Latest news with #FemTech
Evening Standard
2 days ago
- Science
- Evening Standard
Women face ‘frightening privacy and safety risks' from period tracker apps ...Tech & Science Daily podcast
Dr Stefanie Felsberger from Cambridge's Minderoo Centre for Technology and Democracy, alongside her team at the University of Cambridge, are calling for better regulation in FemTech.
Forbes
12-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Investors Are Betting On FemTech's Untapped $103 Billion Market
Femly CEO Arion Long and 100KM Ventures Managing Partner Shalanda Armstrong FemTech is not just about periods and pregnancy, it's about data sovereignty, community health, and economic power. The term encompasses software, diagnostics, products, and services focused on women's health, and is on the rise with a global market expected to surpass $103 billion by 2030, according to Deloitte. Funds like 100KM Ventures are continuing to invest in the future of work and health, knowing that game changing FemTech entrepreneurs like Arion Long, CEO of Femly, the world's first smart touchless pad and tampon vending machine are poised to gain a fair share of this market. During Women's Health month it's important to highlight that Black women face some of the worst health outcomes in the U.S., with KFF finding they have the highest maternal mortality rates to disproportionate misdiagnosis in reproductive issues like fibroids and endometriosis. FemTech has the power to bridge these gaps through culturally informed tech, but only if those most affected have a seat at the innovation table. This creates an urgent need for more relevant solutions, and becomes a ripe investment opportunity for those who understand these nuanced markets. Femly Ecoflow™ Dispenser FemTech startups like Femly, with its game-changing innovation that is increasing period care access in restrooms across the nation, and is backed by Pharrell Williams' Black Ambition, Beyoncé's BeyGOOD Foundation, and Google (GOOG -7.51%), is showing what's possible. Despite funding challenges, Long's company continues growing because it meets a specific, underserved women's healthcare need. 'We wanted to think about what innovation looked like and how we could merge social impact with hardware to create a smart feminine hygiene device. Very quickly we found out that we needed everything from engineers and access to capital, that our early traction with our pre-sales helped us secure venture funding' said Long to CultureBanx. Diverse leadership in FemTech leads to products that actually serve the full spectrum of women's health needs, from fertility tracking and tele-gynecology to menopause support and period poverty solutions. Even as women's health innovation gains traction, the capital flowing into it remains uneven. Not to mention that FemTech investment represents just 2% of the health tech sector. This gap exists even though women spend twice as much on healthcare as men. Venture capital funds have long ignored this market based on the outdated assumption that women's health is 'niche.' However, with half the global population as the target demographic, and demand for tech-enabled personalized care skyrocketing, investors like 100KM Ventures Managing Partner, Shalanda Armstrong, who see the bigger picture are poised for major returns. 'When we think about our two verticals at 100KM, we see this as a huge market opportunity because we're thinking about how the next generation is really investing their time, money and social capital,' said Armstrong. When you consider that women's readiness to adopt digital solutions boosts investor confidence, 100KM is ahead of the curve. Grand View Research reports women are 75% more likely to use digital health tools than men. This behavior difference creates a strong user base for FemTech products and services like Femly. The U.S. FemTech market dominated the sector in 2023 through innovative product launches and increased healthcare investments. While North American FemTech investment dropped by nearly two-thirds from 2021 to 2023, found that the EMEA region demonstrated greater stability with only a 50% decline. This geographical variation presents opportunities for investors interested in this expanding global sector. "Until recently there's been an extraordinary blind spot in the world around female healthcare." said Ida Tin, Co-founder and CEO of Clue; credited with coining the term 'FemTech' to TheConduit. Recent changes in funding priorities have altered the FemTech map. Specifically, the White House Initiative on Women's Health Research allocated $100 million in federal funding for women's health in February 2024. Also, large investment firms like Lux Capital and Google Ventures now back FemTech companies. The future is female, or at least it will be filled with lots of FemTech. Therefore, it's not enough to advocate for better women's health outcomes, we need ownership, investment and leadership in the tools that make them possible. As more investors step into the space now, they don't just help fund companies solving critical health disparities, they also shape a future where culturally competent care is standard, not scarce. Perhaps, the next health unicorn might not be a fitness tracker or supplement, it could be a tech-powered women's health company.
