2009 has endured the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, and yet female start-ups are growing in numbers as more of our lives are spent online.  We have compiled our list of notable 2009 Female Internet Hero achievements.  Far from exhaustive, if you feel you should be added to the list let us know as we will be adding to the list:

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The Digital Government Hero

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Martha Lane Fox is appointed the Government's Digital Inclusion Champion

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The Launch Heroes

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Sarah Prevette launches Sprouter Which asks entrepreneurs the question “What are you working on?”

Paola de Leo and Co-Founder Colin Firth launch Brightwide A platform where you can watch the best social and political cinema

Penelope Trunk of Brazen Careerist launches a professional social network for Generation Y The blog network, which launched over a year ago, provides a network focusing on the 'human side' of potential employees.

Mr and Mrs Tom Harrow (Former Microsoft programmer) relaunches Findababysitter.com A site with the UK’s first database of geo-coded child carers

Deirdre Bounds launches Parties Around the World A website that offers an ethical alternative for busy parents fed up of the throwaway consumerism perpetuated by children’s birthday parties

Sarah Beeny launches Tepilo Where users can buy and sell their homes, take control of the process and all for free

Rajeeb Dey and Leah Magoye (Africa Representative) launches Enternships the first online platform to successfully recruit graduates for roles in start-ups and leading small businesses across the globe

Michelle Dewberry launches Chiconomise A site that helps ladies economise their chic ways

Natasha Friis Saxberg launches Mentory A mentorship tool with a learning relationship that benefits through conversations and guidance

Stephanie Phair and Net-A-Porter launch TheOutnet.com Offering women worldwide unparalleled choice and discounts on previous season’s luxury fashion from over 200 brands

Michelle Gallen launches Talk Irish a social network for Irish language learners.

Anja Beerepoot launches Female Factor A network for women who like to share and show their talents

The Queen relaunches the Royal website with a Buckingham Palace reception and guests including Sir Tim-Berners Lee.

Kim Mance of Galavanting launches travelblogexchange A platform where travel bloggers can congregate, offer tips, advice and support to each other.

Shaa Wasmund launches Smarta A combination of Linkedin, Eventbrite and Meetup for UK entrepreneurs

Sophie Cox and brother Charlie launch Worldeka A social network with a conscience.

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The Fundraising Heroes

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Dr Fran Crawford secures £500k investment from the Aspire Fund for Altacor An ophthalmology development and marketing company in Cambridge.

Polly Gowers secures £350k investment from the Aspire Fund for Everyclick The on-line platform which enables consumers to make secure donations to any one of the UK’s 200,000 charities

Gina Bianchini and Ning raise $15m and named as one of Fastcompanys 20 Most Influential Women in Tech Where users can create, customise and share their own social networks

Marina Tognetti and Myngle secure €950,000 funding The online platform linking teachers and people achieves government backed funding totally almost €1m

Jana Eggers and Spreadshirt Announce €10 million investment from Accel and Kennet Partners.

Alicia Navarro and Skimlinks raises two rounds of funding Led by Sussex Place Ventures, the first round was believed to be in the region of £700k and the second £900,000c

Lesley Eccles of Hubdub achieves £810, 000 in funding from Pentech Ventures, Scottish Co-Investment Fund and additional Angel Investors.

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The Career Heroes

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Angel Gambino joins Sonico as VP, Business Development The social network of Latin America that organises people’s lives online

Tiffany Hall named CIO of BBC In the Future Media & Technology division

Carol Bartz is announced CEO of Yahoo One of the most prominent women in Silicon Valley, she is a technology veteran and one of Forbes 100 most powerful women in 2009.

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The Award Winning Heroes

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Claire Boonstra wins The Accenture Innovation Awards for Layar The reality browser

Bart and Sanne van Poll win Lonely Planet's best group authored blog For travel tip website Spotted by Locals

Ree Drummond wins Weblog of the Year At 'The Bloggies' for her 'Confessions of a Pioneer Woman'. She also won Best-Designed Weblog and Best Photography of a Weblog.

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The Exit Hero

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Miriam Lahage sells Koodos and wins The Online Fashion 100 Awards The award-winning Koodos was sold to e-trader for an undisclosed amount

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The Investor Heroes

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Julie Meyer re-launches Entrepreneurs Country and announces the ACE Fund Entrepreneurs Country aims to be the entrepreneurial home – the must-read, and the must-contribute-to place – for Europe’s entrepreneurs

Sheetal Mehta launches Shanti Microfinance Which takes technology and microfinance to entrepreneurs in slums in India.

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The Influential Heroes

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Elaine Wherry and Sandy Jen of Meebo named two of the most influential women in tech by Fast Company

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The Deal Making Heroes

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Karin Loeffen closes deals with BT and Hyves for use of Libersy Which now sees BT Tradespace offering online booking and payment, and Hyves online organisation of events

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The Catalyst Heroes

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Anya Navidski launches Jumpstart An incubator program that calls itself a philanthropy organisation

Sharon Vosmek of Astia, Carola Schropp of EBD group and Sara Jane Demy of Demy-Colton Life-Science form a Biotech Partnership To provide extra support to women entrepreneurs starting and growing biotech companies

Reshma Sohoni announces mini-Seedcamp in the UK A slimmed down version of their Seedcamp week

Astia launches its 'Doing it Right Program' in the UK For exceptional women entrepreneurs who want to increase their ability to attract and understand funding

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The Top Entrepreneurial Heroes

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Christina Vaughan of Image Source named as one of the UK's 100 Most Entrepreneurial Women by Real Business

Rita Sharma of Bestattravel.com named as one of the UK's 100 Most Entrepreneurial Women by Real Business

Sarah McVittie of Textperts named as one of the UK's 100 Most Entrepreneurial Women by Real Business

Natalie Massenet of Net-A-Porter named as one of the UK's 100 Most Entrepreneurial Women by Real Business

Zarine Kharas of Justgiving.com named as one of the UK's 100 Most Entrepreneurial Women by Real Business

Tamara Heber-Percy of Mr & Mrs Smith Boutique Hotel Guides named as one of the UK's 100 Most Entrepreneurial Women by Real Business

Christina Domecq of SpinVox named as one of the UK's 100 Most Entrepreneurial Women by Real Business

Karen Darby of Simply Switch Utilities comparison service named as one of the UK's 100 Most Entrepreneurial Women by Real Business

Bec Astley Clarke of Astleyclarke.com named as one of the UK's 100 Most Entrepreneurial Women by Real Business

Glenys Berd of ilovethoseshoes.com named as one of the UK's 100 Most Entrepreneurial Women by Real Business