Last week our webinar on innovation in menopause took place. If you missed it, don’t you worry – we’ve got you your back! In today’s brief we share a short overview of the key trends and talking points from the event with you, want to share our insights where the menopause market is going and why now is a great time to build or invest in those building solutions for women going through the menopausal transition.
If you have a bit more time on your hands, you can of course also watch the replay of the webinar.
But now without further due.. Let’s talk menopause!
What is menopause?
Let’s start with a short definition of what menopause actually is.
Despite popular belief menopause actually isn’t a phase but a point in time 12 months after a woman’s last period. The years leading up to that point are referred to as perimenopause.
Perimenopause usually starts in the mid-40s and lasts around 8-10 years. During perimenopause, the body’s production of estrogen and progesterone, two hormones made by the ovaries, varies greatly, and women may experience a range of symtoms. Among the most common ones are weight gain, worsening of PMS, and irregular periods.
On average women reach the menopausal transition (aka post-menopause) at age 51. Over the following years women may experience some of the up to 34 symptoms of menopause. The most common ones:
- Hot flashes
- Vaginal dryness
- Urinary incontinence
- Weight gain
- Emotional changes
- Dry skin
👉 The Challenge
Menopause is a complex condition, that is – just like many other conditions in women’s health – under-researched and underfunded. When it comes to care only few specialists have a good understanding of menopause and how to best guide women through this transition.
HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) can be a good option for many women, especially in early postmenopausal women. A 2002 study, whose results were misinterpreted, however, gave HRT a bad rep, which has created a thriving market for OTC products, holistic care, and other services targeting lifestyle changes, which can without doubt also be beneficial when it comes to the treatment of menopause symptoms.
Innovation meets MenopauseWhen we look at the menopause market landscape today we see companies tackling the symptoms from many different angels. The main categories we see are:
- Virtual Care
- Digital Therapeutics
- Wearables
- Biotech
- (DTC) Products
Tip: Watch the replay of our recent webinar for more information about each of these categories!
👉 The Market Opportunity
The menopause market is huge. Every single woman will go through menopause sooner or later, which makes the menopause market an attractive one for founders and investors alike. By 2025 more than $1B women globally will be postmenopausal, and Female Founders fund has previously estimated the market size to be around $600B.
👉 Why now?
If ever there was a time to invest in menopause, it is now! We’re observing two trends that are helping innovation in the menopause thrive right now.
- GenZ women are entering menopause. GenZ was the first generation of women to grow up with the internet. They are (mostly) comfortable with technology and also look to innovation to manage their health and wellbeing. Lots of potential customers for the menopause startups, that are being built today!
- Menopause meets employers. The number of women in the workforce is growing, but the segment of women between the ages of 45 and 55 is declining, which is a problem – for women, businesses, and the economy overall. Better support is needed during the transition and we are currently seeing a rise in “mid-life benefits” that aim to address the challenges women face in the workplace during this period in their lives.
👉 So…
Is menopause a hot market right now? Yes, it is. And rightfully so! Better solutions are needed to support women through their menopausal transition and we couldn’t be more excited about all the companies currently coming out of stealth with new ideas and models.We’re definitely keeping a close eye on all the innovation in this space and hope you are as well.
