Femtech: Why Female Founders Are Leading—and Why Students Should Care
When most people talk about innovation, they mention things like the newest iPhone or viral social media apps. But there's another type of tech changing lives in a big way, and it's not getting nearly as much attention: femtech.
Femtech, short for "female technology," includes products and services that focus on women's health. Think of period-tracking apps like Clue (founded by Ida Tin, who actually coined the word "femtech"), smart breast pumps from Elvie by Tania Boler, or hormone testing kits from Modern Fertility, co-founded by Afton Vechery. These companies have made it much easier for women to understand and take control of their health. Each was founded by women who transformed personal experiences into business ideas.
The femtech industry is growing quickly. The global market was valued at $39.3 billion in 2024 and could reach almost $100 billion by 2030. Some estimates project it could exceed $200 billion by 2034. UNICEF also notes that women’s health remains undervalued, with only 3% of digital health funding invested in it despite the need.
This growth also represents life-saving opportunities for young women. The urgency is clear: one in five worldwide marries before 18. Over 21 million adolescent girls in low- and middle-income countries become pregnant annually. And every two minutes a woman dies from cervical cancer—even though it is one of the most preventable cancers. Femtech offers a way to address these gaps with innovative, life-saving solutions.
What makes femtech as a business field exciting is that women are leading it. UNICEF reports that applications from female-led companies grew from 15% in 2019 to 60% in 2024. In contrast, only about 20% of startups overall are founded by women. The field also draws from a diverse pool of women like Beatrice Dixon, founder of The Honey Pot, who became one of the first 40 women of color to secure $1 million in venture funding. Dr. Geetha Manjunath built AI tools for early breast cancer detection after losing family members to the disease. Even with funding hurdles—female-led startups receive only 10% of global investment—these entrepreneurs are proving that women’s ideas can succeed.
Femtech addresses every stage of women’s health. Zhenya Lindgardt at Sera Prognostics developed tests to predict preterm birth risks. Andrea Berchowitz and Dr. Rebecca Love co-founded Vira Health to provide menopause support through their Stella app, addressing issues that lead to millions of lost workdays each year. Mitchella Gilbert created Oya Femtech Apparel after facing recurrent health issues caused by standard activewear. She designed performance clothing that helps prevent infections common among women.
Femtech is also potentially a space where younger women entering the field can find opportunity and leadership. The industry is expanding quickly, making space for new ideas and fresh perspectives. At its core, femtech is women-led—and most importantly, it makes a difference. Whether it is in menstrual care, fertility, or menopause management, these technologies are improving lives every day.
High school and college students do not have to wait to get involved. Following founders and companies on social media is an easy way to start learning. Classes in entrepreneurship, biology, or computer science help build relevant skills, while women-in-STEM or business clubs create valuable networks. Even paying attention to challenges in everyday life can spark ideas, since many femtech breakthroughs began with simple problems that needed better solutions.
Femtech is proof that when women innovate in areas that directly affect them, the results are both impactful and lucrative. The next wave of leaders will be young women building solutions to problems not yet identified, creating technologies and companies that improve millions of lives.
