HopSkipDrive Co-founder and CEO Joanna McFarland Named to Inc.’s 2025 Female Founders 500 List

Inc.’s eighth annual Female Founders list highlights the nation’s top business leaders who challenge the status quo

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--HopSkipDrive, a technology company solving complex transportation challenges where there is a heightened need for safety, equity, and care, today announced that Co-founder and CEO Joanna McFarland has been named to Inc.’s prestigious 2025 Female Founders 500 List. The annual list honors 500 female entrepreneurs who are challenging the status quo to tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges. These resilient entrepreneurs expressed grit and drive to collectively attract approximately $9 billion in 2024 revenue and $10.6 billion in funding.

“This recognition reflects the meaningful impact our team has created in communities throughout the country,” said McFarland. “Every day, we’re removing transportation barriers for students across the 10,000+ schools we proudly serve, helping them access educational opportunities they might otherwise miss. While I’m honored to be included among these remarkable founders, the real achievement is seeing how our technology and network of caregivers on wheels helps improve access for students, alleviate stress for families, and unlock new efficiencies for school districts nationwide.”

Under McFarland’s leadership, HopSkipDrive has facilitated over five million rides across 95 million miles, supporting over 10,000 schools in 17 states with more than 600 school district partners since the company was founded in 2014. During the 2023-2024 academic year, HopSkipDrive saw a 300% increase in rides across its marketplace and grew its client base by more than 50%. The company has also expanded its RouteWise AI™ technology, with dozens of school districts leveraging the proprietary transportation routing optimization software to address challenges like bus driver shortages, school policy changes, and more.

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 evaluate 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.

"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 HopSkipDrive

HopSkipDrive is a technology company that solves complex transportation challenges where there is a heightened need for safety, equity, and care. HopSkipDrive is modernizing the $30 billion school transportation industry through two core solutions: a care-centered transportation marketplace and industry-leading routing software, RouteWise AI. HopSkipDrive's marketplace supplements school buses and existing transportation options by connecting kids to highly-vetted caregivers on wheels, such as grandparents, babysitters, and nurses in local communities. RouteWise AI helps schools and districts address critical challenges, including budget cuts, bus driver shortages, and reaching climate goals. HopSkipDrive has supported over 10,000 schools across 17 states, with over 600 school district partners. More than five million rides over 95 million miles have been completed through HopSkipDrive since the company was founded in 2014 by three working mothers.