Becoming an entrepreneur is not an easy path. While many women rely on their personal savings to fund their startups, there comes a point when outside funding is needed. This can be especially difficult for women.
Fortunately, plenty of female entrepreneurs have found success. Let these business owners inspire you to pursue your dreams!
Verge Genomics
Verge Genomics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company that uses artificial intelligence to transform drug discovery. Its team of computational biologists and drug developers works with large-scale genomic data to identify potential therapeutic targets for neurodegenerative diseases, including ALS.
Alice Zhang started the company in 2015 after dropping out of her PhD programme. She often heard that she was “brave” to quit and start a business, but she never thought of it as a risky move.
Unlike other AI companies, Verge Genomics has brought together both machine learning and drug discovery experts under one roof. This allows them to quickly move computational predictions into the wet lab and churn out new data more frequently.
The company recently partnered with Eli Lilly to search for ALS drug targets and with AstraZeneca’s rare disease division Alexion to identify new drug targets for neurodegenerative diseases. These deals could lead to an IPO for the company in the future. But it will depend on a number of factors, including the progress of its drug candidates and market conditions in the biotechnology sector.
Maven
When Kate Ryder started Maven in 2014, she found that women were the core of her startup’s target market. Yet, despite a majority of healthcare decisions being made by women, most digital health startups weren’t focused on women or their unique needs.여자창업
Ryder’s approach was to interview women and their healthcare providers. She discovered that there was an enormous need for a virtual medical clinic designed to help them navigate family building, pregnancy and parenting.창업아이템
Today, Maven is the world’s largest telemedicine clinic for women and families, having recently reached unicorn status with a $90 million Series E round and more than 10 million members globally. Its platform combines an expansive and specialized telehealth network with individual care navigation to support women on all their paths to parenthood, from fertility through pregnancy and parenting. Maven also offers menopause benefits and is expanding its U.K. presence with the acquisition of London-based maternity care provider Naytal, founded by Leila Thabet.
SinReglas
Sin Reglas is the first Femtech in LATAM focused on helping women over 40 to embrace a more holistic approach to menopausal health. It addresses the taboos around this crucial stage of a woman’s life by providing education and resources to help women navigate it more confidently. They offer workshops, diagnosis tools, and meno-coaching to promote a more empowering experience for women going through the transition.
The Femtech entrepreneurs and project leaders of Plenna, WOOM, LactApp, and Sin Reglas all agree that their solutions are essential for making health more accessible and improving women’s wellbeing in our societies. They aim to change the narrative surrounding reproductive health by breaking down social taboos that hinder women’s access to medical care. They also create innovative approaches that are geared toward women’s unique needs, including fertility, breastfeeding, and menopause. They are empowering women to embrace their innate power and move towards a more inclusive society.
Plenna
Whether it’s fertility, breastfeeding, or menopause, many women are faced with stigma and taboos when talking about their health. Giovanna Abramo, co-founder of Plenna, a femtech company that provides professional accompaniment for women during these life phases, believes that it’s important to break down barriers and promote women’s wellness.
Plenna was created in Mexico at the end of 2020 and offers a complete, women-focused healthcare service with a hybrid model that includes both physical clinics and online services. Founders Giovanna Abramo and Lorena Ostos Rangel believe that young Mexican women are disregarded by healthcare providers, so they decided to offer them a better experience.
Giovanna completed a research internship at MD Anderson Cancer Center and a Business Analysis Internship at Bain & Company. She also worked as a Business Analyst at Auric Consulting and as the Lead of International Expansion at Moons. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from Tecnologico de Monterrey. She is part of the 2022 HBS MBA class and has previously interned at SAGANA.