Shostak co-founded Flodesk in 2019 after years of watching small businesses struggle with email marketing tools that were either clunky, generic, or built for enterprise teams. With a background in design, including creating promotional materials and album covers for artists like Linkin Park and Rihanna, she set out to build a platform that gave every entrepreneur access to polished, on-brand, high-performing email marketing without needing design or developer teams.
Seven years later, Flodesk has reached more than $36 million in annual recurring revenue, entirely bootstrapped and fueled by the success of the entrepreneurs it serves. The company's more than 100,000 customers sent over 13 billion emails in the past year, added 314 million subscribers to their audiences, and generated more than $33 million in revenue through the platform. Emails built on Flodesk see 17% higher open rates than the industry average.
"I'm honored to be included on Inc.'s Female Founders 500," said Shostak. "We built Flodesk on a simple belief: that small businesses deserve tools that are just as powerful and beautiful as what the biggest brands have access to. This recognition reflects the success of our incredible community as much as anything we've done."
In the past year, Shostak stepped into the CEO role and spent five months in Vietnam working directly with Flodesk's product and engineering teams to develop proprietary AI technology that will fundamentally change how small businesses approach marketing. The company's upcoming email builder, for example, combines AI-powered design with precise manual controls, giving users a faster, more intuitive way to create on-brand marketing without sacrificing creative control.
For Shostak, the investment in AI reflects a deeper conviction: that the AI revolution should serve small businesses just as much as it's already transforming the largest companies in the world. And with plans to expand beyond email into the broader marketing ecosystem, Flodesk is positioning itself as a true creative partner for the entrepreneurs who need it most.
The Female Founders 500 is one of Inc.'s most celebrated annual lists. This year's honorees collectively generated approximately $12.3 billion in 2025 revenue. 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 include Billie Jean King, Sallie Krawcheck, Serena Williams, and Emma Grede.
"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."
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 Flodesk
Flodesk is a design-forward email marketing platform that helps small businesses and independent creators create visually compelling emails, run effective campaigns, and build loyal audiences. Built for simplicity, Flodesk empowers anyone — no design or technical background required — to market their business beautifully. For more information, visit www.flodesk.com.
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