Women's Health Meeting Series

This interactive series examined the business of women's health, opportunities beyond reproductive care, and the paradox of fertility and menopause discussions. 

The series attracted more than 50 participants representing diverse organizations across healthcare delivery, investment, pharmaceutical, technology, research, and startup sectors.

She-conomy: How Women’s Health Became Big Business

The first session explored the rapid growth of the women's health market, which has seen a 144% increase in funding compared to the previous year. Participants discussed principles for ethical business models in women's health, emphasizing the need to balance profitability with genuine health benefits. Key challenges identified included the lack of historical data and comparable businesses for demonstrating market viability, difficulty making women's health issues relevant to male investors and decision-makers, and the spread of misinformation by non-medical influencers on social media platforms.

The group highlighted the importance of expanding the healthcare workforce in women's health to include midwives, nurse practitioners, and other professionals beyond physicians. Participants debated the balance between marketing and evidence-based research, particularly given the insufficient research base in many women's health areas. Several attendees noted the dual challenge of meeting venture capital expectations while addressing genuine health needs, suggesting that women's health businesses are often held to different standards than other healthcare ventures. 

The session concluded with calls for more inclusive conversations that engage men in women's health discussions and the need for businesses to demonstrate clear health economic benefits alongside clinical outcomes.

View attendees here.

Beyond Babies: The Untapped Potential in Women's Health

This session focused on expanding women's health beyond reproductive care to address the full spectrum of women's health needs across all life stages. Participants highlighted significant gaps in cardiovascular, brain, autoimmune, and gastrointestinal care for women, with discussion centering on low investment proportionate to population impact. The group identified several barriers to innovation, including inadequate infrastructure within existing healthcare systems, operational challenges in implementing new solutions, and difficulties securing funding for women's health ventures.

Participants discussed the cultural dimensions of women's health advancement, suggesting strategies such as provider education, updating medical software terminology, and reframing medical illustrations to better represent women's experiences. Several attendees emphasized the importance of making compelling economic arguments for women's health investment, with one participant noting "we need to follow the money" to drive systemic change. 

The conversation explored measurement challenges in women's health outcomes and the need for better frameworks to demonstrate value. Success stories like Evvy in vaginal microbiome research and Ovia in family planning demonstrated effective strategies for overcoming these obstacles, providing realistic pathways for other innovations to enter established healthcare systems. The group also discussed the Gates Foundation's funding opportunity for innovative data and modeling approaches to measure women's health impacts.

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The Fertility Paradox: Why Infertility and Menopause Dominate Discussion But Evade Understanding

The final session examined why, despite increased conversation around perimenopause, menopause, and fertility issues, there remains a significant gap between innovation and clinical adoption. Participants noted that while public discourse has increased—sometimes creating consumer confusion—funding and implementation continue to lag. 

The group observed there is now "almost too much conversation on perimenopause and menopause," leading to consumer confusion about available solutions.

Key barriers identified included healthcare system constraints, particularly reimbursement challenges, with both UK and US systems lacking codes or pathways for new menopause interventions. Attendees discussed the importance of real-world evidence and data related to interventions, not just academic research, to build compelling business cases. 

The conversation explored the proliferation of telehealth platforms in women's health and the potential need for consolidation to create stronger, more investable businesses. Participants emphasized the need for provider leadership and education to bridge the gap between innovation and clinical implementation, suggesting that working from within existing healthcare  systems might be more effective than creating standalone solutions. 

The discussion concluded with reflections on the importance of making economic arguments that consider the broader impact on families, workplaces, and healthcare costs when evaluating women's health interventions. 

View attendees here.