New pitching programme for women-led health startups

A cohort of promising healthcare and life science startups with at least 51 per cent female leadership have been selected for a new international pitching programme.

Global organisation, the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA), has chosen eight companies for its first Pitch Competition for Women Innovators, taking place later this month at the 2024 HBA Annual Conference in Toronto.

The conference aims to address the significant funding gap faced by women entrepreneurs in healthcare and life sciences, where only three percent of venture capital funding goes to female founders, and an even smaller percentage to women of colour.

Promising startups in the healthcare or life sciences sector, with at least 51 percent female ownership, were encouraged to apply to participate in the pitching competition. More than 70 companies applied and the following were chosen:

• Bfree Cup
• Cura Therapeutics
• EndoGene.bio
• FemTherapeutics
• HDAX Therapeutics
• ImaginAble Solutions
• Scotiaderm
• Vessl Prosthetics

Mary Stutts, CEO of the HBA, said: “We are thrilled to have such high-caliber startups showcase their groundbreaking ideas and solutions during HBA’s inaugural Pitch Competition for Women Innovators. By shining a spotlight on these amazing women-led startups, we hope to build awareness for the urgent need to close the funding gap and drive the future of healthcare forward.

“We are grateful to have so many of our corporate partners and venture fund leaders joining us in this important work to accelerate the impact of women innovators.”

Jim Weiss, founder and chairman of Real Chemistry, and long-standing HBA Advisor, said: “Initiatives like this are crucial to closing the funding gap and empowering the next generation of women entrepreneurs who will drive much needed transformative change and impact.”

The judges who will evaluate the pitches and select the winners include William Taranto, president of Merck Global Health Innovation Fund and Chris Haskell, head of JLABS at Johnson & Johnson.

During the competition, each company will have seven minutes to pitch their startup to the panel of judges, followed by five minutes for Q&A.

More than $100K in cash prizes will be awarded to the 1st place, 2nd place, and Audience Choice winners collectively.

Additionally, the winning companies will be awarded several in-kind prizes from the sponsors of the pitch competition which will be announced during the event, as well as a potential opportunity for an equity investment, pending due diligence.

The HBA operates in more than 80 locations around the world, with a community of 85,000 individuals and 150 Corporate Partners.