Movandi CEO Maryam Rofougaran Named to Inc.’s 2026 Female Founders 500 for Building the Connectivity Infrastructure Powering the AI Era

Inc. recognizes Rofougaran for leading Movandi’s semiconductor and wireless innovations enabling high-capacity connectivity across 5G, fixed wireless, and satellite networks

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Movandi, the semiconductor and systems innovator powering next-generation wireless communications solutions, today announced that its co-founder and CEO Maryam Rofougaran has been named to Inc.’s 2026 Female Founders 500, an annual list honoring the most dynamic women business leaders in the United States. The recognition highlights founders whose bold ideas, resilience, and execution are shaping the future of their industries.

The 2026 Female Founders honorees collectively generated approximately $12.3 billion in 2025 revenue and $12.2 billion in funding to date, underscoring the economic impact of women-led businesses across sectors.

Each year, Inc. editors evaluate applications through a rigorous, multi-round selection process. Founders are assessed on both quantitative performance metrics—including revenue growth, funding, sales, and audience size—as well as qualitative factors such as innovation, social impact, and brand momentum. The final list represents entrepreneurs who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and measurable progress over the past year. Previous honorees have included such game-changing leaders as Billie Jean King, Sallie Krawcheck, Serena Williams, and Emma Grede, leaders who have transformed their industries and broken barriers along the way.

“I am honored to be recognized alongside such an inspiring group of founders who are building the companies and technologies shaping our future,” said Maryam Rofougaran, CEO and co-founder of Movandi. “At Movandi, our mission has always been to push the boundaries of wireless connectivity and build the semiconductor and system technologies that enable the next generation of global digital infrastructure, from 5G and fixed wireless access to satellite communications and AI-driven networks.”

Under Rofougaran’s leadership, Movandi is developing breakthrough mmWave semiconductor and system technologies that enable high-capacity, resilient connectivity for next-generation wireless networks. The company’s innovations help service providers extend coverage, increase network capacity, and deploy advanced wireless infrastructure more efficiently.

In the past year, Movandi has expanded its global footprint and technology leadership across 5G, fixed wireless access, and emerging satellite and non-terrestrial network (NTN) ecosystems. The company secured $40 million in strategic funding, strengthened partnerships with leading global operators and technology companies, and expanded operations into the Middle East through initiatives including Saudi Arabia’s National Technology Development Program (NTDP). These milestones position Movandi as an important contributor to the future of AI-era connectivity infrastructure.

Rofougaran’s career spans more than three decades of pioneering wireless innovation. Prior to founding Movandi, she co-founded Innovent Systems, where she helped develop one of the industry’s first Bluetooth system-on-chip solutions, later acquired by Broadcom. At Broadcom, she served as Senior Vice President of Wireless, helping grow the company’s wireless connectivity business into a multi-billion-dollar global operation powering billions of devices worldwide.

Today, with more than 300 patents and a distinguished record of semiconductor innovation, Rofougaran remains one of the few female founder-CEOs leading a deep-tech semiconductor company.

“Each year, we are increasingly amazed by the extraordinary leaders on our Inc. Female Founders 500 list,” says Bonny Ghosh, editorial director at Inc. “The honorees on this year’s list include innovators in AI, beauty and wellness trendsetters winning devoted fans, and nonprofit leaders making a real impact in their communities. Together, they’re showing all of us what trailblazing female leadership looks like.”

Several honorees will be featured in Inc. magazine’s Spring print issue, on newsstands March 17, 2026. To see the complete list of honorees, visit:
https://www.inc.com/female-founders/2026.

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 Movandi

Movandi is a next-generation connectivity company powering intelligent wireless infrastructure spanning 5G, non-terrestrial satellite communications, and fixed wireless broadband. With over 115 issued patents and a portfolio spanning chipsets, beamforming silicon, antennas, and software-defined networking, Movandi delivers scalable, high-performance, and cost-effective solutions for global operators and device makers. Founded by wireless industry pioneers from Broadcom, Movandi is headquartered in Irvine, California. Learn more at movandi.com or follow us on LinkedIn.