The gender pay gap is probably familiar to many, but have you ever heard of the gender data gap? It refers to the lack of or underrepresentation of data for a specific gender in data collection processes. Not always, but most often, this lack of data affects women.
Stigma & Taboo
In the medical field, a lack of data can be not only unsightly, but also dangerous. Missing or low data from female subjects in medical studies can lead to biased research results, which in turn can lead to medical misjudgments or incorrect medication. The medical neglect of women is nothing new: in the past, women's health needs were often neglected or viewed as less important than those of men. This led to an underrepresentation of women in medical research and the development of health technologies. In addition, many topics related to women's health, such as menstruation, fertility, pregnancy, and sexual health, have historically been taboo or stigmatized. Taboos that often persist to this day.
Femtech: Individual health data of women
This is precisely where Femtech comes in. The term is derived from "female technology" and refers to products and services designed to improve or support the health, well-being, and quality of life of women. Women often have different health needs and experiences than men. Femtech aims to enable a personalized approach to healthcare by collecting and analyzing individual health data and providing tailored recommendations and treatments based on it.
Femtech encompasses a wide range of applications, including:
- Menstrual and fertility tracking apps: These apps help women track their menstrual cycle, monitor their fertility, and get information about their reproductive health.
- Pregnancy and birth monitoring: There are various technologies that can help pregnant women monitor their pregnancy, track their baby's development, and detect potential problems early.
- Health and wellness apps: These include a variety of applications that address topics such as nutrition, fitness, mental health, sexual health and other aspects of women's well-being.
- Medical devices and wearables: Femtech also includes medical devices and wearables designed specifically for women, such as devices for monitoring heart health, sleep patterns, or other health indicators.
Femtech applications can improve women's access to healthcare, especially in regions where access to medical facilities is limited or where women may not have the opportunity to access healthcare due to cultural or socioeconomic barriers. Technologies such as apps and wearables can enable women to access information and services they might not otherwise receive.
Munich Femtech startups
Femtech has also arrived in the Munich startup ecosystem – while there's still room for improvement, a start has been made. Munich startups active in this field include:
- Vimum: The startup wants to break new ground in birth preparation. Vimum offers online courses in a so-called hybrid model for expectant and new parents. In other words, courses "on demand" combined with personal consultations. With its multimedia e-health platform, the startup has found an answer to a societal problem, especially during the coronavirus pandemic. During this time, the courses for expectant parents, which had previously mostly been held in analog format, were often no longer possible. And even after the coronavirus pandemic, the need for pre- and postnatal care remains – regardless of time and place. With this approach, the Munich-based company has now also been able to win health insurance companies as partners.
- Femfeel: The Munich-based company uses its platform to digitally support women through menopause. The free version of its app, Femfeel, offers various informational articles on menopause. It also offers the option to track and evaluate symptoms. The premium version of the app also offers courses led by experts. These are designed to help improve well-being during menopause through exercise, nutrition, and stress reduction. In addition to the app, the startup offers women the opportunity to gain clarity about their current hormone status through a hormone test combined with a consultation with a hormone expert. During the consultation, all questions about menopause will be clarified. In the fall of 2023, the young company was acquired by the Iserlohn-based pharmaceutical company Medice Health Family.
- Gobunion: Significantly more women than men suffer from hallux valgus – a splayed foot, or bunion – to combat this problem. To address this problem, Gobunion founder Sarita Bradley has developed an innovative alternative. Gobunion stockings feature a softgel toe separator that stretches the big toe back to its original position, preventing the curvature from worsening. The 2-in-1 product is designed to help with daily hallux valgus treatments, prevent more severe curvature, and provide pain relief through the optimized size and strength of the softgel. In 2019, she pitched Gobunion on the German TV show "Den der Löwen" (Lions' Den) and was able to secure Ralf Dümmel as an investor for her company. The deal: €150,000 in exchange for a 49 percent stake.
