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Inc. Names Patty Arvielo to Its 2025 Female Founders 500 List

Inc., the leading media brand and playbook for the entrepreneurs and business leaders shaping our future, today announced its eighth annual Female Founders list, honoring a bold group of 500 women whose innovations and ideas are leading their industries forward. These resilient entrepreneurs expressed grit and drive to collectively attract approximately $9 billion in 2024 revenue and $10.6 billion in funding.

Each year, Inc. editors review thousands of applications highlighting female founders who are challenging the status quo and tackling some of the world’s biggest problems, and cull applicants through three rounds of judging, looking specifically at an entrepreneur’s bona fides in the past year. Criteria include quantifiable metrics such as revenue, sales, revenue growth, funding, and audience size. Inc. also looks for qualitative metrics including social media momentum and stories of impact.

Honoree selection is also honed through the evaluation of the program’s advisory board: Cate Luzio, founder and CEO of Luminary; Dany Garcia, founder, CEO, and chairperson of the Garcia Companies; Pinky Cole Hayes, founder and CEO of Slutty Vegan; Anu Duggal, founding partner at Female Founders Fund; Katherine Power, serial entrepreneur and partner at Greycroft; Tiffany Dufu, president of the Tory Burch Foundation and founder of the Cru; and Kay Koplovitz, co-founder and chair at Springboard Enterprises, founder of USA Network.

“I’m deeply honored to be named to Inc.’s 2025 Female Founders 500 List. As a first-generation female Latina entrepreneur, this recognition is more than just a personal milestone – it’s a testament to the potential of diverse communities everywhere,” said Patty Arvielo, Co-Founder and CEO of New American Funding. “I’ve always believed that real success is measured by how many people we uplift along the way, and at New American Funding, we strive to break down barriers so everyone can thrive. My passion extends to mentoring other female founders and entrepreneurs because when we support each other, our collective impact multiplies. I’m grateful for this honor and remain committed to championing opportunity and generational wealth for all.”

The founders cross all industries and bring with them unique stories of success from each stage of the entrepreneurial journey — from startup to going public, being acquired by big buyers, or spending decades at the helm of an organization.

With over 40 years of experience in the mortgage industry, Arvielo leads the nation’s largest Latina-owned mortgage company, New American Funding, overseeing 282 locations with more than 4,800 employees nationwide. Under Arvielo’s guidance, New American Funding has become an industry leader in lending to diverse communities. She established the company’s Latino Focus and NAF Black Impact initiatives to improve the lending experiences of Latino and Black homebuyers. Outside of the office, Arvielo was honored to become the first Hispanic woman to have a school of business named after her when Vanguard University unveiled the Patty Arvielo School of Business and Management in 2023.

"Female founders know what struggle is, but they’re also experts of improvisation, adaptability, and creativity. The women featured on this year’s list exemplify these qualities. Through times of uncertainty, their unwavering dedication and steadfast leadership are not only inspiring but vital to driving progress," said Inc. executive editor Diana Ransom.

Several honorees will be featured in Inc. magazine’s Female Founders issue, on newsstands March 18, 2025. To see the complete list of honorees, please visit: https://www.inc.com/female-founders.

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 New American Funding

New American Funding is an independent mortgage lender with a servicing portfolio of more than 272,000 customers representing over $71 billion in value and 282 locations nationwide. The company offers state-of-the-art career training and provides its branch Loan Officers with innovative technologies to streamline the mortgage process.