January 2025. And as every year, I'm busy preparing our annual webinar on trends and opportunities in women's health innovation.
I love working on this as it gives me the chance to do what I love most: take a very close look at our ecosystem and spend time turning noise into signal.
Very often, the content we share in this very first webinar of the year becomes a sort of roadmap for us and shapes our coverage and focus areas throughout the year.
It's particularly exciting this time around as we saw so much activity in the space last year. The big question now is which trends will carry over into the New Year, and which will have to adapt to the new (political) landscape we're finding ourselves in across many geographies.
I read many prediction posts from across the women's health ecosystem and related spaces each year, and I'll be honest: Sometimes it's a bit disappointing. A bit 'surface level'.
If we're talking about areas that are already getting significant attention, I think the time is now to get more tactical. If a space is important and growing, don't just tell me that – tell me why and ideally how it's being disrupted.
Some spaces we've collectively agreed are opportunities over the past couple of years include fertility, menopause, mental health, contraception, maternal health, and endometriosis (among others). And I feel like at this point, most investors have gotten the memo. So the question for many now is: If I'm interested in investing in a space, how do I start?
Of course, we'll cover these "established" spaces in our upcoming webinar, but today I want to talk about the spaces in women's health where we need to still focus on the basics and the conversation still revolves around: What even is this? Why does it matter? What's the impact? And what can be done?
These are often overlooked but equally important aspects of women's health and, in my opinion, some of the key investment opportunities (or at least areas you should add to your watch list) in 2025.
Reproductive Health
Reproductive health remains a cornerstone of women's healthcare, with significant unmet needs and opportunities for innovation beyond contraception and fertility. From common conditions affecting millions to critical complications during pregnancy, this sector offers diverse investment prospects:
1. PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome)
PCOS is a complex hormonal disorder affecting 1 in 10 women of reproductive age. It's characterized by irregular periods, excess androgens, and small cysts on the ovaries. Beyond fertility issues, PCOS increases risks of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and endometrial cancer. Women with PCOS also often struggle with weight management, acne, and excess hair growth, which can significantly impact mental health. Check out last year's webinar where we dive into PCOS
2. Preeclampsia
This pregnancy complication is characterized by high blood pressure and signs of damage to other organ systems, typically after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Affecting 2-8% of pregnancies worldwide, preeclampsia can have severe consequences for both mother and baby, including premature birth, growth restriction, and in severe cases, maternal and fetal death. Early detection and management are crucial, yet current diagnostic methods are often unreliable today.
3. Preterm Birth
This refers to babies born alive before 37 weeks of pregnancy are completed. It affects approximately 15 million babies worldwide each year. For mothers, preterm birth can be an incredibly stressful and anxiety-inducing experience, often involving extended hospital stays and concerns about their baby's health. Preterm infants face increased risks of short-term and long-term health complications, which can have lasting impacts on families.
4. PPH (Postpartum Hemorrhage)
PPH is excessive bleeding after childbirth, typically more than 500ml within 24 hours of delivery. It affects approximately 2% of all women giving birth, with rates much higher in low-resource settings. PPH can be a terrifying experience for new mothers and can lead to long-term health complications if not managed promptly. Despite being largely preventable, it remains a significant cause of maternal deaths globally.
5. Miscarriage
Defined as the spontaneous loss of a pregnancy before the 20th week, miscarriage affects 10-20% of known pregnancies. The emotional and physical toll of miscarriage is frequently underestimated, with many women reporting feelings of grief, anxiety, and depression following a loss. Despite its prevalence, miscarriage remains a taboo subject, leaving women (and their partners) to cope with their loss in isolation.
Check out last year's webinar on maternal health - we covered preterm birth, miscarriage, preeclampsia and PPH
Life Stage Opportunities
Women's health needs evolve significantly throughout their lives, creating unique opportunities for targeted solutions at different life stages. Two stages that are largely unaddressed in women’s health are care today for women 60 and up as well as teen health.
