Investment roundup: Visa’s She’s Next Grant Programme, £1.2m for women’s health and more

Femtech world explores the latest investment developments in the world of women’s health.

Irish female entrepreneurs win share of €90,000 in Visa’s She’s Next Grant Programme

Visa has announced the winners of its She’s Next Grant Programme in Ireland. Now in its fourth year, entries have more than tripled since the programme first launched.

The winners in women’s health are Claire Fullam, founder of Remi Scalp Care, Marian Kennedy, founder of Anewmum, Post Partum Relief Healthcare, and Sinéad Ryan, founder of Little Fitness, a physical education social enterprise.

This year’s overall winner, Claire Fullam, founder of Remi Scalp Care, was awarded a €50,000 grant, the largest business grant ever awarded by Visa’s She’s Next programme, having successfully pitched her business to Visa’s judging panel in January. Each of the four other winners received a €10,000 business grant to help take their next business steps with confidence.

All five winners of the She’s Next Grant Programme will also receive mentoring from award-winning entrepreneur and Visa’s She’s Next Campaign Ambassador, Aimee Connolly, founder of Sculpted by Aimee.

Additionally, they will benefit from business coaching provided by MentorsWork, an initiative by Skillnet Ireland in partnership with the Small Firms Association (SFA). As part of the programme, the winners also participated in group pitch preparation sessions designed to equip them with the skills and confidence to excel when future funding opportunities arise.

£1.2M investment into new pioneering research projects in women’s health

A UK charity that is dedicated to funding research in all areas of women’s reproductive and gynaecological health, Wellbeing of Women, has announced it has invested in 18 new projects spanning menstrual and sexual health, pregnancy, fertility and contraception and gynaecological cancers.

Projects that have been awarded with a combined total of more than £1.2m include: Using heat to treat ovarian cancer; Innovative new ways to detect HPV and cervical cancer; Understanding how ovarian cancer spreads and develops; High blood pressure during pregnancy and long-term health; Endometriosis and blood clotting; Contraception after giving birth, and more.

2025 Women’s Health Council to Support Women’s Health Accelerator Programme

Springboard Enterprises, an accelerator for advancing women-led innovation, has announced the launch of the 2025 Women’s Health Council. The group of experts will provide strategic guidance, mentorship, and industry connections to support entrepreneurs participating in the Springboard Women’s Health Accelerator Program.

The Women’s Health Council plays a crucial role in advancing innovation in women’s health by lending their expertise across biotechnology, digital health, medical devices, diagnostics, and consumer health solutions. Their insights and networks will empower the participants of the 2025 Women’s Health Cohort to drive innovation and bring new women’s health solutions to market.

Women’s Health Clinic receives CAD$10m investment

The Women’s Health Clinic (WHC) in Winnipeg will be safer, more accessible, and energy-efficient after an investment of $10 million from the Canadian federal government.

Women’s Health Clinic provides inclusive, accessible health and wellness services, including reproductive health care, mental health support, and gender-affirming care.

Funding will support critical upgrades to the clinic’s ageing mechanical, electrical, and elevator systems, as well as deep retrofits to enhance resilience and reduce carbon emissions. These improvements will ensure the clinic can continue delivering essential services in a safer, more sustainable environment, and can fully meet accessibility needs.

Lifted Ventures and Anya Health collaboration to accelerate AI-driven women’s healthcare

Lifted Ventures has announced that it has invested in Anya, an AI-driven women’s healthcare company.

Anya is a digital health application dedicated to supporting women’s health across various life stages, including pregnancy, parenting, fertility, and menopause. The app offers personalised, AI-powered, 24/7 healthcare and companionship, featuring Anya AI chatbot, healthcare specialist support, personalised content, virtual communities, and more.

Anya is still seeking additional investment with £150k remaining in the round.

Madica welcomes new startups to its investment programme

Madica, a structured investment program designed for pre-seed stage startups in Africa, has announced its latest round of investments in four tech-enabled startups which include Medikea, Motherbeing, Pixii Motors and ToumAI.

Each startup has received an investment of up to $200,000 and will participate in Madica’s investment programme, including 18 months of support through a personalised curriculum, hands-on mentorship, and two fully-funded week-long founder immersion trips to key local and global ecosystems, including Cape Town and London. The portfolio companies will also gain access to executive coaching opportunities and access to Madica’s global network of investors for follow-on funding, all designed to spur growth and ensure the long-term viability of the startups.

Egypt-based Motherbeing, founded by Nour Emam and Yousef Elsamaa, is a secure wellness service spanning Arabic AI chat assistance, educational content, and diagnostic services tailored to address their unique sexual and reproductive health needs.