Entrepreneur
Investment roundup: women’s health innovation, closing gaps in maternal health care and more

Femtech World explores the latest investment developments in the world of women’s health.
SBRI Healthcare funding awarded to women’s health innovations
SBRI Healthcare has awarded £1.3m for the development of 14 innovations that support women’s health. Funded by the AAC, SBRI Healthcare ‘Competition 25: Women’s Health’ was launched in July 2024 as a Phase 1 development funding competition.
The projects will run for up to six months to demonstrate whether the innovations are technically and commercially feasible.
Under the overall theme of Women’s Health, innovations were sought that focused on gynaecological conditions and hormonal health, mental health, chronic conditions and long-term health.
The awarded projects include BirthGlide Limited, DDM Health Limited, ScreenIn3D Limited, Peripear Ltd, The Essential Baby Company, Neotherix Limited, Queen Mary University / Samphire Neuroscience, Lighthearted AI Health Limited, Signatur Biosciences Ltd, Holly Health, Unravel Health, Liberum Health, Signal Enhancement Diagnostics Limited and Spryt Ltd.
Cosette Pharmaceuticals announces acquisition of Mayne Pharma
Cosette Pharmaceuticals has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire all the outstanding shares of Mayne Pharma Group Limited.
Cosette Pharmaceuticals has stated that the acquisition adds patented, high-growth products to its portfolio and will help to expand its global reach, while both companies have said the move amplifies the shared mission to “improve lives through innovative and accessible Women’s health and dermatology medicines”.
US$12m to close gaps in maternal healthcare
Tech-enabled maternity clinic Millie has raised US$12m in Series A funding co-led by TMV and Foreground Capital, with significant participation from Pivotal Ventures and the March of Dimes Innovation Fund, two of the most prominent organizations advancing women’s health.
The company has said that this new funding round underscores the rapidly growing demand for patient-centered maternal healthcare that delivers better experiences and outcomes.
The capital will be used to expand Millie’s technology platform, offerings, and market footprint, with new clinics slated to open in 2025, starting with an upcoming launch in California in collaboration with Good Samaritan Hospital, part of HCA Healthcare.
US$50m to innovate Alzheimer’s care for women
Non-profit organisation Wellcome Leap has launched a research programme to improve Alzheimer’s care for women. The initiative is backed by US$50m.
According to Wellcome Leap, the programme – Cutting Alzheimer’s Risk through Endocrinology (CARE) – is designed to cut the lifetime risk of Alzheimer’s among women by half, preventing 54.5 million Alzheimer’s cases by 2050, and will focus on advances that increase access to treatments and reduce cost.
The programme will explore neuroendocrine risks and neurodegeneration to help identify personalised preventative strategies and treatments through the utilisation of biomarkers, advanced imaging, and genetic profiling.
Femtech startup Prickly Pear Health secures US$250,000
Digital health company focused on brain health during the menopausal transition, Prickly Pear Health, $250,000 in pre-seed funding.
The platform is leveraging AI to address hormonal fluctuations’ impact on brain health, particularly during the menopausal transition, and provide personalised insights and recommendations. Currently in closed beta, Prickly Pear is actively developing partnerships with healthcare providers and research institutions to expand its impact.
Imen Maaroufi Clark, founder and CEO of Prickly Pear Health, said: “Securing institutional backing this early in our journey validates both our mission and market opportunity. This investment accelerates our ability to address the critical gaps in menopausal health support, particularly around cognitive and neurological wellness.”
MUTU to help postpartum mums recover after childbirth
Evidence-based digital postnatal recovery platform MUTU has secured an NHS contract.
The programme will now be implemented in Medway Women’s Health Hub with funding from the Kent and Medway Women’s Health budget, allowing postpartum mothers in the region to access proven support, according to NHS Kent and Medway.
The contract follows the successful independent evaluation by Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex (Health Innovation KSS) and their evaluation partner, Unity Insights, which demonstrated MUTU’s effectiveness in addressing postpartum issues and the solution’s potential to be cost-effective. The evaluation provided the necessary evidence to support NHS adoption, setting a precedent for other healthcare regions.
The platform provides a digital-first, clinically validated solution, enabling women to receive essential care from the privacy of their homes.
Entrepreneur
Just 24 hours left to nominate your company of the year

You have until Friday to nominate your femtech company of the year.
The award is one of 10 featuring at Femtech World’s third annual awards event, which attracts entries from across the UK, EU and Europe.
The Company of the Year Award is for companies that have demonstrated exceptional leadership in tackling women’s health needs through groundbreaking products, services or platforms that are shaping the future of global femtech.
If your company is driving innovation, impact and growth in this space, this award was made for you.
About the sponsor: Femovate
The category is backed by Femovate, the global femtech incubator using design to fuel innovation across every stage of a woman’s health journey, from proactive prevention through to personalised treatment.
Femovate has invested over US$2 million in design capital, working side-by-side with founding teams to bring market-ready solutions to life.
The startups it supports have collectively raised US$120 million, launched 30 products, and secured seven FDA clearances.
Why enter?
The Femtech World Awards are free to enter.
Winners and shortlisted companies receive extensive coverage across all Femtech World platforms.
Winners will also receive a trophy and the opportunity to be featured in an interview for the publication.
Find out more about the Femtech World Award and enter here by 4pm BST on Friday 17.
Entrepreneur
The disciplined advantage: Wellness for modern leadership

