Inc. Names Joanne Jacobson to Its 2025 Female Founders 500 List
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
[Costa Mesa, Ca], March 11, 2025 – Inc., the leading media brand and playbook for the entrepreneurs and business leaders shaping our future, today announced its eighth annual Female Founders list, honoring 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.
Honoree selection is also honed through the evaluation of the program’s advisory board: Cate Luzio, founder and CEO of Luminary; Dany Garcia, founder, CEO, and chairperson of the Garcia Companies; Pinky Cole Hayes, founder and CEO of Slutty Vegan; Anu Duggal, founding partner at Female Founders Fund; Katherine Power, serial entrepreneur and partner at Greycroft; Tiffany Dufu, president of the Tory Burch Foundation and founder of the Cru; and Kay Koplovitz, co-founder and chair at Springboard Enterprises, founder of USA Network.
Jacobson shares that, “Rove was built on hustle, relationships, and an obsession with quality. For me, nothing compares to the energy I get from hitting the pavement with my amazing team. I'm proud of the products and the company we've built together, and so grateful for our incredible retail partners and customers who keep us innovating and thriving. I’m also happy to be among other cannabis industry members and see our industry gaining momentum within the greater business community”
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.
Throughout 2024, under Jacobson’s leadership, every new market launched quickly saw Rove become a top-ten seller within a matter of months. Using an in-person lead generation strategy that results in deep buyer relationships and open doors in new markets, Jacobson has grown Rove’s retailer footprint by 400-500 doors in 2024, a 45-50% increase over 2023.
Launching new markets in which legal recreational cannabis itself is new requires significant achievements in strategic partnerships and a keen ability to learn the buying habits and preferences of a local population to create Rove’s notable brand loyalty. Rove has maintained an average re-order rate of 97% YOY between the years of 2021 and 2024 across its markets. Jacobson’s finger on the pulse of the retail market has meant getting into the most notable retailers in any given market and educating buyers and consumers about premium, legal cannabis products where none had previously existed.
"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 Rove
Rove means to wander and was envisioned in 2016 to encourage enthusiasts to enjoy cannabis while searching for new experiences. Headquartered in California, Rove is a multi-state cannabis manufacturer operating in California, Nevada, Oklahoma, Arizona, Michigan, Missouri, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, Ohio, Illinois, Mississippi and New Jersey. All Rove products are crafted by an in-house product development team and designed to provide the best quality, best tasting and safest cannabis experience. Rove is the first cannabis manufacturer to implement a QR code-scanning mobile app to ensure authenticity and provide information on cannabinoid and terpene content, as well as ensure any given product is free from pesticides and foreign material.
