March being Women’s History Month, there is always a sizeable cadre of San Diego women business leaders making news. Case in point, this year’s Inc. Female Founders 500 list includes five local entrepreneurs – all of whom have previously graced the pages of the San Diego Business Journal for their achievements.
Inc. recognized TOOTRiS founder Alessandra Lezama and The Honest Kitchen founder Lucy Postins as “Innovators” in the list; Founders First Capital Partners founder Kim Folsom as a “Trailblazer” and Bitchin’ Sauce founder Starr Edwards and Cymbiotika founder Durana Elmi as “Trailblazers” in their list. Elmi’s Cymbiotika also made news last week with a new nationwide partnership with Ulta Beauty.
According to Inc., the women in their 500 list collectively generated approximately $12.3 billion in 2025 revenue and $12.2 billion in funding to date.
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In other female founder news, San Diego-based Ciconia Medical, founded in 2022 by CEO Roni Cantor-Balan, was one of 10 companies selected to be in Rochester, New York-based Empire State Development’s Luminate NY accelerator, investment fund and competition. Ciconia is developing an AI-based medical device for vaginal exams aimed at improving childbirth outcomes.
The program begins April 13 and Ciconia will utilize an initial $100,000 investment to continue to scale its business, leveraging New York’s ecosystem. The six-month program ends in September when the cohort will compete for up to $2 million in follow-on funding.
Startups, accelerators, venture funding and all things innovation economy are further explored in this issue of the Business Journal. Our Venture Startups Special Report begins on page 13.
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Land use attorney Paul Robinson, a founding partner of Hecht Solberg Robinson Goldberg & Bagley, was honored by Lambda Alpha International San Diego with a Crystal Globe Award last week at the land economics society’s annual gala event. Robinson’s career includes roles in transformational regional projects, including the San Diego Trolley, University Town Center developments and La Jolla Center. The event included tributes to Robinson from luminaries that included Downtown San Diego Partnership CEO Betsy Brennan, County Assessor Jordan Marks, San Diego City Councilmember Raul Campillo and former Gov. Pete Wilson.
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Following his high-profile Medal of Honor pinning by First Lady Melania Trump at the State of the Union in February, U.S. Navy veteran Capt. Royce Williams (ret.) was the guest of honor at a special hometown Medal of Honor ceremony at the USS Midway Museum on Saturday. The event was open to the public, was graced with a special flyover and featured entertainment from the U.S. Navy Band.