Forbes
29-04-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Black Millennial Sexual Healthtech Founders Aren't Waiting For DEI To Save Them
HealthyMD, Kimbritive, Kyndred In the face of mounting attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts across corporate America, a new generation of Black millennial founders is refusing to wait for permission to innovate. Instead, they are building healthtech companies that center Black sexual wellness — a space where need has always outpaced investment. At the forefront of this movement are founders like Clifford W. Knights II and Steve Vixamar of HealthyMD, Kimberly Huggins and Brittany Braithwaite and Tesiah Coleman of Kyndred, a foundational expansion of Kimbritive, a platform that prioritizes the sexual wellness and pleasure of Black women through resources and education. Through culturally relevant platforms and community-first care models, they are tackling the sexual health disparities that traditional health systems have failed to solve — and doing it with or without DEI backing. 'We didn't start HealthyMD because it was trendy,' said Knights. 'We started it because no one else was showing up for our communities.' HealthyMD, founded over a decade ago, was built on a radical yet simple idea: meet Black and underserved communities where they are. With mobile clinics offering free STI, HIV, and Hepatitis C testing — and no stigmatizing signage — Knights and Vixamar eliminated some of the biggest barriers to healthcare: access, cost, and shame. 'Our focus is on sexual health because that's where the gaps are greatest,' said Vixamar. Despite the barriers, HealthyMD generated $82 million in revenue in 2023 alone and is now expanding into Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Ohio. Their impact is equally striking: HealthyMD has cured more Hepatitis C patients than major local hospitals— a feat that underscores the power of culturally competent, mobile-first care.' Regardless of the life-saving work, securing funding was an uphill battle. "We bootstrapped HealthyMD for over a decade," Knights shared. 'We met with banks, VCs, private equity — and either they undervalued us or looked at us like a charity case instead of a business opportunity.' The numbers didn't lie: HealthyMD generated $82 million in top-line revenue in 2023, with consistent year-over-year growth. "We grew 20 to 40 percent every year — without outside help," said Vixamar. "Now, ironically, everybody's coming to us." Meanwhile, founders like Huggins, , and Coleman are leading another crucial front with Kimbritive and its offshoot, Kyndred — digital platforms built by and for Black women to address the profound gaps in reproductive and sexual healthcare. 'Too often, Black women's health is framed solely around death and dying,' said Briaithwaite. 'There's rarely space for conversations about joy, pleasure, and longevity in our care narratives — and when we tried to build solutions around those ideas, funders told us the market was too small.' Huggins added that traditional health tech spaces — even progressive FemTech startups — often marginalized Black women. 'I worked with top FemTech brands, but it became clear that their definition of 'women' didn't include Black women. We needed our own platforms,' Huggins said. Kimbritive's success is rooted in centering education, storytelling, and culturally safe clinical care. Through community events like Paps on Tap, a sex education happy hour and soon-to-launch clinical services at Kyndred, the founders are reclaiming Black women's health narratives — and forging paths to care that prioritize dignity over statistics. Their timing is urgent. As DEI programs are slashed across industries and reproductive rights face renewed political attacks, access to unbiased, culturally grounded health resources is becoming even scarcer. 'Whether DEI is in fashion or not, we're still here — because Black communities still need access,' said Vixamar. 'And the truth is, underserved doesn't just mean Black anymore. We serve rural white communities too. It's about building for anyone the system has left behind.' For Kyndred, the political headwinds only reinforce their commitment. 'Black women are hungry for trusted spaces where their experiences aren't dismissed,' said Coleman. 'We deserve to be heard — and that's the foundation we're building on.' While traditional venture capital often pressures founders toward fast exits or mass scaling, these healthtech leaders are measuring success differently: lives saved, stories heard, communities empowered. 'At HealthyMD, our metric is simple,' said Knights. 'How many lives did we save this year? That's the real bottom line.' Kyndred's team echoed that sentiment. 'Impact isn't just how many users sign up,' said Briathwaite. 'It's whether a Black woman feels seen, understood, and properly cared for — maybe for the first time ever.' Despite systemic barriers, the momentum is undeniable. Black millennial founders are no longer asking permission to center their communities in the future of healthcare — they're building it themselves. And their timing couldn't be more urgent.
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sri Lanka's MAS Holdings to expand in India with new Odisha facility
MAS Holdings wants to create an established presence in India and bolster its production capabilities within the region. The establishment of this plant is anticipated to provide substantial benefits to MAS' broader network, predominantly based in Sri Lanka, by fostering stronger regional collaborations that are conducive to growth and business prospects. The company plans to transform the 60-acre site into a comprehensive apparel hub by collaborating with strategic partners to enhance its presence in the Indian state of Odisha. The new facility will prioritise the manufacture of high-value apparel suited to both Indian and global markets. The venture is set to capitalise on India's robust manufacturing environment while drawing upon MAS' established operational power in Sri Lanka. MAS India CEO Malik Ahamadeen said: "MAS is excited to take this important step in creating a strong apparel ecosystem in the region. This is enabled by our extensive experience in managing holistic apparel industrial zones in Sri Lanka and bringing together key partners along the apparel supply chain." MAS Holdings operates across 14 countries with a workforce of 100,000. The company has grown its portfolio to include wearable technology, FemTech, start-ups, logistics, and fabric parks, in addition to lingerie, sportswear, and swimwear. The conglomerate also has design locations in key global style centres to support its expanded operations. MAS GCEO Suren Fernando said: "This investment marks a significant milestone in MAS' journey, and we are excited to leverage the vast business opportunities the venture presents. India has long been an integral part of our operations, and with 25 years of experience operating in India, we recognise the immense potential of the country's manufacturing landscape, both for the global supply chain and the rapidly growing domestic retail sector." In 2022, the company revealed plans to increase its presence in South and Southeast Asia. The company stated at the time that it was on track to significantly expand its production capabilities in India with plans to increase capacity twofold by the year 2024. In June last year, MAS signed a three-year-long supply deal with US-based materials science company Ambercycle for its recycled polyester material Cycora. In January this year, the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) revealed Sri Lanka's apparel exports grew nearly 5% reaching $4.7bn in 2024 and exceeded $5bn when combined with direct textiles exports. "Sri Lanka's MAS Holdings to expand in India with new Odisha facility " was originally created and published by Just Style, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
