FemHealth25

18th March, Circle Square, Manchester

FemHealth Integrates by Life Science Integrates brought professionals from all areas of FemTech and FemHealth to Circle Square in Manchester on 18th March 2025. They discussed a range of topics around women’s health through interactive fireside chats and panels. Here’s some of the key highlights and my thoughts on the day.

Fireside Chat: Advancing FemTech across the UK Regions

Jordan Dargue, Elaine Galston, Kath Mackay

Currently, although over 50% of FemTech businesses are founded solely by women, less than 2% of capital goes to female founders. Why has women’s health been overlooked up until this point and how do we support leaders in the FemHealth space?

Historically, taboos and attitudes around women’s bodies have shaped the way women’s health is studied (going all the way back to Hippocrates and the ‘wandering womb’ belief). Male bodies have been viewed as the standard of health, from which data can be extrapolated for women. This bias persists in elements of healthcare today – for example, the NHS still uses heart attack symptoms in men as their main messaging.

To support female leaders, current FemTech pioneers should promote the sector, inspire women to join, and attract diverse investors. There is an acknowledgement that conversations with male investors can differ from female investors – there may be more taboo topics and a greater reliance on engineering and data compared to more holistic perspectives – so a greater number of female investors in the space is also needed.

One success story local to Manchester is Maxwellia, who are located at Alderley Park. They’ve exemplified innovative thinking by undertaking product switching (a rigorous regulatory process), making contraceptives and other medications accessible over-the-counter. They’ve showcased the need to think beyond technology to drive progress.

My thoughts:

This was a great opening session that really underpinned why everyone was there. The speakers balanced outlining the biases and perceptions against women that have led the sector to where it is now (with some brilliantly told history by Elaine), with inspirational examples of companies already in the space. There was a clear call to action for men and women to promote investment and innovation in the FemHealth space.

Women on trial

Stephanie Caird, Dace Dimza-Jones, Claire Williams, Charlotte Chadwick, Olivia Wickens

The UK has historically lagged behind other European nations in addressing female health, but steps are being taken to improve this through promoting inclusivity in clinical trials. New guidelines aim to include more women and reflect UK demographics more accurately. However, they lack mandatory enforcement and specific quotas, meaning academia and industry alike won’t be incentivised to change the status quo. Including sex as a biological variable is the only way to determine accurate outcomes between women and men, but only 5% of pharmaceutical trials include sex analysis. Trials often ignore the biological differences between women and men that affect outcomes like medication dosages meaning adverse events can sometimes take decades to emerge.

Women also face additional hurdles in enrolling in clinical trials, such as logistical challenges if they are the primary caretaker, contraception, and effects the menstrual cycle. This was seen most recently during COVID, where the lack of investigation around the impact of the vaccine on the menstrual cycle contributed to the spread of misinformation, deterring vaccine uptake in women.

Efforts to recruit women should include education, representation of minority groups, and accessibility—such as reducing visits and offering childcare. Having more female lead investigators could also build trust and encourage participation from women. Overall, developing protocols from a patient-centric point of view will not only help with enrolling women, but retaining them through trials.

Differing healthcare systems and access to therapies could also be a driver for women enrolling in clinical trials. In Latvia, proactive patient advocacy and routine care reflect a more open and preventative approach to women’s healthcare. But the lack of access to some medications may drive patients to seek out clinical trials. The UK could learn from this proactive approach, investing in preventative rather than reactive approaches to women’s healthcare.

Between 50-75% of women have adverse drug reactions to medications due to the lack of female data. Greater awareness of the gender data gap could encourage women to drive change, putting pressure on pharmaceutical companies to publicise results their trial results and review the gaps in their data around women. Optimising systems for data collection during clinical trials and post marketing analysis is also needed to remove the onus of reporting from physicians and patients and allow a greater collection of real-world evidence. Sustainability and AI are slowly being implemented in trial protocols to refine trial design and reduce the impact of clinical trials – could it also have a place in data collection?

My thoughts:

This session reinforced what much of the audience knows already – that clinical trials are still not accounting for women in trial design, protocols, or data collection. It was really interesting to hear Dace’s account of women’s healthcare from the Latvian perspective – where women feel empowered to actively consult with doctors on their issues and treatment plans, and have routine gynaecological check-ups (which got a few reactions of disbelief from the UK audience). It highlighted the weaknesses in UK healthcare when it comes to primary care and gives us something to aim for in terms of preventive approaches to all healthcare including women’s health.

Investing in women

Vicky Protano, Jess Jackson, Helen Oldham, Candice Brett, Nick Dodd, Alison Maughan

Some of the challenges that women founders experience are also seen in investors. Only 15% of angel investors are women, with the majority of them being based in London. This restricts the opportunities for female founders in the North to benefit from the understanding and familiarity with women’s issues that female investors bring to the table.

