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What is femtech and why does it matter?
The femtech industry is not only focused on product development but also on addressing the gender gap in healthcare
Femtech is a term used to describe the use of technology to improve women’s health and wellness.
This rapidly growing industry is focused on addressing the specific health needs and concerns of women, including reproductive health, fertility, menstruation, pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopause.
Femtech is a relatively new term, coined in 2016 by Ida Tin, the founder of Clue, a popular menstrual cycle tracking app.
Since then, the femtech industry has exploded, with hundreds of start-ups and established companies developing innovative products and services to improve women’s health and wellness.
According to a FemTech Analytics report, femtech hit £13bn in total industry funding in 2022 compared to less than £3m invested in femtech start-ups in 2009.
One of the primary goals of femtech is to help women better understand their bodies and make informed decisions about their health. This includes developing technologies to track and monitor menstrual cycles, ovulation and fertility and improve maternal health.
Other areas of focus for femtech include contraception, abortion care, oncology, menopause as well as mental health.
However, the femtech industry is not only focused on product development but also on addressing the gender gap in healthcare.
Historically, medical research has been heavily focused on men, and women’s health concerns have often been overlooked or dismissed.
By developing products and services specifically designed for women and advocating for greater inclusion of women in medical research, femtech companies are working to address the unique health needs and concerns of women and improve their overall quality of life.
Fashion, beauty and lifestyle retailers have joined the American Heart Association to raise awareness of heart disease in women.
The Go Red. Shop with Heart. campaign launched at the New York Stock Exchange on 30 January.
Retailers will ask for donations at checkout in February or donate a percentage of proceeds from selected items.
More than four in 10 women in the US have some form of cardiovascular disease, a term for heart and blood vessel conditions such as heart disease and stroke.
Heart disease and stroke kill more women in the US each year than all forms of cancer combined.
Brands taking part include Away, Commando, Lafayette 148, Michael Kors, Reebok, ShopSimon.com, Summersalt, Torrid and White & Warren.
More than 40 other nationwide retailers are also inviting customers to support the organisation this February through its Life Is Why campaign.
Nancy Brown is chief executive officer of the American Heart Association.
She said: “Nearly 1 in 3 women die from cardiovascular disease each year, yet women are still profoundly under-represented in the clinical research, science and medicine that could save their lives.
“Retailers and consumers are uniquely positioned to turn everyday moments into meaningful change through Go Red. Shop with Heart.”
According to the American Heart Association 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Update, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US and stroke is the number four cause of death.
The organisation projects that at least six in 10 US adults will have cardiovascular disease within the next 30 years and related costs are expected to triple.
However, approximately 80 per cent of cardiovascular disease is preventable through lifestyle changes.
Mindy Grossman is a volunteer board member at the American Heart Association and partner and vice chair of Consello.
Grossman said: “Retail has always been a powerful connector.
“Shop with Heart gives our industry a shared platform to lead with purpose and unite consumers in support of heart health.”
Milken Institute has launched the Women’s Health Network digital platform with Velir x Brooklyn Data to speed collaboration and investment across research, care and technology.
The new website creates a hub for members to share content, connect and coordinate projects, with branding and the first public Drupal build delivered by Velir x Brooklyn Data. A launch video premiered on 4 November 2025 at the inaugural steering committee and member luncheon in Washington DC, then featured at the Milken Institute Future of Health Summit.
Phase two is scheduled for February 2026, adding member log-ins for networking and content exchange. Phase three in April 2026 will add advanced collaboration tools and expanded community features.
“This launch represents the type of mission-driven, cross-sector digital work we are incredibly proud to support,” said Eliza Pare, vice-president of client services at Velir. “The Women’s Health Network is poised to transform collaboration in women’s health, and we’re honoured to help build the digital infrastructure that will make that possible.”
Chaired by former first lady Dr Jill Biden, the Women’s Health Network brings together leaders from industry, startups, investors, health systems, patient groups, academia and philanthropy. More than 100 members have joined, with a steering group that includes organisations such as the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Amgen, Deloitte, GE Healthcare, Merck, Microsoft, Northwell Health, Organon and others.
Innovate UK has opened the Women in Innovation Awards for 2025 to 2026, with grants of up to £75,000 for as many as 60 winners.
HealthTech winners in 2024 included a tampon that prevents bacterial infections, an AI audio device for visually impaired people, and an app for gynaecological conditions.
The awards target female founders of late-stage start-ups with a minimum viable product, early user traction or revenue, growing teams and plans to raise significant capital within 12 to 24 months.
Liz Kendall, science secretary, said: “The Women in Innovation Awards are unlocking the UK’s untapped potential within our community of women innovators; if men and women started and scaled businesses at the same rate this could be worth as much as £250 billion for the UK economy.
“This record £4.5 million investment will empower ambitious women founders to scale their businesses, drive economic growth, and inspire the next generation of innovators.”
Applicants must operate in advanced manufacturing, digital and technologies, or life sciences, three of the high growth sectors identified in the UK’s Industrial Strategy. Winners receive up to £75,000 plus training, networking and role-modelling opportunities, with tailored support also offered to highly commended applicants.
The competition opened on 26 November 2025 and closes on 4 February 2026.
Since 2016, Innovate UK has invested more than £11m in 200 women innovators through these awards, with up to 60 more to be funded this year.
Last year’s programme drew criticism after Innovate UK initially said it would fund 50 women, then announced only 25 awards at £75,000 each. Following a campaign led by Emma Jarvis, founder of Dearbump, and the ‘Let’s Fund More Women’ group of more than 400 supporters, Innovate UK reversed the decision and confirmed all 50 awards and £4m, saying it was “a mistake and we prioritised wrongly”.
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