Women’s health startups Papcup and Peripear each secured £75,000 in non-dilutive funding from Innovate UK’s Women in Innovation program to advance their respective technologies.
Founded by Sânziana Foia, Papcup is developing an at-home diagnostic that uses electrochemical biosensing to analyze menstrual blood. Early data suggests the noninvasive technology could aid in detecting conditions like iron deficiency and cervical cancer – offering a potential alternative to traditional screenings like pap smears.
Founded by midwife Nina van Schaick, Peripear is an automated perineal thermotherapy wearable designed to provide hands-free warmth during childbirth to help prevent perineal tearing, which affects approximately 90% of vaginal births. The funding will support the company’s first-in-human study at the National University Hospital System in Singapore next year.
Launched in 2016, Innovate UK’s annual Women in Innovation program backs female entrepreneurs with capital and a year of training, business support, and mentoring. This year’s cohort included 100 female founders – the program’s largest to date – across manufacturing, digital tech, and life sciences.
