Demo Day winner and the 2019 United Nations Global Goalkeeper award.

Jasmine Crowe's leadership and vision have been instrumental in Goodr's success. Her passion for social entrepreneurship and her commitment to creating change has inspired others to get involved in the fight against hunger. Through Goodr, Jasmine has created a platform that is not only addressing food waste and food insecurity but is also raising awareness about these critical issues. Goodr is a company that is definitely worth watching, as it continues to grow and make a positive impact on our society.

2. Planet FWD: Reducing Company Carbon Footprints

Planet FWD is a women-owned tech company that is dedicated to helping other companies manage their carbon footprints and energy usage to create a more sustainable world. The company's mission is to empower the next generation of consumer products by making it easier for brands to improve their environmental impact and support a healthy planet. Planet FWD achieves this through its innovative software, which leverages technology to deliver actionable insights and help brands amplify their positive impact.

Energy waste is a major problem in America, with up to 61% of the energy used in the United States being wasted, according to the Department of Energy. This waste not only contributes to greenhouse gas emissions but also increases energy costs for businesses and consumers. By helping companies manage their energy usage and reduce waste, Planet FWD is playing a critical role in mitigating the effects of climate change.

Julia Collins, the founder of Planet FWD, is a serial entrepreneur who has a passion for sustainability and technology. Prior to founding Planet FWD, Julia co-founded Zume Pizza, a company that uses robots to make pizza and reduce food waste. Julia's experience in the tech industry and her commitment to sustainability have made her a leading voice in the fight against climate change. In 2019, Julia was named one of Fast Company's 100 Most Creative People in Business.

The team behind Planet FWD is made up of sustainability experts who are dedicated to making a positive impact on the planet. The company's software is designed to help brands build truly sustainable products by providing them with the insights and tools they need to reduce their environmental footprint. Through its innovative approach, Planet FWD is helping to create a more sustainable future for all of us.

3. Maro: Managing the Difficult-to-Discuss With Ease

Maro is a women-owned tech company that is dedicated to helping parents navigate tough conversations with their children. The company's mission is to create a world where children and parents feel comfortable talking about sensitive topics, such as sex education, mental health, and social justice. Maro achieves this by providing parents with expert advice, resources, and tools to facilitate these conversations.

Effective communication between parents and children is critical for healthy child development, yet many parents struggle to have these tough conversations. According to a survey conducted by the American Psychological Association, only 28% of parents feel comfortable discussing mental health with their children. Additionally, a study by Common Sense Media found that only 42% of parents feel comfortable discussing sex education with their children. These statistics highlight the need for tools and resources like Maro to help parents navigate these challenging conversations.

Lilly Mittenthal and Kenzie Butera Davis are the co-founders of Maro. Lilly is a former teacher who has experience working with children and adolescents in various settings. Kenzie is a former product manager at Google who has a passion for using technology to solve real-world problems. Together, they bring a unique set of skills and experiences to Maro.

The team behind Maro is made up of child development experts, educators, and technologists who are committed to creating a better future for children and families. The company's platform provides parents with personalized advice and resources tailored to their child's age, development, and needs. Maro's approach is not only helping parents have tough conversations but also helping to create a more open and accepting society.

4. Stimulus: Supply Chain Management Simplified

Stimulus is a women-owned tech company that offers a software platform for supply chain management and diversification. The platform provides companies with data insights and relationship-building tools to make the best purchasing decisions while optimizing and growing their supplier network. According to a report by Accenture, 94% of Fortune 1000 companies experienced supply chain disruptions due to the pandemic. This highlights the importance of having a robust and diversified supply chain, which is where Stimulus comes in.

Stimulus helps companies choose the right suppliers and fulfill their business objectives by utilizing location-based and diversity criteria to easily compare suppliers. The platform leverages data from internal and external sources to increase visibility, enhance decision-making, and promote communication of supplier utilization. This allows teams to avoid risks and lower costs by identifying opportunities and disruptions across the supply chain in real time.

The founder of Stimulus is Tiffanie Stanard, a seasoned entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience in the tech industry. Stanard is passionate about using technology to solve complex business problems, and she founded Stimulus to help companies overcome supply chain challenges. The team behind Stimulus is made up of experienced professionals in the tech industry, with a strong focus on diversity and inclusion.

Stimulus is a diverse and empowering tech company that is making a difference in the world of supply chain management. With its innovative platform and data-driven approach, the company is helping businesses to optimize their supplier network and reduce risks. Stimulus is definitely a company to watch in the coming years-especially considering their new internship program, Supply and Demand webinar series, and partnerships with Microsoft and Salesforce.