There’s been a notable shift from ‘bubble thinking’ around under investment in the women’s health sector to widespread conversations, like the ones at this conference. The latest statistics show that 11% of VC investment is in female founders, while angel networks do 22% of their deals with women. For founders it can be quite confusing to navigate investment opportunities, so one of the jobs of angel investors is to keep companies focused on their route to market, and fight the temptation to join in the ‘washing’ that happens when there is a swell of investment in certain areas (e.g., greenwashing).

Women have buying power so FemHealth companies should appeal to investors. However, reduced capital in the FemHealth sector is due to decreased investment and exits, which increases competition, and a more conservative approach by investors who are looking for ROI in 2-3 years. To get investor-ready here’s some of the questions investors are looking for founders to answer:

1. How scalable is the business?
2. How big is the market?
3. Do you understand the market?
4. What is the clinical plan and route to market?
5. Is there any prior investment?
6. Do you have ideas for scientific advisory boards?

Audience questions:

Q. Is there an opportunity for collaboration with the US in the current climate?

The US is a tricky landscape at the moment, but there could be opportunities when specialist investors can’t invest locally and need to look for other geographies to invest. More broadly, redundancies in the innovation team at the FDA could present an opportunity for the UK to fast track these businesses and bring more growth to the UK.

My thoughts:

It was informative to hear directly from investors in this session around the benefits of expanding the pool of female investors, and how that translates to increased investment in female founders. This was also one of the few times in the day where the impact of the current climate in the US was discussed, and the speakers were able to bring a positive outlook, highlighting the potential opportunities for the UK.

Ladies first?

Sabine Hutchison, Josiane Chuisseu, Alistair Williamson, Gillian Ridley Whittle, Vee Mapunde

The discussion was framed around 4 ‘acts’ in women’s lives – the teen years, the reproductive years, menopause and the mid-life crisis, and later life.

Act 1: The teen years

The teenage years are where you invest for your future, so being well educated about women’s health is an important foundation that will benefit the rest of your life.

Currently endometriosis is a hot topic, and although the current age of diagnosis in 30 the disease actually starts with your first period. There is an overall lack of education and awareness about the disease, so as the research develops it should be communicated to healthcare professionals (HCPs) and patients. Ideas for communicating to patients include providing FAQs about endometriosis on sanitary product packaging e.g., why do you have heavy periods?

When the guidance is available frontline healthcare professionals don’t have the time or budget to treat people, and due to the existing medical literature being based on men, HCPs can’t adequately address women’s problems anyway. As said in previous sessions, more women involved in clinical trials and product development to make this change.

When it comes to products for women, the fashion and underwear industry creates products that are built on beauty, not the biomechanics of women. For example, 80% of women are in the wrong sized bra because there is a lack of awareness about it. This is something that Peachaus is trying to address.

Act 2: The reproductive years

Routine testing, like cervical screening, starts during the reproductive years. But the way they’re delivered and communicated to patients needs to be rethought. For example, why are speculums used for cervical screening instead of analysing endometrial tissue from periods (something that is far easier and more comfortable for patients)? Puberty blockers are used in patients with very heavy, painful periods to stop them, but many people don’t know that it can take a while for period to come back after using them. The view is that women’s health is treated as a problem to be solved rather than healthcare.

To change this, there needs to be buy-in from all sectors. One thing founders need to make clear to investors when they’re looking for funding is the reimbursement aspect of their tech. In healthcare, clinicians can’t utilise a product unless it can get reimbursed (which is trickier in the UK than the US), so it’s important early on to investigate your target market and how they’re going to use your product/service.

Act 3: Menopause and the midlife crisis

There is a lot of guidance out there on the menopause now (which Alistair demonstrated by bringing a copy of to the session!) But it’s not being acted on. Women often put themselves at the bottom of the pile to accommodate the rest of the things in their life. But to move the dial, it requires women in the UK to advocate for themselves more (as they do in other places).

Act 4: Later life – the forgotten woman

Something which may not be widely known is that over 55s have had the highest growth rate of STIs in the last 5 years. This is because some of the safeguards and precautions have gone out the window in this age range (probably because there is no chance of reproduction). This highlights the need to educate women in this age range on the prevalence of STIs, encourage them to test at home, and remind society in general that women’s health isn’t just about puberty and reproduction – it needs to continue onto later life.

The biggest missed opportunity for women in later life is giving their input into conditions like the menopause or pelvic flaw issues. For example, the vagina mesh scandal saw 1 in 11 women experience problems with the device, but a lack of regulatory scrutiny and communication about the risks of the mesh culminated in a law suit against manufacturers and the NHS. By speaking out about their experiences, older women can help shape the future of women’s health for the next generation.

My thoughts:

This was an interesting way to frame the discussion around women’s health, and it highlighted the various challenges women encounter throughout their lives when it comes to healthcare. Josiane said she wasn’t afraid to bring up the taboo topics, so we shouldn’t have been surprised when she brought up chlamydia rates in women over 50! It was also great to see Alistair so prepared (he brought a range of guidance documents with him) and enthusiastic about women’s health!

