In a powerful celebration of Women’s History Month, Microsoft has teamed up with M12 to highlight the incredible journeys of female entrepreneurs who are making a significant impact in the startup ecosystem. These women are not only driving innovation but are also transforming industries and redefining leadership in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and technology.
Among these trailblazers is Julie Yoo, cofounder and CEO of Mintall.AI. With a PhD from Harvard-MIT, Yoo has been at the forefront of AI-powered decision-making, having previously co-founded pymetrics, which focuses on creating equitable hiring processes through AI. Now, at Mintall.AI, she is on a mission to democratize AI-powered visual creation and blockchain technology, making them accessible to everyday users. "AI is fundamental to our platform, enabling intuitive visual generation and simplifying blockchain interaction. It allows anyone to bring their creative vision to life without technical barriers," Yoo explained.
However, the path to success has not been without its challenges. Yoo emphasizes the importance of building the right team, one that shares a vision and values. "Open communication, clear expectations, and fostering collaboration are essential for building a strong, cohesive team," she stated. Adaptability has been another key lesson for her. "The tech landscape is constantly evolving. You have to be willing to pivot based on market feedback and new opportunities. Don’t be afraid to change course if needed," she advised. Her proudest moments come from seeing the positive impact of their AI solutions on people's lives, whether it was helping individuals find fulfilling careers at pymetrics or personalizing education at Riiid.
Looking ahead, Mintall.AI is focused on expanding its platform's capabilities to better serve small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). "We’re also prioritizing building out key integrations with other platforms and tools that SMBs rely on, streamlining their workflows, maximizing efficiency and exploring new AI-driven features to empower creators of all sizes," she added.
Another inspiring figure is Anastasia Georgievskaya, cofounder and CEO of Haut.AI, who is revolutionizing skincare through AI-powered skin analysis. Her entrepreneurial journey began with a desire to solve a pressing consumer problem. "Consumers weren’t trusting skincare products—not because they didn’t work, but because they were buying the wrong ones. This sparked the idea to use AI and computer vision to bring lab-level skin analysis to consumers’ smartphones," Georgievskaya explained.
Haut.AI leverages computer vision and AI to provide personalized skin assessments, helping consumers make better skincare choices. The company has rapidly grown into a leader in AI-powered skincare solutions, collaborating with global brands. Georgievskaya learned early on that technology alone isn’t enough for success. "As a tech founder, it’s easy to think having the best product will lead to success. But startups need more than great tech. You need a strong sales strategy, marketing, and operations to truly thrive," she noted.
Her proudest moment came when she realized their technology was making a real difference in people's lives. "When we realized we had created something that didn’t exist before, and it was actually making a difference in people’s lives, that was huge. It’s one thing to dream up an idea and another to see it actually help consumers and brands. That moment of realization is incredibly fulfilling," she said.
For women aspiring to enter the tech industry, Georgievskaya advises them to master their core skills and seize opportunities. "Confidence comes from competence. Invest in becoming really good at something—it will help you push through bias and obstacles. And always show up, even when it’s uncomfortable," she encouraged.
Looking forward, Haut.AI plans to enhance its generative AI capabilities and extend the functionality of its innovative engine, SkinGPT, along with its conversational AI features. "We’ll be extending the functionality of our innovative engine, SkinGPT, along with its conversational AI capabilities and advancements in our key offering of AI skin and hair analysis," she shared.
Additionally, insights from other women founders in the M12 portfolio provide valuable guidance for those on similar journeys. As Microsoft’s venture fund, M12 is committed to accelerating the future of technology by investing in bold, visionary founders and forming strategic partnerships that help them scale. Deidre Paknad of Workboard advises aspiring entrepreneurs to be intentional about their focus and delegation. "Starting each quarter with clarity on what is or isn’t in your focus zone can help ensure your limited time and energy go to the right things—you can’t give that time back once it’s gone," Paknad stated.
Vicki Knott of CruxOCM emphasizes the importance of execution over labels. "Concentrate on your vision and delivering value to customers. By consistently producing results, you’ll challenge preconceptions and pave the way for future entrepreneurs. Founders who prioritize execution, regardless of gender, are the true disruptors," she remarked.
Microsoft for Startups plays a crucial role in empowering women founders by providing access to cutting-edge AI tools, cloud technology, and expert guidance. Julie Yoo highlights the program's impact on her company’s growth: "Microsoft for Startups has been invaluable in providing us with access to cutting-edge cloud technologies and resources. Specifically, the Azure credits provided by the program have significantly reduced our infrastructure costs, allowing us to allocate more resources towards research and development, accelerating our growth and enabling us to bring our vision to life faster."
Anastasia Georgievskaya also acknowledges the program's contributions: "The Microsoft for Startups program has been very helpful in terms of connecting us with industry advisors, helping us understand better and sharper the pain points of the industry, and the pain points of our vertical, which is consumer goods, consumer tech, FMCG products, and online retail."
The journeys of Julie, Anastasia, Deidre, Vicki, and other remarkable women founders showcase the power of resilience, innovation, and bold leadership. As AI and emerging technologies continue to shape industries, these women are leading the way—creating solutions that impact millions. To all aspiring female entrepreneurs: your ideas matter, your leadership matters, and the future of AI needs you. If you’re a startup looking to accelerate your journey, join Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub and gain access to the resources you need to scale.
