Inc.’s eighth annual Female Founders list highlights the nation’s top business leaders who challenge the status quo to tackle some of the world’s biggest problems

Christie Horvath, CEO and founder of Wagmo, has been named to the eighth annual Female Founders list by Inc., the leading media brand and playbook for the entrepreneurs and business leaders shaping our future. Inc.’s Female Founders list honors a bold group of 500 women whose innovations and ideas are leading their industries forward. These resilient entrepreneurs expressed grit and drive to collectively attract approximately $9 billion in 2024 revenue and $10.6 billion in funding.

Each year, Inc. editors review thousands of applications highlighting female founders who are challenging the status quo and tackling some of the world’s biggest problems, and cull applicants through three rounds of judging, looking specifically at an entrepreneur’s bona fides in the past year. Criteria include quantifiable metrics such as revenue, sales, revenue growth, funding, and audience size. Inc. also looks for qualitative metrics including social media momentum and stories of impact.

“I’m proud to be part of Inc.’s 2025 Female Founders 500 List among so many other inspirational women and share this honor with my incredible team,” said Christie Horvath, CEO and founder of Wagmo, a pet healthcare company. “I founded Wagmo with a mission to inspire and empower responsible pet parenting. Today, we’re redefining pet care benefits by providing employers with flexible, easy-to-implement plans that pet parents love. These accomplishments would not have been possible without the support of the Wagmo team, who are committed to improving the lives of pets and their owners.”

The founders cross all industries and bring with them unique stories of success from each stage of the entrepreneurial journey — from startup to going public, being acquired by big buyers, or spending decades at the helm of an organization.

In 2017, Christie Horvath founded Wagmo, combining her passion for animals with a deep understanding of insurance. A Harvard Business School MBA and Northwestern University economics graduate, she began her career in the financial institutions group at BlackRock before launching Wagmo, her first company.

"Female founders know what struggle is, but they’re also experts of improvisation, adaptability, and creativity. The women featured on this year’s list exemplify these qualities. Through times of uncertainty, their unwavering dedication and steadfast leadership are not only inspiring but vital to driving progress," said Inc. executive editor Diana Ransom.

Several honorees will be featured in Inc. magazine’s Female Founders issue, on newsstands March 18, 2025. To see the complete list of honorees, please visit: https://www.inc.com/female-founders

About Inc.

Inc. is the leading media brand and playbook for the entrepreneurs and business leaders shaping our future. Through its journalism, Inc. aims to inform, educate, and elevate the profile of its community: the risk-takers, the innovators, and the ultra-driven go-getters who are creating the future of business. Inc. is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with fellow leading business publication Fast Company. For more information, visit www.inc.com.

About Wagmo

Wagmo is redefining pet care benefits by providing employers with flexible, easy-to-implement plans that pet parents love. With a mission to inspire and empower responsible pet parenting, Wagmo is committed to improving the lives of pets and their owners. Wagmo was founded in 2017 and is the only female-founded and operated pet wellness company in the market. Visit Wagmo.io or follow us on LinkedIn to learn more.

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