5. Mighty Networks: Networking With Heart

Mighty Networks is a women-owned tech company that is changing the way people network and communicate. The platform provides brands with customized websites, online courses, and sub-groups, allowing them to create a personalized online community. According to a study by Pew Research Center, 72% of adults use social media, with Facebook being the most popular platform. However, many people are increasingly concerned about privacy and security on these platforms, which is where Mighty Networks comes in.

Mighty Networks is a powerful alternative to traditional social media platforms, providing users with a more private and personalized online community. The platform is designed to foster engagement and collaboration, creating a sense of belonging for users. With Mighty Networks, brands can build a community around their products or services, which can lead to increased brand loyalty and sales.

Gina Bianchini is the founder and CEO of Mighty Networks, and she has a track record of success in the tech industry. Prior to Mighty Networks, she co-founded Ning, another custom content creation platform that attracted 100 million users within its first three years. Bianchini's experience in the tech industry has helped her to build a platform that is both innovative and user-friendly.

The team behind Mighty Networks is made up of experienced professionals in the tech industry, with a strong focus on diversity and inclusion. The company's mission is to empower brands to create meaningful communities that make a positive impact on people's lives. With its innovative approach to networking and communication, Mighty Networks is a women-owned tech company worth watching.

In conclusion, these five women-owned tech companies are making a significant impact in their respective industries by leveraging technology to solve some of the world's most pressing issues. From reducing food waste to empowering sustainable brands, navigating tough conversations, and promoting supply chain diversification, these companies are paving the way for a more sustainable, equitable, and connected future.

By focusing on innovation and social responsibility, these companies demonstrate that technology can be a powerful force for good in the world. As we continue to face unprecedented challenges, it is inspiring to see these women-owned tech companies leading the way toward a brighter future. We can only hope that more women-led companies will emerge in the tech industry and continue to drive meaningful change.

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Just as digital transformation brings business operations to new levels of efficiency and accuracy, it can do the same for compliance. Here are five such areas in which technology is modernizing regulatory compliance today.

Clarifying Regulations

Regulatory wording must be precise enough to eliminate loopholes yet open enough not to discourage innovation. This verbiage must also be consistent and easy to understand. Natural language processing (NLP), a subset of artificial intelligence (AI) that can analyze and process human language, can help.

NLP algorithms can identify and correct inconsistent language, clarifying regulations. Similarly, it can look for outdated language and update them for a modern audience, making it easier to understand. Over time, these analytics could reveal how regulatory language is changing, guiding faster, more accurate updates in the future.

Improving Accuracy

Leading companies today now use analytical instruments to test products and ensure they meet any relevant regulations. Relying on technology instead of manual checks removes risks associated with human error. A human compliance officer may get distracted or bored, leading them to miss details, but machines don't have this issue.

As sensor technologies advance, they can offer more granular insight into a product or operation, too. These more detailed readings can help businesses and regulators alike understand why some issues arise, guiding more effective action.

Streamlining Compliance Checks

In addition to making compliance checks more accurate, new technologies perform them faster. Manual checks may involve interrupting a process to measure a sample or observe operations, hindering productivity. Internet of things (IoT) sensors eliminate that concern by enabling continuous wireless monitoring.

IoT sensors can continually gather data and transmit it wirelessly to any relevant sources, providing insight without stopping operations. This real-time remote monitoring could let regulatory bodies check compliance without being physically present, if necessary. These agencies would then be able to check more facilities in the same timeframe and do so with minimal disruption.

Fighting Fraud

Meeting some regulations is a matter of reward, not requirement, which introduces the risk of fraud. For example, sustainable companies can receive government tax benefits, possibly leading some businesses to make fraudulent claims to lessen their tax liability. Remote monitoring technology and blockchains can reduce these concerns.

IoT compliance systems can send data directly to regulatory authorities, reducing the risk that companies could've tampered with the information beforehand. Blockchains, which record data in transparent, unchangeable digital ledgers, would further improve visibility. Tampering with a blockchain record is virtually impossible, so recording regulatory compliance this way would reduce fraud.

Guiding Future Changes

As companies seek to implement new changes to their workflows, they must ensure they meet regulatory requirements. Predictive analytics, another subset of AI, can highlight early risk indicators, predicting how a given change might affect companies‘ compliance status. Consequently, businesses can plan strategic shifts and advancements more effectively.

Similarly, these algorithms could analyze risk factors to suggest how companies could shift to meet new certifications or regulations. This guidance would minimize disruption as businesses look to improve their industry standings. Alternatively, regulators could use similar programs to analyze how businesses are evolving to guide new standards.

Technology Makes Compliance Easier for All Parties

Historically, regulatory compliance has been a complicated process for both companies and regulators. These technologies make it easier for both sides, improving efficiency, accuracy and transparency. As technologies like the IoT, AI and blockchain become more common, compliance will meet the needs of a digitally-driven, more agile world.

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