FHF and StitchCrew launch new programme on women’s health

The two companies’ collaboration seeks to support women entrepreneurs building technology-enabled products and solutions for women’s health and wellness.

StichCrew, focused on equitable economy through entrepreneurship, and FemHealth Founders, focused on cultivating a FemHealth ecosystem, are now launching an accelerator programme focused on women’s health and wellness solutions.

The collaboration is backed by the Walton Family Foundation, that provided the two companies with a grant. Thanks to this grant, selected participants from the US will receive US$10,000.

Erika Lucas, co-founder of StitchCrew, said: “The time to invest in women’s health is now. We are proud to partner with FHF and the Walton Family Foundation to support women entrepreneurs building solutions that improve care delivery, address stigmatised areas and deliver culturally sensitive and tailored care options for women.”

The programme is targeted at early-stage companies that provide solutions for maternal health, menstrual health, pelvic and sexual health, fertility, menopause and contraception. The programme will also focus on a number of general conditions that affect women disproportionately or differently. 

“About one per cent of healthcare innovation and research is invested in female-specific conditions, beyond oncology,” said Natalie Shew, FHF co-founder. “That number should be far higher. We’re excited to work with like-minded organisations to propel women founders in the heartland who want to improve and expand women’s health and wellness solutions.”

To be considered, startups must be women lead and be based in the US with the possibility of traveling to Northwest Arkansas.

The application will open in November 2022 and more information and updates on the programme will be posted on the companies websites.