By Chaitra Vedullapalli, founder and president, Women in Cloud
Today’s leaders are carrying more than responsibilities.
They are carrying caregiving roles, financial pressures, legal complexities, and the quiet emotional weight of sustaining performance in unpredictable times.
And yet, most leadership forums still focus on productivity, growth, and scale, rarely addressing the human systems that enable sustained leadership.
At Women in Cloud, we believe the next generation of leadership will not be defined by endurance alone, but by discipline, preparation, and self-respect.
That is why we are proud to announce the #WICxWellness Summit 2026: The Disciplined Advantage.
This is a wellness summit focused on leadership preparedness.
Why This Summit Matters Now
Across our global community, a clear pattern has emerged.
- More professionals and executives are quietly navigating:
- Life-threatening health crises, personally or within their families
- Financial stress caused by medical, caregiving, or business shocks
- Legal and healthcare decisions with long-term consequences
- Career interruptions due to caregiving responsibilities
- Chronic exhaustion, grief, and emotional isolation
These experiences are widespread, yet rarely discussed in executive settings.
#WICxWellness 2026 brings these realities into the open with compassion, clarity, and practical guidance, so leaders can prepare, adapt, and continue forward without breaking.
This is wellness as a leadership discipline.
What We Will Explore
This year’s summit is designed to provide grounded, immediately applicable insights for founders, executives, and senior leaders.
Executive Function Under Chronic Stress
Keynote with Jennifer Brown

Focus Areas:
- Understand how chronic stress alters judgment, focus, and emotional regulation
- Identify early warning signs of cognitive overload in leadership roles
- Adaptability as a Cognitive Anchor: Navigating rapid change without compromising decision-making.
- Resilience Through Connection: Building human-centric teams to mitigate the stress of uncertainty.
- Navigating Change with Emotional Intelligence: Regulating stress responses to maintain clarity and empathy.
- Systemic Agility in High-Pressure Environments: Creating foundations of psychological safety that protect organizational function
Labs That Matter (And What to Do With Them)
Fireside Chat with Chelsey Galipeau and Chaitra Vedullapalli

Focus Areas:
- Which health tests are worth the time and investment
- Interpreting results without panic
- Preventive strategies for executive longevity
- Avoiding unnecessary medical spending
Caretaking Without Collapse
Panel With Karen Fassio, Anca Platon Trifan, Scilla Andreen, Clara Schroeder, Sheena Yap Chan

Focus Areas:
- Managing family and professional demands without burnout
- Setting humane boundaries
- Building sustainable support systems
- Ending silent sacrifice in leadership
Food as a Stability System (Not a Diet)
Fireside Chat with Nancy Watt and Meagan T. Copelin

Focus Areas:
- Nutrition for sustained energy and clarity
- Blood sugar and decision-making
- Realistic eating during travel and stress
- Food as operational resilience
Autoimmunity, Hormones & Cardiac Risk in Real Life
Fireside Chat with Dr. Linda Bing

Focus Areas:
- Managing invisible health risks
- Hormonal transitions and stamina
- Flare prevention at work
- Energy mapping for leadership performance
A Different Kind of Leadership Conversation
At Women in Cloud, we have learned something fundamental:
Performance is visible. Discipline is invisible.
Yet discipline determines whether leaders can serve, build, and lead over decades, not just quarters.
The Disciplined Advantage is about building that resilience intentionally.
Through science, lived experience, and practical frameworks, this summit equips leaders to:
- Anticipate strain instead of reacting to a crisis Design sustainable work rhythms
- Protect cognitive and emotional capital
- Lead from grounded strength
This is leadership infrastructure for the next decade.
Join Us
If you are a founder, executive, technologist, or senior professional navigating complexity and determined to lead well without sacrificing your health, clarity, or longevity, this summit is for you.
The #WICxWellness Summit 2026 is where performance meets preservation. Where ambition meets sustainability. Where leadership becomes truly durable.
We look forward to welcoming you. The Disciplined Advantage begins here.
Secure your spot: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wicxwellness-summit-2026-tickets-1981616382945?aff=oddtdtcreator
Entrepreneur
Who will be crowned Startup of the Year?

Femtech World is continuing the search for a company to be crowned Startup of the Year.
The award is one of 10 to feature at the third annual Femtech World Awards.
The Startup of the Year Award celebrates an early-stage company making a bold impact in women’s health through innovation, vision and execution.
The winning startup will have demonstrated strong potential to transform care, accessibility, or awareness in women’s health with a scalable solution.
Consideration will be given to innovation, market traction, inclusivity, impact and the ability to address unmet needs.
The award is sponsored by Future Fertility.
The company is transforming fertility care with AI-powered solutions that close critical information gaps along the IVF journey.
Its clinically validated, non-invasive tools analyse oocyte images to predict each egg’s reproductive potential, supporting decision-making across key pathways: VIOLET™ for egg freezing, MAGENTA™ for IVF-ICSI, and ROSE™ for donor programmes and egg banks.
These reports deliver personalised insights into egg quality and ploidy potential, empowering patients and clinicians to make more informed decisions regarding next steps.
Today, Future Fertility’s technology is used in more than 300 clinics across 35+ countries.
Developed with the world’s largest oocyte image dataset linked to reproductive outcomes, Future Fertility’s AI models generate quality scores that not only guide treatment planning and manage expectations, but also serve as objective, actionable KPIs for labs—driving improved outcomes and transparency in fertility care worldwide.
The awards are free to enter, with winners receiving a trophy and an interview with Femtech World.
Find out more about the awards and enter for free here.
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