Entrepreneur
Startup launches funding to take its seaweed tampons into production
Period care startup Vyld aims to reduce plastic pollution with their seaweed-made tampons.
The startup has launched a campaign on StartNext with the goal to crowdfund 100.000€ to finalise its prototype and kick off production.
Vyld was founded in 2021 in Berlin as a steward-ownership profit-for-purpose company by marine guide Ines Schiller.
The startup’s tampons are the seaweed kelp which is not only biodegradable on land but also in water. One of the benefits of a seaweed-made tampon is that kelp grows ten rimes faster than an average plant.
This type of tampons is not only great for the environment, but also for women’s body as they are allergy-friendly and anti-inflammatory.
Ines Schiller, Vyld co-founder, said: “Algae are already used in over 70 per cent of all processed foods dye to their many beneficial features. We want to use these amazing unique advantages for period products where they will really make a difference.
“This way we can offer the menstruator a unique solution that combines product performance and true sustainability.”
Seaweed kelp
The launch of the funding comes after a new MyMicrobiome study that found that Vyld’s tampon fibres made from marine algae preserve the vaginal microbiome and outperform conventional products in testing.
Dr Kristin Neumann, CEO of MyMicrobiome, said that “an intact vaginal microbiome is important to ward off pathogens”.
Schiller added: “We also want to find more sustainable ways to finance our development and this crowdfunding campaign is one of them.
“With the help of the community, we are getting closer to our vision of saving the oceans with really healthy tampons. Whether someone menstruates or not, if you want to contribute to saving the oceans and to gender equality, this is the place to be.”
The women’s digital health market is set to reach US$5.28bn in 2026, up from US$4.36bn in 2025, according to a new report.
That would represent annual growth of 20.9 per cent, driven by factors including greater smartphone use among women, wider uptake of telehealth and a stronger focus on preventive care.
The report said the market could reach US$11.47bn by 2030, with projected annual growth of 21.4 per cent over the forecast period.
It also pointed to rising awareness of gender-specific health needs, expansion among digital health start-ups, growing demand for personalised healthcare, investment in femtech innovation and the spread of AI-enabled diagnostics.
Wearables linked to health apps and wider use of remote monitoring tools are also expected to play a larger role, as companies focus on more preventive and joined-up care.
Smartphone use was highlighted as a major driver because mobile apps are increasingly being used for women’s health services, from menstrual cycle tracking to pregnancy support.
The report cited Eurostat data showing that in 2023, 89 per cent of EU residents aged 16 to 74 in urban areas accessed the internet via smartphones.
The report also said companies in the sector are developing new technology aimed at improving access to more personalised healthcare.
One example it gave was a 2024 collaboration between Algorand and the Self-Employed Women’s Association to launch a digital health passport for women in India’s informal economy using blockchain technology.
Recent mergers and acquisitions were also noted. In March 2023, Maven Clinic acquired Naytal to expand its services in the UK and Europe.
North America was identified as the largest market in 2025, while Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region.
Companies named as key players included Flo Health Inc, Natural Cycles, Elvie, Bellabeat, Clue by Biowink, MobileODT Ltd., Glow, Veera Health, Biowink GmbH, Ava AG, Hims & Hers Health, Inc., The Women’s Wellness Centre, Elara Health, myGynaeDoc, Maven Clinic, Kindbody, Allara Health, Tia and Hera Med Ltd.
Entrepreneur
Future Fertility raises Series A financing to scale AI tools redefining fertility care worldwide
Future Fertility Inc. has announced the closing of a US$4.1 million Series A financing round.
The round was led by M Ventures (the corporate venture capital arm of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany) and Whitecap Venture Partners, with participation from new investors Sandpiper Ventures, Gaingels, and Jolt VC.
The financing will accelerate Future Fertility’s commercial expansion into Asia-Pacific and support its entry into the United States, including planned FDA 510(k) clearance for additional products as part of a broader U.S. market entry strategy.
Proceeds will also advance the development of a broader AI platform, from egg assessment through to embryo transfer, designed to support clinicians, embryologists, and patients across the full IVF journey.
M Ventures and Whitecap have supported Future Fertility’s mission to translate AI innovation into meaningful clinical outcomes since the company’s earliest stages.
Oliver Hardick, investment director, M Ventures, said: “Future Fertility is addressing a critical unmet need in reproductive medicine with a differentiated AI platform grounded in clinical data and real-world workflow integration.
“We are excited to continue supporting the company and team because we believe its technology has the potential to improve decision-making for clinicians, bring greater clarity to patients, and help advance a more personalised standard of care in fertility treatment.”
