Women Rising

What Women Rising does

Women Rising® Corporation is a privately held, founder-owned impact production company founded in 2013 by Sara Hirsh Bordo and headquartered in Austin, Texas. The company creates documentary films, brand content, live experiences, and research initiatives centered on women, girls, and underrepresented communities, with a content library of four major feature documentaries (A Brave Heart, Tightly Wound, Protect Her, Sign the Show) and a forthcoming book/research initiative titled 'Autoimmunity and the Good Girls' to be published by HarperCollins in 2026.

The business operates across four revenue streams: (1) custom client film production for enterprise clients including Toyota, ESPN, Warner Bros., Paramount, Universal, and the Gates Foundation, billed on project-based fees; (2) event production and direction for high-profile gatherings including TEDxAustinWomen, the United State of Women Summit, the Women's March on Austin, and March for Our Lives NYC; (3) original documentary distribution via streaming and broadcast licensing through Amazon Prime, Condé Nast, Lifetime TV, and National Geographic Channel; and (4) strategic brand collaborations with purpose-driven partners. The GTM motion is enterprise field sales and event-driven, with the founder's personal brand and Hollywood relationships serving as the primary demand-generation channel.

The team is small (1-10 employees) and bootstrapped with no disclosed institutional funding. Core technology is documentary filmmaking and impact media production, with a trademarked 'Impact Storytelling Methodology' as the only documented proprietary framework. The company is led by Founder/CEO Sara Hirsh Bordo and CFO Cameron Sun. Distribution has historically been U.S.-anchored with films reaching 40+ countries via festival circuit and streaming acquisitions; the company is now expanding into national syndication (TVSCO, 2026), publishing (HarperCollins, 2026), and experiential travel (Greece 2026).

Name

Women Rising

Legal name

WOMEN RISING® CORPORATION

Website

https://womenrising.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Women Rising is a privately held, founder-owned impact production company that creates documentary films, live experiences, brand campaigns, and research centered on women, girls, and underrepresented communities, serving enterprise clients such as Toyota, ESPN, Warner Bros., and the Gates Foundation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film and Video Production Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (51211), Other Performing Arts Companies (71119)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Music & Performance Branded Content (Sessions, Artist/Brand Collabs) (MPADAEAH)

Keywords

• Documentary film production
• Branded content creation
• Live event production
• Impact media production
• Film distribution services

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Client Film Production: Production of branded films, broadcast shorts, and documentary content for corporate clients including Toyota, ESPN, Warner Bros., and Gates Foundation. Revenue generated through project-based fees for creative services, direction, and production.
2. Event Production and Direction: Production and direction of live experiences including TEDx events, summits, rallies, and corporate events. Clients include Prevention Magazine, United Nations Foundation, and major brand partners.
3. Original Documentary Distribution: Production and distribution of proprietary documentary films including A Brave Heart, Protect Her, Tightly Wound, and Sign the Show. Revenue through streaming platform licensing, festival distributions, and syndication deals.
4. Brand Collaborations: Strategic brand partnerships for films and experiences with purpose-driven companies. Collaborations with clients committed to impactful storytelling and meaningful conversations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Women Rising is a film and experience production company that creates award-winning documentary films, branded content, and large-scale live events centered on women, girls, and underrepresented communities. It sells project-based film production, event production, and brand collaboration services to enterprise clients such as Toyota, ESPN, Warner Bros., and the Gates Foundation, while also producing and licensing its own documentary films (A Brave Heart, Tightly Wound, Protect Her, Sign the Show) through streaming platforms, broadcast networks, and syndication.

Product overview

Women Rising is a 20x award-winning global impact production company that operates as a unified film production and experience company. The core offering includes award-winning documentary films (A Brave Heart, Tightly Wound, Protect Her, Sign the Show) alongside experiential events (TEDxAustinWomen, United State of Women Summit, Women's March on Austin, March for Our Lives NYC) and research initiatives (Autoimmunity and the "Good Girls"™ survey). The company also creates brand impact campaigns for clients including Toyota, ESPN, Warner Bros., and the Gates Foundation, combining storytelling with live experiences to empower women and girls.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Autoimmunity and the 'Good Girls'™: The first sociological survey exploring the intersection of empowerment and autoimmunity in American women, led by Dr. Richard Carmona, 17th Surgeon General of the United States.

