Why we should all care about ‘FemTech’

Start-ups that focus on women’s health have become one of the major areas of tech

FemTech is one of the fastest-growing areas in the tech industry, with Markets Insider estimating that the sector will be worth around $3 billion by 2030. If you don’t already know, FemTech (also known as FemmeTech) is the general term used to describe the ever-growing cohort of applications, products and devices and that serve the demands and necessities of women’s health. The term ‘FemTech’ (derived from, you guessed it: Female and Technology) was first coined by Ida Tin, the brains behind the famous fertility and menstrual track app Clue (more on that later.)

“Despite Endometriosis affecting the same number of people as diabetes, around one in 10 women, it receives around $1 of research funding for every $200 invested in diabetes”

Personalised wellness and consumer healthcare technology has been a top-5 investment area in digital health for several years now, and recent studies show that women spend 29% more per capita on healthcare than men, and are 75% more likely to use digital tools for health-related information.

The male body is considered ‘standard practice’ by medicine, with only around 4% of all research related to healthcare addressing female-specific issues. Considering that females make up for 51% of the world’s population, it is clear that there is huge room and demand for growth in this area.

FemTech’s key players are working on launching at home pap smear tests, fertility tests based on spit and birth control that can be delivered where convenient. Start-ups such as Apricity are channelling research and data into female health concerns such as endometriosis, “Despite Endometriosis affecting the same number of people as diabetes, around one in 10 women, it receives significantly less funding and attention — around $1 of research funding for every $200 invested in diabetes,” according to Sifted. Clever new technologies could allow tracking and early diagnosis for these kinds of severe illnesses, replacing invasive procedures.

It is clear that gender-tailored healthcare solutions and treatments are imperative, with research showing that it’s not just reproduction and fertility related issues that deserve extra attention. Certain autoimmune diseases, depression, anxiety, Alzheimer’s and arthritis are two to three times more prevalent among women than men. The FemTech industry is an important step towards making female healthcare more available and accessible.

The 5 FemTech companies to watch out for now:

1 | Clue

Nowadays, it has become impossible to discuss FemTech without mentioning the groundbreaking menstrual tracking app Clue. The app, founded in 2012, is one of the leaders of FemTech by combining tailored and granular data to its users and promoting dialogues related to female health. The app’s continuous collaboration with scientists and researchers and the attention offered to data and science are among the reasons users can track personal patterns, such as mood, digestion, skin issues, sleep, libido, and many more.

2 | Bellabeat

Water bottles, jewellery or watches – all adorned with a leaf motive are, in fact, very smart wellness trackers. Bellabeat is a FemTech company focused on offering women a holistic view of their health and wellness. The gizmos track 24/7 your routines, actions and hormonal cycle, gathering this data to provide detailed information about how your body functions. This type of information can help improve one’s diet, workout choices and regime, sleep and many other factors that influence a woman’s overall wellbeing. 

3 | Natural Cycles

The Sweden based app is the EU’s first certified digital contraceptive method, also being cleared by the FDA. The company markets itself as the first hormone-free and, therefore, side-effect-free contraceptive. Natural Cycles predictions regarding fertile and infertile days are based on data based on the user’s body temperature. This detail can offer thorough insight into a woman’s cycle and how her body functions. In spite of some hiccups that it has encountered, the app has around 1.5 million users worldwide.

4 | Daye

Daye is a start-up that is working on helping women alleviate period pain. The company started in 2018, launched its first product – a tampon that has a CBD infused layer among its components, an element that studies have shown can help reduce period cramps or dysmenorrhea. This initiative can be seen as a solution to the usual painkillers. Since day one, the start-up has been working with female health experts and continue to rely on medical advice when developing their product. 

5 | Elvie

Elvie is a start-up based in London, set to revolutionise breastfeeding. The company has launched several important products so far – the world’s first silent and wearable breast pump and a device that helps strengthen the pelvic floor. The breast pump is electric, small and has been designed so it can fit in your bra. This can be a solution for mothers who return to work, lack time, or need a quick stash of milk. The start-up has also designed breast milk collection cups that can help women who are early in their breastfeeding journey and have not established a routine or mothers with heavy leaking.

The Elvie trainer is another important gadget that can help women strengthen their pelvic floor, thus improving their bladder control, recovering faster from childbirth and having a better sex life. 

All of these innovations allow women to take back their menstrual cycles, their fertility, their sex life, and their health overall, but this is just the beginning of what seems to be an exciting and long awaited movement in the tech industry.