6. Women's Health 60+
The aging female population presents a growing market for tailored health solutions. As women age, they face increased risks of chronic conditions such as osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and cognitive decline. Annual mammograms for breast cancer screening, regular colonoscopies for colorectal cancer detection, skin cancer screenings, and management of menopausal symptoms become critical health priorities. End-of-life care is also an often overlooked aspect of women's health in this age group. Women tend to live longer than men but may experience more years with disability. There's a growing need for dignity-preserving care and support services tailored to older women living with incurable conditions. The emotional, medical, and practical support during this stage requires comprehensive, compassionate approaches that recognize the unique experiences of women.
7. Menarche:
Products and services supporting adolescent girls represent an underexplored market. This critical life stage presents opportunities for educational resources to prepare girls for their first menstrual cycle, menstrual hygiene management, mental health support to address body image concerns and emotional changes, and sexual education tools. Early intervention for conditions like PCOS that often manifest in adolescence can significantly improve long-term health outcomes.
Chronic Conditions and Preventative Care
Chronic conditions disproportionately affecting women and preventative care measures offer substantial potential
8. POP (Pelvic Organ Prolapse)
This condition occurs when pelvic organs, such as the bladder, uterus, or rectum, drop from their normal position and bulge into the vagina. Affecting up to 50% of women who have given birth to some extent, POP can significantly impact quality of life. Many women suffer in silence due to embarrassment or lack of awareness, highlighting the need for better education, diagnosis, and treatment options.
9. Female Cancer (Self Care)
Female cancers like breast and cervical cancers remain major health concerns for women. Self-care and early detection tools offer promising avenues for investment, as they empower women to take control of their health and potentially improve outcomes through early intervention.
10. Autoimmune Diseases
Women are disproportionately affected by autoimmune conditions, creating a substantial market for targeted therapies. The complex nature of autoimmune disorders presents opportunities for developing personalized treatment plans and innovative therapies.
11. Skin Health
The intersection of dermatology and women's health is a growing sector. Women are more prone to certain skin conditions, and hormonal changes throughout life can significantly impact skin health. From acne influenced by female hormones to pregnancy-related skin changes like melasma, there's a need for specialized skincare solutions.
12. Oral Health
Investing in women's oral health presents significant opportunities, particularly during key life stages such as pregnancy and menopause. Oral discomfort is common in post-menopausal women, with increased risks of periodontal disease, xerostomia, and burning mouth syndrome. The decline in estrogen levels during menopause can also directly affect the oral cavity.
Recurring Health Concerns
These common but often overlooked conditions represent ongoing challenges and opportunities in women's health, that can be improved through innovation.
13. STDs
Women-specific prevention, detection, and treatment solutions are in high demand. Successful interventions include changing clinic flow to routinely collect specimens for testing, using electronic health record screening reminders, and reminding patients to get screened or rescreened. These strategies can be tailored to different clinic settings to improve screening at a low cost. There's also potential for self-testing options.
14. UTIs
There's a constant need for better prevention and treatment options for women with recurrent UTIs.
15. Stress
Mental health solutions tailored to women's unique stressors offer a growing market opportunity. Effective stress management techniques for women include mindfulness and meditation, physical activity, proper nutrition, adequate sleep, and easy access to professional support when needed. There's lots of potential for developing specialized mental health services and solutions that address women's specific needs and life stages.
Market and Impact
I usually shy away from sharing absolute numbers when it comes to market size, and here's why: There's just so much conflicting information out there.
What I can tell you is that we're seeing increased activity after the post-COVID slump, and investment slow-down. One of my early managers, when I was in a data and product role, gave me advice I still live by: "Kathrin, look where things are accelerating and decelerating. That's where you want your focus to be."
And as it stands, given where our ecosystem is today, my prediction is that we'll see a lot of both this year: acceleration and deceleration. Maybe I'll go into more detail on this in another post, but for now, I'm taking on an observer role for these first few months of 2025 to see how things play out.
Last year, my word of the year was "momentum." This year, I'm feeling "cautiously optimistic".
If that changes at any point, you'll be the first to know. ;)