Culture change

Kathryn Simpson, Jackie Macritchie, Sahana Nayak, Alex Hogarty, Eleni Menegatou

Culture within organisations is an important factor for everyone as work is the place where people spend most of their day. But culture doesn’t just happen – every person is responsible for a culture. There should be policies and frameworks in place to support the expectations in the workplace. If they’re not being used or implemented, it’s on every person to uphold them, otherwise the culture won’t change. Good cultures attract and retain people, so investing in a good culture with career development, accountability, and equal opportunities will help attract and retain the best talent.

Audience questions:

Q. What initiatives are currently factoring in reproductive and fertility issues at work and how?

Roche are currently undertaking research in endometriosis and fertility around oncology, are emphasising support for women through their options, and educating clinics on how to communicate the right options and care to patients.

Q. Have Novartis got any programs that look at outsourcing innovative programs to address the gender gap?

Novartis recently conducted their International women’s day menopause survey (internally) to both genders to investigate what support is needed. They’re always looking out for innovative programs and identifying how they fit within their existing support programs. The feedback from employees is that there’s too many apps, so they need to find a way to connect and integrate resources effectively into the existing framework.

Q. Is there a plan to build a women’s health incubator where everyone in the ecosystem can work on FemTech to accelerate adoption and discovery?

Yes, there are talks to create a FemTech incubator-like system in Manchester and there’s a clear need for it from various conversations the panels have had during the day. Roche have also started a FemTech incubator in selected areas.

Q. How do small company leaders navigate the challenges of creating an inclusive culture?

You should start thinking about your culture as soon as you start a business, even if it’s just writing down a few points. It starts with listening to employees and getting their feedback around changes in the organisation, then empowering them to make the change. Having role models in a culture also makes it easier to implement.

My thoughts:

Although there was the clear need for FemTech specific support in this session, it was refreshing to take a step back from focussing on women-specific issues, and more broadly discussing the ways in which workplaces can support everyone by creating cultures that are designed to help people thrive. After all, change can only come if everyone buys into it.

The future of Femtech

Aahuti Rai, Lydia Mapstone, Yasmin Baba, Jean Ledger, Lara Zaki

Femtech/femhealth has grown 16% in the last 5 years, which is a cause for optimism looking ahead. But the current space covers a lot of conditions, so more specificity will help the sector progress. The panellists are all addressing specific areas with their ventures:

BoobyBiome are using breastmilk to create a pipeline of products to improve infant health. This includes a device to preserve breastmilk by removing oxygen, and supplements to improve the gut health of infants who haven’t been exposed to breastmilk. Their pipeline aims to relieve the societal and self-inflicted pressure from mothers who can’t have a natural birth or breastfeed.

Amilis are changing the way women navigate reproductive healthcare using AI and big data. Their platform is designed for doctors and patients to track their menstrual cycles and menopause to aid fertility treatments and get diagnoses for chronic conditions.

Adora Digital Health is menopause platform for specialist menopause support in the workplace. The platform is important for sectors which are predominantly female, as women over 50 tend to reduce their hours because of the menopause. This has a knock-on effect to the sector. It uses conversational AI or nurse chats to gather data and is focussed on developing AI in a safe way to enable people, not replace them.

Team Consulting are medical technology design and development consultants, providing innovative solutions and solving complex healthcare challenges in FemHealth and beyond. One of their projects has looked at ways of improving surgical devices to make sure they’re applicable for a wider range of end-users in healthcare (i.e. surgeons) and patients.

When it comes to putting quotas on data collection, the panel is in agreement that it is needed to reflect the UK population. To enable the collection of robust and diverse data, you need to tap into networks and leaders in those communities. For example, Boobybiome found it very easy to recruit white, middle-class women to their platform via word of mouth, but needed a concerted effort through their BAME campaign to reach minority women. The phrase ‘hard to reach’ when it comes to patient populations is unpopular as it puts blame on individuals, when the onus to reach them should be on the researchers/companies.

The future of FemTech will need to push for holistic systems and partnerships to enable data sharing. Currently the infrastructure to enable good data collection and effective AI tools hasn’t been established, and it will be difficult to balance proprietary data with data sharing. Sustainability and accessibility are also important for the future of FemHealth. Right now, health systems, competition, and biases have created a 2-tiered healthcare system, and women have to navigate a fragmented system of products and services. This needs to change.

My thoughts:

It was interesting to hear some panellists initially not associate their companies with the FemHealth sector, but then find their place in the space through discussion with the other panellists. This highlights a point made at the beginning of the session around defining FemHealth and the specific sectors within it to encourage innovators to get involved in the space.

Final thoughts

FemHealth 2025 brought together a wide range of people to talk candidly about the challenges and opportunities in the growing space of FemTech and FemHealth. You could feel the passion that many people had for women’s health, and not just from women. The venue was intimate enough to enable good interactions between the audience and the panellists. The only problem was finding it! (The receptionist at the Holiday Inn across the street was well practiced in directing people from the hotel where Google said the venue was). Overall, a great event and hopefully the first of many!