SunLED founder, CEO and CTO honored as one of the most innovative women entrepreneurs, who collectively generated approximately $12.3 billion in 2025
AMSTERDAM, March 10, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Inc., the leading media brand and playbook for the entrepreneurs and business leaders shaping the future, today announced that SunLED Life Science founder, CEO and CTO Dr. Anne Berends has been named to Inc.'s 2026 Female Founders 500, an annual list honoring the most dynamic women business leaders. The annual list honors founders whose bold ideas, drive, execution and resilience are shaping the future of their industries. The 2026 Female Founders honorees collectively generated approximately $12.3 billion in revenue in 2025 and $12.2 billion in funding to date, underscoring the economic impact of women-led businesses across all sectors.
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 founders span all industries and bring success stories from each stage of the entrepreneurial journey. The final list represents entrepreneurs who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and measurable progress over the past year. Previous honorees have included such game-changing leaders as Billie Jean King, Sallie Krawcheck, Serena Williams and Emma Grede, all of whom have transformed their industries and broken barriers along the way.
Berends earned a Master of Science in Chemistry and a PhD in Nanomaterials Science from Utrecht University in the Netherlands. She spent more than seven years on R&D focused on near-infrared (NIR) light, the healthy part of sunlight that accounts for 50% of the solar spectrum, and how to bring its benefits indoors to help people who, on average, spend up to 90% of their waking hours indoors, deprived of essential NIR. As a result, she developed SunLED's proprietary NIR LED light technology, which was validated in a double-blind clinical study conducted by the University of Groningen, and went on to found SunLED Life Science in November 2024.
"Being named to the 2026 Inc. Female Founders 500 is deeply meaningful to me because SunLED Life Science was born from a simple but powerful realization: modern life has quietly disconnected us from sunlight, something essential for human health and wellness since the dawn of civilization. Today, most people spend nearly all of their waking hours indoors, and their health and energy levels are paying the price," said Berends. "I founded SunLED Life Science to restore the part of sunlight our bodies need, but glazed windows filter out. To be recognized alongside so many women building companies that are solving real human problems is an incredible honor."
SunLED Life Science recently launched its first consumer product, SunBooster, a first-of-its-kind near-infrared (NIR) device that is scientifically proven to boost mood and energy levels and enhance users' overall well-being. SunBooster is already on the market in the Benelux region, and will launch in other key markets in H1 2026, including the Nordics (March), the USA (April), the UK, France and Germany. The wellness device has won several awards, including a special mention in TIME's 2025 Best Inventions, an IFA 2025 Innovation Award, the CES 2026 Techlicious Best of CES Award, and the MWC 2026 Editor's Choice Award from The Gadgeteer, amongst others. View a short video about SunLED here.
"Each year, we are increasingly amazed by the extraordinary leaders on our Inc. Female Founders 500 list," said 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."
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 SunLED Life Science
SunLED Life Science researches and develops lighting solutions that bring the health benefits of sunlight indoors. Our patented and scientifically proven Near-Infrared technology promotes health and well-being, and easily integrates into various devices, such as screens, luminaires, car dashboards, and more. We envision a world where everyone can access the benefits of natural sunlight indoors.
Founded in 2024, SunLED Life Science is a privately held company headquartered in Amsterdam. Follow SunLED Life Science on LinkedIn or learn more at https://sunled.health.
Media Contact
Mindy Hull, SunLED Life Science, 1 4158899977, [email protected], sunled.health
SOURCE SunLED Life Science
Share this article