Why women’s health is NOT niche—It’s a $24 trillion wake-up call
Women’s health is not niche. It’s fundamental.
Let’s start with a number: 5%. That’s the tiny slice of medical research funding exclusively dedicated to female health. Now compare that to this: women make up 50% of the global population and contribute over $24 trillion to global income—and that’s just paid labor.
Still think this is a niche issue?
The gender health gap is not a theory—it’s in the data. As Maaike Steinebach puts it:
“Women suffer unnecessary pain. Women don’t get effective treatment. Why? Because we don’t know enough about our bodies, we don’t talk enough about our health, and we’ve been taught to accept this as normal.”
Until 2020, there wasn’t even a complete 3D model of the female anatomy. For decades, women were essentially treated as 70 kg "little white men" in clinical research.
If this were any other industry, it would be seen as a massive missed opportunity. So why has it taken Silicon Valley—and society—so long to catch up?
Femtech: the long-awaited revolution
Back in 2013, Ida Tin co-founded Clue, planting the seed for what we now call Femtech—technology focused on female health. Since then, it’s slowly shifted from taboo to trendsetter. A few pioneering solutions include:
Clue – Period & ovulation tracking
Natural Cycles° – FDA-approved birth control app
Elvie & Naya Health – Silent, wearable breast pumps
twoplus Fertility – Non-invasive fertility solutions
These innovations are disrupting long-ignored areas of healthcare. Yet capital for women-led startups remains scarce.
As Ida Tin once said:
“Raising money as a woman in tech is hard. It’s not just business talk—it’s a men’s game. And as a woman, you’re already a disruption to the game.”
Valentina Milanova, founder of Daye, added:
"Imagine pitching a cannabis-infused tampon to a room full of men who won’t even say the word ‘tampon’ out loud."
The roadblocks still standing
Despite progress, challenges persist:
Data privacy fears: Women are deleting period-tracking apps due to concerns over misuse.
Persistent funding gap: Femtech is still viewed as “risky” and “niche.”
Censorship and silence: Menstruation and reproductive health remain taboo—even in boardrooms.
Why This Matters
Because health is power. Femtech isn’t just about innovation—it’s about access, equity, and autonomy. It’s about ensuring that women—everywhere—have the right to safe, effective, and affordable healthcare.
It’s time to talk about it. Time to demand better. Time to invest in women—not just in health, but in dignity and data-backed care.
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💬 What’s your experience with the gender health gap or Femtech innovation? Drop a comment below or send us a message to share your story with the world.