Products and services

• Branded Client Film Production Project-based film production service for enterprise clients that creates branded documentary films, broadcast short films, and marketing campaigns designed to authentically reach female audiences. Buyers include major brands, entertainment studios, and foundations seeking purpose-driven content.
• Live Event Production and Direction Production and direction service for large-scale live experiences including TEDx events, summits, rallies, corporate events, and film festival premieres. Clients include women's advocacy organizations, foundations, and major brand partners.
• A Brave Heart: The Lizzie Vel\u00e1squez Story

Quantifiable outcome

• Films have reached millions of viewers in more than 40 countries
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• TVSCOcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 23 March 2026TVSCO is a full-service syndication distribution company that has picked up Women Rising America (an unscripted conversation series produced by GBCTV featuring women's stories) for wider national distribution.
• United Nations FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen Rising produced the inaugural TEDxAustinWomen in 2013 in association with the United Nations Foundation, marking the first occasion the UN Foundation had joined as an official partner for any TEDx event. The partnership continues through various summits and events.
• LionsgateflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn partnership with Lionsgate, Imagine Entertainment, and director Susanna Fogel, Women Rising created the Female Storytellers Contest offering female filmmakers opportunities to share meaningful stories with the world.
• Imagine EntertainmentflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Female Storytellers Contest, providing opportunities for female filmmakers with a $15,000 prize and trip to Los Angeles for screening and meet and greet.
• YouTubecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerYouTube served as co-streaming partner for the United State of Women Summit in Los Angeles, streaming the 8-hour summit alongside Facebook.
• FacebookcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFacebook was co-streaming partner with YouTube for the United State of Women Summit, providing broad digital reach for the programming.
• DreamWorks TVminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-sponsor of the United State of Women Summit along with Sony Pictures and Paramount Pictures.
• Sony PicturesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-sponsor of the United State of Women Summit along with DreamWorks TV and Paramount Pictures.
• Paramount PicturesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-sponsor of the United State of Women Summit along with DreamWorks TV and Sony Pictures.
• March for Our LivescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen Rising served as Executive Producer for March for Our Lives NYC to help amplify the voices of student survivors following the Parkland tragedy.
• Prevention MagazinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen Rising produced Prevention Magazine's National R3 Summit, a health and wellness summit featuring live broadcast storytelling.
• Andi Leadership Institute for Young WomenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCircular Summit, an invitation-only event for high-growth women entrepreneurs, benefited the Andi Leadership Institute for Young Women.
• Project MaverickminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen Rising serves as Advisory Member and producer of the Maverick Mentorship Platform, empowering girls to develop their vision and ambition.
• Maria ShrivercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen Rising hosted a sold-out International Women's Day 2018 event in Austin featuring Maria Shriver and her New York Times bestseller book.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• TED Conferences: Global event and media organization producing live conferences and TEDx events. Women Rising produced the #1 most-viewed TEDxWomen event (TEDxAustinWomen); TED is the closest comparable for the live experience production component.
• Live Nation: Global live event production company. Women Rising produces large-scale live experiences (United State of Women Summit, Women's March on Austin, Super Bowl events); Live Nation represents the scaled incumbent in this adjacent production category.
• Participant Media: Larger impact-driven media company producing socially conscious films and content. Comparable in mission (purpose-led storytelling) and customer overlap (major studios and brands), but operates at significantly greater scale with institutional backing.
• Lionsgate: Independent major studio that co-partners with Women Rising on the Female Storytellers Contest. Comparable in producing and distributing story-driven film content, but at vastly greater scale and capital base.
• Imagine Entertainment: Major film and television production company; co-development partner with Women Rising on the Female Storytellers Contest. Operates at much greater scale but shares documentary and impact storytelling DNA.

Direct peers

• A24: Independent film and media company known for prestige, mission-driven content with award recognition. Comparable in emphasis on auteur-driven storytelling, festival-circuit success, and building a recognizable brand around curated content.
• Picture Motion: Impact campaign agency that pairs documentary films with audience activation and brand partnerships. Closely mirrors Women Rising's combination of impact filmmaking, distribution strategy, and brand collaborations.
• Kartemquin Films: Boutique documentary production company with a long-standing social impact focus. Directly comparable in scale, production model, and emphasis on independent documentary work centered on social issues.
• SoulPancake: Purpose-driven media company producing uplifting short-form video content. Comparable in producing brand-friendly, mission-led video content designed to drive social engagement and impact.

Others

• Pivotal Ventures: Melinda French Gates' organization advancing women's power and influence. Ecosystem-level comparable: shares Women Rising's women-centered mission and frequently intersects with the same brand and foundation partners.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/women-rising

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Women Rising