Your Guide to Starting a Women's Health Company From Someone Who Has Done It (Twice)

Women’s Health, FemTech, Women+ Health— whatever you want to call it— is the intersection of gender, biology, society, and the environment that shapes the well-being of half the global population. Yet it has long been relegated to the periphery of healthcare innovation. Recently, however, this sector has begun to take its rightful center stage, thanks to a new wave of founders, investors, and supporters. If you're aspiring to be part of this wave by starting a women's health company, you've chosen a field that's not only ripe for innovation but also plays a crucial role in advancing global health equity. Welcome!

I have started two women’s health companies, Natalist (sold in 2021) and Cofertility. I have backed and advised many more, including KindBody, Tia, Poppyseed Health, Conceive, Celmatix, Alife, Wildflower Health, Milkstork, Loom, Veracity, Aunt Flow, and Aavia. I was the Founder & Managing Director of Rock Health, where I helped start the Rock Health Women’s Summit and author our very first report on gender diversity in healthcare. And I have my MPH with a concentration in women’s and reproductive health. So you can say I’m very committed to this cause.

I put together this guide to share thoughts and resources as you get started. It includes:

• The urgency of women’s health

• Women’s health: all are welcome

• Getting started: the most helpful women’s health resources

• Funding options for your women’s health startup

• Women’s health market facts to go in your pitch deck

• Final thoughts: let’s promise to do this differently

The urgency of women's health

Gender bias in healthcare is as old as healthcare itself.

From the underrepresentation of women in clinical trials the pervasive gaslighting and misdiagnosis of women, the gender gap in healthcare is vast and very real.

If you’re working in this space, then you know this. But let’s review some of the glaring problems women face today: 

• On average, women live longer than men but suffer more years of poor health

• 70% of those affected by chronic pain conditions are women, but 80% of pain research is conducted on males

• Maternal mortality in the US is higher than our peer countries and actually *worsening*, especially for Black women

• Women face barriers to reproductive health services, with more and more women stating difficulty finding reproductive health clinics 

• Nine million women in the US are diagnosed with an STI each year, and often have more serious health problems from STIs than men

• Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of women in the US, but only a third of participants in clinical trials for new treatments for cardiovascular disease are female

• Women have up to a 4x increase in risk for autoimmune disease compared to men

• Essential product shortages, such as those of tampons and infant formula, disproportionately impact women and exacerbate existing inequalities

• Even though 100% of women living into late life experience menopause, it is woefully under-researched and poorly understood 

• Endometriosis, a condition of the uterus lining that 30% to 50% of infertile women experience, can take up to 10 years to diagnose

• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), affecting ~5M American women, takes up to two years, and multiple doctors, to diagnose

• An estimated 18 million women of reproductive age live in locations without access to fertility care

• The US lacks federally mandated paid maternity leave, placing undue financial and emotional stress on new mothers

• The rising incidence of domestic violence poses significant physical, emotional, and psychological threats to women

• A lack of comprehensive sex education in the country often leaves young women misinformed and inadequately equipped to make decisions about their sexual health

• The study of the human body is still largely based on a “Reference Man,” and it wasn’t until last year that a complete female anatomy model was created

• A 2021 analysis from the NIH concluded that the organization disproportionately funds studies on diseases that primarily affect men

• There are 5x as many studies into erectile dysfunction as PMS. Despite the fact that only 19% of men suffer from erectile dysfunction versus 90% of women that experience symptoms of PMS

• Just 4% of all biopharma R&D spending goes toward female-specific conditions. And of 37 total prescription drugs the FDA approved in 2022, only two were for female-specific health conditions

• Despite advances in women's rights, there remains a persistent pay gap, which negatively impacts women's socioeconomic status and, consequently, their access to healthcare

I could go on, and on, and on. 

Each of these issues is a clarion call for action. And each one of them also represents an opportunity—an opportunity for entrepreneurs and innovators to step in and make a significant difference.

The time is now. Society is increasingly recognizing and acknowledging these gaps and injustices. The discourse around women's health and gender equity has never been more active or more visible. This momentum, combined with advances in technology and an expanding body of research about women's health, sets the stage for unprecedented progress in this space.

I can't overstate how optimistic I am to see our community rise to this challenge. The problems are enormous, yes. But so too is our potential to effect change. I've seen firsthand the transformative power of mission-driven entrepreneurship. I am confident that as we band together, drawing on our collective passion, creativity, and resilience, we can redefine the landscape of women's health for the better.

In every challenge, I see a chance for innovation. In every setback, an opportunity for advocacy. In every story of struggle, a spark of potential waiting to be ignited.

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE