Welcome to The Exit Club: Meet Five Women Who Sold Their Businesses in 2025

© Ann Leiva Photography

Thank you to Kelly Anne Parker, founder of Launch Grow Exit, a coaching business that helps founders launch, grow, and exit their companies, for sharing insights on the existing boom for women founders in 2025. Kelly sold her company, Send Ribbon, to UrbanStems in 2020.

Despite economic uncertainty and headlines worldwide regarding tariffs, I am very bullish on seeing more women exit their companies in 2025, especially given our current environment.

Nelson cites three favorable factors behind a merger and acquisition boom, including:

• New leadership at the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

• Possible Deregulation and "free for all" mentality

• Credit conditions are easing

In Q1 2025, women founders made history, with exits like Poppi reaching an evaluation of over $1 billion.

Despite the massive funding gap—women founders only receive 2% of venture-backed funding—there is an even bigger gap regarding women exiting their companies. Less than 1% of businesses that are sold are women-founded, and this is known as the exit gap. The Exit Gap is the disparity in business exits that women founders face today. It's time we change that, and it starts with preparation.

Women are now considering their exits earlier and finding strategic partners that meet those goals. Years ago, there was a focus on competition/competitors, whereas now, there is a community-minded approach to growing businesses.

Here's a look at five women-owned companies successfully acquired in 2025.

Poppi​: Co-founded in 2015 by Allison and Stephen Ellsworth, the couple gained national attention after their appearance on Shark Tank in 2018. Poppi offers low-calorie sodas made with fruit juice, apple cider vinegar, and prebiotics, catering to the growing consumer interest in health-conscious beverages. PepsiCo officially acquired Poppi in a deal valued at $1.95 billion. This includes $300 million in anticipated tax benefits, bringing the net purchase price to $1.65 billion. 

Buyer: PepsiCo.

Deal Amount: $1.95 billion

theSkimm Founded in 2012 by Danielle Weisberg and Carly Zakin, theSkimm started as a daily email newsletter and has since expanded into a suite of products, including multiple newsletters, podcasts, a mobile app, and branded content. The company boasts approximately 5 million subscribers and has raised about $30 million in venture capital from investors such as GV (formerly Google Ventures), Disney, and 21st Century Fox. The company was acquired by Everyday Health Group (EHG), a division of Ziff Davis. 

Buyer: Everyday Health Group

Deal Amount: Unknown

IFundWomen Founded in 2016 by Karen Cahn, IFundWomen is an award-winning funding marketplace for growing businesses that was acquired by Pittsburgh-based Honeycomb Credit. Karen will join Honeycomb Credit as a Board Member and Principal Advisor, focusing on advocating for small businesses.

Buyer: Honeycomb Credit

Deal Amount: Unknown

Simple Mills Founded in 2012, Katlin Smith's Chicago-based better-for-you snack brand was officially acquired by Flowers Foods, Inc., in February 2025, for $795 million in cash. The brand emphasizes using simple, wholesome ingredients and has experienced significant growth, with estimated net sales of $240 million in 2024 and products available in over 30,000 retail locations.

Buyer: Flowers Foods Inc.

Deal Amount: $795 million

Peak & Valley Founded in 2018 by Nadine Joseph, Peak & Valley makes adaptogen blends to manage stress while supporting skin, mood, and mind. Inspired by her journey as a neuroscience major at Johns Hopkins University and the lack of diversity in the wellness space, Nadine wanted to produce a product that allowed everyone to benefit from adaptogens. The 2021 Pitch Competition finalist was acquired in April 2025 by Wellkasa, a next-generation supplement company combining science-backed nutraceuticals with AI-powered education.

Buyer: Wellkasa

Deal Amount: Unknown

Bottom line: As an exited women founder, I aim to help more women entrepreneurs reach the finish line. I am so proud to welcome these amazing women to the exit club and can't wait to champion the successes of those who follow in their footsteps.

Kelly Anne Parker is the bootstrapped founder of Send Ribbon, a corporate gifting company acquired by Series C Flower & Gift Startup UrbanStems in 2020. Before the acquisition, Kelly served in various growth and leadership roles at startups like Doordash and Indeed and Managed by Q, which WeWork acquired. Since the exit of her company, Kelly has founded Launch Grow Exit to help other women founders; launch, grow, and exit their companies. Kelly supports the Enthuse Foundation, hosting and organizing entrepreneur panels and fundraising on behalf of the organization.