Future Fertility’s AI platform addresses a long-standing gap in fertility care: historically, there has been no objective, clinically validated method for assessing egg quality (Gardner et al., 2025), despite it being one of the most important drivers of reproductive success.
The company’s suite of deep learning tools includes VIOLET™, MAGENTA™, and ROSE™, purpose-built for egg freezing, IVF, and egg donation respectively.
The tools are based on AI models trained and validated on more than 650,000 oocyte images and are deployed in over 300 clinics across 35 countries.
Rhiannon Davies, founding and managing partner, Sandpiper Ventures, said: “The best outcomes in fertility care globally come from better data and smarter tools. Future Fertility understands that, and they’ve built a platform that delivers on it.
“Sandpiper is proud to back a team turning rigorous science into real results for patients and clinicians alike.”
Partnerships with the world’s leading fertility networks – including IVI RMA and Eugin Group across Latin America and Europe, FertGroup Medicina Reproductiva in Brazil, and most recently announced Kato Ladies Clinic in Japan – reflect growing demand for objective, AI-powered oocyte assessment in fertility care. In the United States, ROSE™ is newly available under an FDA 513(g) determination.
Research shows that approximately 50 per cent of IVF patients do not understand their likelihood of success, and many discontinue treatment prematurely, even though cumulative success rates improve significantly with multiple cycles (McMahon et al., 2024).
By delivering earlier clarity on egg quality, Future Fertility’s tools support more informed conversations between clinicians and patients, helping set realistic expectations and guide decisions about next steps.
Future Fertility’s growing evidence base spans seven peer-reviewed publications in Human Reproduction, Reproductive BioMedicine Online, Fertility & Sterility, and Nature’s Scientific Reports, and more than 70 scientific abstracts accepted and presented with partner clinics at conferences worldwide.
Christine Prada, CEO, Future Fertility, said: “Fertility treatment is one of the most emotionally and physically demanding experiences a person can go through.
“Every patient deserves objective data, not just a best guess, to support better decisions at critical moments in their care.
“This funding means we can bring that clarity to more patients, in more countries, at a moment when it matters most.”
Find out more about Future Fertility at futurefertility.com
Entrepreneur
Women’s HealthX confirms exceptional speaker line-up to advance fertility and reproductive care
By Women’s HealthX
Women’s HealthX has confirmed an outstanding cohort of fertility and reproductive care leaders for its upcoming event, bringing together the senior clinicians, medical directors, and innovators shaping evidence-based practice across hospitals and healthcare systems globally.
Timed to coincide with Infertility Awareness Week, this announcement underscores the event’s commitment to accelerating the adoption of evidence-based innovations in fertility and reproductive medicine.
Find out more about Women’s HealthX
Headline Speaker
Fireside Chat: The Invisible Disease: What Endometriosis Reveals About the Future of Women’s Health
Padma Lakshmi, Co-Founder, Endometriosis Foundation of America
Confirmed Speakers from World-Leading Institutions and confirmed sessions
Training the Next Generation of Fertility HCPs
Alan Penzias, Director, Fellowship Program in Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Shaping the Future of Fertility Care
Lynn Mason, Chief Executive Officer — North America, IVIRMA Global
Ovarian Aging and Reproductive Potential: What Truly Matters
Mark Trolice, Founder & Medical Director, The IVF Center
The Patient Journey Through Fertility Care: Improving Experience & Outcomes
Adam Balen, Chief Medical Officer / Professor of Reproductive Medicine, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Designing Women’s Health Around The Whole Woman: A Life-Course Model for Sustainable Outcomes
Malissa Wood, Chief Medical Officer, Women as One
Prolong Fertility Preservation by Highlighting Ovarian Insufficiency Through Genetic Variant Data Analysis
Julie Rios, Division Director, Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility, UPMC
What Attendees Will Take Away
How to improve the fertility patient journey and outcomes
- Ways to detect ovarian aging earlier using genetic insights
- Strategies to deliver care across the full female life course
- Approaches to training the next generation of fertility specialists
Women’s HealthX spans seven dedicated stages covering the full lifecycle of women’s health — from fertility and sexual health to maternity and menopause — providing attendees with actionable insights from frontline leaders across hospitals and healthcare systems.
With Chief Medical Officers and senior clinical leaders in attendance, the programme moves beyond discussion into delivery, giving attendees direct access to the latest clinical evidence, emerging digital tools, and real-world outcomes data to support integrated, high-quality care.
REGISTER NOW FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A FREE THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE
Complimentary passes are available for qualified healthcare professionals.
Attendees who register by 15 May will gain full access to all seven stages and a chance to receive a complimentary therapeutic massage at Encore Boston.
Register your complimentary place
For speaking opportunities, partnership enquiries, or further information, please contact the team directly at info@alpahevents.com
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