Embrace equity with femtech innovations
This year's International Women's Day's motto: #embraceequity. How to better do that, than celebrate the start-ups that are disrupting the healthcare industry? From pelvic floor trainers to AI-driven healthcare platforms to cycle-based and individualized skincare systems, let us celebrate the femtech start-ups embracing equity:
INNOVATIVE BREASTFEEDING
ELVIE LAUNCHES “SMART BODIES” BY MOTHER
Let's start with a unicorn: pelvic floor trainer and breast pump company Elvie does not only re-invent femtech marketing with its lush, luxurious campaigns but reached unicorn status last year with a 4 billion $ evaluation. Having created a community around their products, and a more than noteworthy onboarding and customer support system Elvie is rebranding and shame-freeing the space.
Elvie's “smart bodies” marketing campaign certainly breaks with the stereotypical health marketing for women.
INNOVATIVE GYNECOLOGY
HOME TESTING & TELEHEALTH WITH PROGRESSIVE VALUES & TECH
A lot is happening in the sexual health space for women too. From the early fame of OMGYes to beducated and lately omgyno: education, telehealth, and home testing to promote self-care, privacy, and control are providing a female view on reproductive health.
SUPPORTING WOMEN IN MENOPAUSE
VIRTUAL TELEMEDICINE AND HOLISTIC HEALTHCARE
Part of (nearly) every woman reality, yet long ignored, hidden or even ridiculed in movies and media: menopause and perimenopause are being explained, tackled and understood by companies like Upliv. From telehealth consultations with doctors and nurse practitioners, access to healthcare coaches and the community they aim at providing remote support to women during perimenopause and menopause.
Upliv is featuring an interdisciplinary team focussed on providing 360° care and information for women in peri menopause and menopause.
PERSONALIZED FEMALE HEALTH CARE
AI PERSONALIZED HEALTH AND WELLNESS, DESIGNED BY SCIENCE
More data is finally being collected and analyzed too. Texan startup Femtech Health for example has launched "Awesome Woman," a D2C platform that uses AI and machine learning to analyze data about a women's health history, vaginal microbiome, and genetic information to provide personalized boxes of health products and a deeper understanding of female health issues.
PERIOD TRACKING APP
TRACK PERIODS, OVULATION & PMS
Last but certainly not least, period tracker and first-wave femtech start-up Clue partners with beauty brand L'Oréal to research the effects of the menstrual cycle on the health of the skin, offering personalized skincare routines that take the menstrual cycle seriously.
STAY RELEVANT IN THE FUTURE
HOW COULD YOUR BRAND TRANSFORM CULTURAL BEHAVIOR?
While a lot of work remains to be done, we celebrate the unicorns, early-stage start-ups, and innovative partnerships within the space that #embraceequity and help understand, treat and innovate female health.
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Author: Katharina Kiéck
Founder and CEO of LoyalSea
The anthropologist originally wanted to become a museum curator or mixed martial arts pro – a far cry from her focus on pushing diversity in media production today. Between one and the other she worked as futurist, brand strategist at Twitter and CSO at an Artificial Intelligence Start-Up.
CHANGING CULTURES MAGAZINE
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