It has been a monumental year for women and AI and Web3 in particular. Throughout 2023, women have played pivotal roles in reshaping the narratives and advancements within these dynamic fields. From groundbreaking innovations to leadership positions, the contributions of women in AI and Web3 have not only broken barriers but have also paved the way for a more inclusive and diverse future. This is incredible considering women are incredibly underrepresented in the tech industry. Only 13% of Web3 founding teams include a woman, and only 3% have a team that is only made up of women.
But the tides are going to turn as more female pioneers in this field lead brands and individuals across sectors into this exciting new world. It becomes evident that the intersection of gender diversity and cutting-edge technologies has spurred unprecedented progress, fostering a climate where women continue to thrive, leaving an indelible mark on the evolving landscapes of AI and Web3. Let’s take a look at some of the most pivotal moments for women in this space in the last year and who will be the players to charge into 2024.
Fashion was an early adopter of Web3 and AI led by innovative minds like designers Rebecca Minkoff, Gabriela Hearst, and Alice Delahunt, the former Chief Digital Officer for Ralph Lauren and the founder of Syky, an incubator, marketplace, and social community for fashion designers and consumers and Katrina Lake, the founder and former CEO of Stitch Fix. Minkoff was years ahead when it came to embracing tech with her fashion line debuting an entire line of NFTs for her NYFW show back in 2021. She said at the time, “Why does it need to be anything real? Why be bound by the laws of physics? We’re trying to let the creativity loose on this one and explore what’s only possible with digital fashion.” Stitch Fix leveraged AI to analyze customer data and preferences to curate personalized clothing boxes for its subscribers.
Many different fashion brands, both big and small, across various segments embraced Web3 and AI technologies to enhance their offerings and engage with customers in innovative ways. From digital collectibles and immersive experiences to personalized styling recommendations and supply chain optimization. Looking forward to 2024 expect to see more immersive retail as well as Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) for Fashion Brands. AI will come in strong with ways to optimize supply chains and reduce waste as well as AI-Powered Trend Forecasting. We are also going to see more Web3-Enabled Customer Communities with opportunities to influence brand decisions. And watch out dupes! AI-Powered Product Authentication and Anti-Counterfeiting will come in hot in 2024 to ensure product authenticity, protecting brands and consumers alike.
Other notable players to watch in fashion:
The Femtech industry—a term coined for the incredible combination of devices, software and technology to improve women’s physical and mental health—is expected to be worth nearly $50 billion in 2025. It is not surprising considering that femtech has the potential to truly revolutionize, and is well on its way, to develop precision medicine, via AI, for women's health, tailoring treatments and preventive measures based on individual risk factors and genetic profiles.
Web3 technologies are being used to improve maternal and child health outcomes in developing countries. Platforms like MomCare and LifeWallet are leveraging blockchain to provide access to prenatal and postnatal care, track vaccination records, and facilitate communication between healthcare providers and mothers. Major players in the space include:
The beauty industry took major strides this year with its convergence of AI and Web3, leading to groundbreaking advancements that redefined the customer experience and reshaped the industry landscape. Major brands driven and run by women including Lancôme, Estée Lauder, Benefit, Sephora, and NARS to name a few have joined the AI bandwagon. This includes developments in AI-powered skin analysis tools, AI-powered fragrance creation tools emerged, Web3-enabled virtual beauty hubs NFTs to enhance customer engagement, and DAOs emerged as a new model for beauty brands, enabling community governance, shared ownership, and decentralized decision-making. Estée Lauder even sponsored a Metaverse Fashion Week and L’Oréal partnered with Meta to launch a beauty metaverse-focused web3 accelerator.
Some of the individuals in this space making great strides include:
The intersection of women, Web3, and art witnessed a remarkable surge in 2023, marked by initiatives that redefined the boundaries of both domains. Women emerged as leading figures in the NFT art movement, creating groundbreaking digital art and establishing themselves as forces to be reckoned with in the NFT space. These women include:
The transformative power of female innovators and leaders in these fields has only just begun to unfold. With the momentum gained in the past year, 2024 promises to be a pivotal chapter, marked by groundbreaking achievements, continued empowerment, and the redefinition of traditional norms.
