The Fem-omenon: The rise of Femtech and the barriers innovators still face
2026
7 mins
From 2019 to 2024, investments in women’s health grew by over 30%. This is projected to soar to US$125bn by 2032. Are we entering a golden age for women’s health?
Written by: Jessie Harrison
What is Femtech?
Women’s health has been overlooked for centuries. Until as recently as 1993, women were often excluded from clinical trials. Even now, modern health research still primarily relies on male-centred data or models. This has led to a lack of understanding in the way the female body functions, especially when it comes to conditions which exclusively or disproportionality affect women, such as endometriosis, autoimmune diseases, rheumatoid arthritis and dementia. According to a report published by McKinsey, the women’s health gap correlates with women living in poor health for 25 percent more of their lives than men do.
The founder of Clue, an app for tracking the menstrual cycle, is generally acknowledged to have coined the term ‘Femtech’ in 2016 to encompass a range of technology, from data-tracking software to medical devices, all invented with the of improving women’s health. Almost ten years later, we’ve seen an influx of startups targeting issues including menstruation care, reproductive health and contraception, pregnancy and childbirth, menopause, oncology and chronic illnesses, as well as general health and wellness. These trailblazers seek to advance women’s health, closing the gender gaps that science has long overlooked.
Femtech so far
Whilst the US leads in Femtech investment raised (US$5.2bn), six out of the ten top countries are in Europe, with the UK being the country with the next highest total investment raised ($683m). Europe saw its first Femtech unicorn in July 2024 when Flo Health, a period and pregnancy tracking platform, closed its Series C round at more than $200m. This was a notable milestone for the Femtech industry and, since then, many other startups have been emerging in the Femtech field across Europe, trying to achieve similar success.
A large part of innovation in the Femtech industry is driven by broader developments in software and AI. Digital technology has prompted a shift towards healthcare at home, such as self-operated devices and mobile apps which allow women to monitor their health, making access to support quicker and cheaper. Combining these with the power of AI enables the analysis of large collections of data, improving the breadth of research on female-specific health issues, and allows quick results for users.
Our client Papcup is a perfect example of a startup streamlining care for women at the intersection of digitalisation and healthcare. Founder Sanziana Foia has harnessed biosensor technology to design a screening procedure for cervical cancer which replaces anxiety-inducing hospitals and speculums with a non-invasive and easy-to-use process. Users collect a sample of their menstrual, receive accurate results within 15 minutes, and can access tailored guidance and referrals from their phone.
Cervical cancer screening is just one of many procedures designed for women which are highly invasive and difficult to access, such as insemination for IVF treatment and the diagnosis for endometriosis, and Femtech is advocating for alternatives.
Navigating funding and the legal landscape
In the last year, we have seen many encouraging developments in the UK’s Femtech funding landscape. In September 2025, Innovate UK revealed that one of its five new accelerators, as part of the Innovate UK Biomedical Catalyst, is focused on accelerating late-stage Femtech companies with technologies for women’s health. And in April, the UK Government published a renewed Women’s Health Strategy, which included the announcement of a dedicated Femtech Challenge Fund of $1.5m, due to be launched within two years.
However, despite the promising growth of the Femtech sector, innovators and entrepreneurs within the field are still encountering many obstacles. Whilst healthcare continues to dominate the investment landscape, investment in Femtech remains only around one to two percent of total health tech investment. Awareness within the investor community, and among the target customer group, is important in ensuring the scalability of Femtech startups.
Another obstacle faced by innovators within Femtech is the complex regulatory environment, especially when bringing inventions to market which may toe the line between medical devices and consumer tech products.
For startups operating in an emerging and growing field, such as Femtech, demonstrating a clear grasp of the legal environment is key to attracting investment. For innovation-driven startups, this also includes protecting inventions and managing intellectual property.
The role of intellectual property
In innovation-driven markets, intellectual property (IP) plays a crucial role in safeguarding innovations, attracting investment, and ensuring commercial viability.
Femtech startups, particularly those operating at the interface of femtech and health tech, can require significant investment in research and development (R&D) before they can bring products to market. As a result, patents, trade secrets, or other proprietary technologies become invaluable assets that distinguish these companies from their competitors and provide protection on the market.
A well-established IP portfolio serves several strategic purposes:
- Attracting investors: Investors are more likely to back companies with clear IP ownership, as it mitigates risks associated with replication and competition.
- Facilitating commercialisation: Patents and trade marks enable companies to license technology, form strategic partnerships, and create monetisation opportunities.
- Strengthening your market position: Proprietary technologies provide companies with a sustainable competitive advantage, making it difficult for rivals to replicate their innovations.
As a startup, building a strong IP portfolio is essential for driving your commercial value and maintaining a competitive edge as you bring your product to market.
There is a common misconception that AI and software-driven inventions are exempt from patentability, however this is not always the case. Indeed, many software and AI-related inventions have been patented, particularly where they provide a technical contribution to healthcare or otherwise.
As Femtech inventions are often designed with the intention of solving real-world women’s health issues, there is plenty of scope for patentable inventions.
The untapped potential of Femtech
Investment in Femtech will not only improve women’s lives worldwide but can also lead to wider benefits. Market projections predict Femtech to have one of the broadest total addressable markets, signalling opportunity for high-growth and high returns. Women drive 80% of healthcare spending decisions and are responsible for 85% of consumer spending, yet there is a huge lack in products and services tailored for their specific health needs.
Closing the women’s health gap could unlock up to $1 trillion in annual global GDP by 2040. Femtech is experiencing significant momentum and there is still a long way to go before it reaches its full potential. Continuing to break down barriers within the healthcare system and the investment community, and to support innovation through IP frameworks, could have a transformative impact on women’s health.