Despite a growing demand for female health solutions, the femtech sector continues to face significant hurdles, with businesses struggling against entrenched prejudice and gender bias that limits their growth. Industry insiders report that funding and support for women-led femtech companies are still lagging behind other sectors, despite the fact that this market serves half the global population.
Gender Bias in Funding
The femtech industry, which focuses on health solutions tailored to women's needs, has seen rapid growth over the past decade. From menstrual health and fertility to menopause and sexual wellness, companies are developing innovative products to address conditions that uniquely or predominantly affect women. These include groundbreaking solutions such as tampons that promote vaginal health, home diagnostic kits for conditions like endometriosis, and non-invasive ovulation trackers.
However, while the global femtech market is projected to grow from $28 billion to $60 billion by 2027, companies in this sector receive just 1-2% of total health technology funding. This disparity is rooted in persistent gender bias, says Mo Carrier, co-founder of the sexual wellness brand MyBliss.
“Being a female founder in femtech puts you at a huge disadvantage,” said Carrier. “At our last funding round, I was told by a male investor that lubricant was too niche because it was only needed by menopausal women. He wouldn’t even look at our research. That funding eventually went to yet another workplace productivity app.”
Facing Censorship and Stigma
Even when femtech companies secure funding, they encounter other obstacles, including censorship and operational challenges. Tess Isabelle Cosad, co-founder of Béa Fertility, which provides at-home fertility kits, shared how Amazon blocked the company from using the word “vagina” on its product listings, forcing them to substitute it with “birth canal.” Yet, male-centric terms like “semen” face no such restriction.
“The censorship around women’s health is ridiculous,” said Cosad. “We are a fertility company, and we shouldn’t have to compromise on language just to reach our customers.”
Censorship isn't limited to product descriptions. Valentina Milanova, CEO and founder of Daye, which produces diagnostic tampons, reported difficulties with digital advertising. “We spend up to £100,000 per month on platforms like Meta, Google, Amazon, and TikTok, but our online presence is still limited because we get blocked or banned almost weekly,” she said.
According to Clio Wood, co-founder of the UK-based campaign CensHERship, which advocates against the online censorship of women’s health content, 100% of the 35 femtech companies that responded to a recent survey reported experiencing similar issues. “Almost two-thirds lost significant revenue due to these obstacles, and 43% had to delay their launches,” said Wood. “The time and money wasted trying to resolve these problems can significantly set these businesses back.”
An Industry Fighting Back
Despite these challenges, the femtech industry is growing, and companies are finding ways to push forward. The UK has become a hub for femtech innovation, with around 770 companies in the sector, the second-largest share in the world. The region is also home to supportive organizations such as Femtech Lab, Women of Wearables, and the Oxford Femtech Society, which aim to foster growth in the industry.
Rachel Bartholomew, a spokesperson from Femtech Across Borders, highlighted the importance of government support. “The UK has leaned into women’s health, offering government funding and fostering pockets of innovation within femtech. The National Institute for Health and Care Research recently announced significant funding for women’s health, showing a commitment to addressing these issues.”
Others, like Tara Attfield-Tomes, founder of The 51% Club, emphasise the need for collective support. “There’s a wave of women who are empowered to innovate and create despite all these issues. It’s on all of us to support them because women need these products, and society benefits when they succeed,” she said.
The Path Forward
For the femtech sector to thrive, addressing these biases is crucial. More investment in women-led startups, along with an industry-wide effort to eliminate stigma and censorship, will pave the way for innovative health solutions that can dramatically improve the lives of millions of women worldwide.
“We’re at a pivotal moment,” said Attfield-Tomes. “The more we support female founders and their innovations, the better we can address long-standing health inequalities. It’s time to level the playing field and acknowledge the essential role femtech plays in healthcare.”
As demand for female health solutions continues to rise, industry leaders remain hopeful that the path forward will become less obstructed, enabling more innovative products to reach the women who need them most.
Note: Originally Published by https://www.theguardian.com/
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