A lot has been said about the scarcity of women leaders in the tech startup world. As the lone woman in a tech startup company*, it’s a subject that fascinates me both personally and professionally.

Working with iDoneThis, I have long noticed that there are vastly more men than women in the startup world. Often, the individuals who can exert great influence over your startup’s future are men. The people you network with, get advice from, collaborate with and befriend are also men. And once in a while, the people you have to say no to, who you have to argue with or tell something they don’t want to hear, are also men.

This intimidates me, but I’m not entirely sure why. I’m not intimidated by law, medicine, corporate business, or any other traditionally male-dominated career paths. Could it be that I never had any role models in tech? I decided to ask leading women in the tech startup world this simple question:

What woman in tech startups do you look up to, and why?

I got an immediate flood of responses from CEOs and founders who were eager to applaud and promote other women startup leaders. Their responses were personal, insightful and full of pride at other women’s achievements.

“Katie Rae, Managing Director, TechStars Boston. She’s brilliant, funny and patient. No, strikethrough “patient,” she is a saint. She kicks ass and has made TechStars Boston into something truly epic, capturing the attention of even aloof elements of Boston’s startup scene. She knows how to apply just the right mix of nurture vs. beat up to struggling entrepreneurs, and can hold them to high standards even while building up their spirit. She has saved my ass too many times to count.” Laura Fitton

Inbound Marketing Evangelist, HubSpot

“I look up to any and all female founders because I know how hard it is to start something and grow it. Some of the women in technology that I idolize are Sheryl Sandberg, Marissa Mayer and Meg Whitman. They are all power women who are continuously challenging themselves and others.” Jesse Draper

CEO, Valley Girl, Inc.

“I look up to Chantel Waterbury, founder and CEO of chloe + isabel because she not only built an accessories brand from the ground up, but also built a company that uses a direct sales model to provide opportunities for young women to learn and run their own businesses. She’s recruited a rockstar team, fostered a supportive culture, and created a beautiful product — all in all she’s an amazing CEO who I fiercely respect.” Christina Wallace

Co-Founder & CEO, Quincy

“I salute Sheryl Sandberg and Marissa Meyer for crushing barriers and at the highest levels. I admire and am in daily awe of Jen Pahlka at Code for America for believing in the power of technology to solve large problems — and helping others make that happen. I seek advice constantly from Janice Fraser, who is introducing the world to the concept of “Lean UX”. I LOVE female founders who turn personal experience into a true solution — women like Melinda Wittstock of NewsIT; Tereza Nemessanyi of HonestlyNow; Ellie Cachette of ConsumerBell. And I am enormously grateful to the women who work so hard to empower other women: Rachel Sklar of ChangeTheRatio and TheLi.st; Whitney Johnson of Dare.Dream.Do.; Amy Millman and Kay Koplovitz of Springboard Enterprises. And finally, I look up to the strength, persistence, creativity, and vision of the woman I am privileged to call my co-founder, Rachna Choudhry.” Marci Harris

Founder & CEO, POPVOX, Inc.