Hong Kong launches first major women’s health summit to spotlight femtech innovation and investment opportunities

A new two-day summit in Hong Kong aims to highlight why supporting women’s health is not just a moral obligation but an economic imperative.

Around the world, women continue to face barriers to healthcare—whether through regressive policies, underfunding or lack of access. At the same time, a growing number of women-led start-ups and companies are working to challenge that status quo.

To address the issues, Hong Kong will host the inaugural Women’s Health in Focus: A Global Summit on 16 and 17 June. Described by organisers as the city’s first large-scale symposium dedicated to women’s health, the event will bring together 40 international leaders from healthcare, technology, investment and entrepreneurship. The programme, held at the Asia Society Hong Kong Centre, will cover topics ranging from women’s longevity, brain and heart health to disease prevention and workplace wellness.

The summit will spotlight the growing field of femtech—technology developed specifically for women’s health—with some of the sector’s biggest players showcasing global best practices in maternal health patient support, menstrual products, gynaecological devices and fertility solutions.

“For too long, women’s health has been marginalised in clinical trials, tech development and healthcare design,” said Anca Griffiths, summit co-founder and chief executive of Hong Kong-based edu-tech company OM Health Hub.

Maaike Steinebach, a femtech consultant and fellow summit co-founder also based in Hong Kong, said the goal is to elevate women’s health as a strategic priority in boardrooms and policy agendas across Asia. Driving investment in women’s health “as a cornerstone of economic resilience and innovation”, she said, “means more funding for research, more tailored health employee benefits for women in the workplace, and a clearer understanding that equitable healthcare isn’t just a moral imperative—it’s a growth driver”.

Speakers include Dr Christopher Asandra, a renowned longevity expert who will share the tools and protocols he uses to treat Hollywood’s elite; Dr Lisa Larkin, a women’s health expert who will present a road map for disease prevention; and Dr Cassandra Szoeke, a leading brain-health researcher and author of Secrets of Women’s Healthy Ageing (2021).

The summit will also host the global launch of the Women’s Longevity Blueprint, described by organisers as a pioneering initiative designed to deliver targeted tools and strategies to help women prevent disease and extend their lifespan.

“Women’s health is not only a personal issue; it’s an economic one,” said Steinebach. “For every dollar we invest in women’s health, we get three dollars’ worth of GDP. When we overlook women’s specific health needs, we lose out on productivity, innovation and inclusive progress.”