When Roya Pakzad experienced severe side effects from birth control pills in 2018 – including mental health issues, weight gain, and chronic infections – she discovered firsthand the frustrating reality many women face in healthcare: either get dismissed by conventional doctors or pay thousands for functional medicine alternatives. This experience became the catalyst for Feminade, a startup aimed at making functional medicine testing more accessible and affordable for women.
In a healthcare landscape where 80% of women suffer from hormonal imbalances and typically wait 8-10 years for proper diagnosis, Feminade emerged to bridge this critical gap. “There has to be a middle ground,” Pakzad recalls thinking. “There has to be a more affordable, feasible solution for women.”
After a year of intensive research in 2019, Pakzad identified a key opportunity: The dried urine test, considered the gold standard in functional medicine for hormone testing. This comprehensive test not only measures hormones but also their metabolites, allowing doctors to identify root causes of symptoms by assessing liver function, gut health, and methylation pathways. However, two significant barriers kept this valuable diagnostic tool out of reach for most women: High costs and limited availability of doctors trained to interpret the results.
Launching in late 2020, Feminade quickly established itself in the market through careful negotiations with labs and strategic hiring of specialized practitioners. The company’s approach was validated just three months after launch, when customers began reporting significant improvements in their health. One woman, who had struggled with irregular cycles for 15 years, finally achieved regular cycles through Feminade’s program.
This early success attracted significant attention. In 2021, Feminade secured its first VC funding from 305 Ventures and Magic Fund, followed by investment from a world renowned athlete and prominent femtech angel investor in 2022. The company continued to build momentum, gathering valuable data about women’s hormonal health and building a strong community of users passionate about accessible healthcare.
After four years of building Feminade and establishing a significant presence in women’s health, Pakzad began evaluating new strategic directions for the company. After considering various options, she found an ideal match in Superpower, a modern digital health concierge service focused on democratizing advanced preventative healthcare.
“Superpower is what I wanted Feminade to become eventually,” Pakzad explains. The platform combines whole-body testing, concierge clinicians, and an ecosystem of carefully curated treatments to create a comprehensive health partner for life. Their mission is to close the gap between high-end concierge medicine and standard care, making personalized, preventative healthcare accessible to a broader population.
Jacob Peters, CEO of Superpower, commented on the acquisition: “Healthcare today is fundamentally broken, especially for women. Feminade’s remarkable growth and deep expertise in women’s health make them the perfect partner to help us close this gap. With this acquisition, we are taking a significant step toward helping people—particularly women—achieve their peak potential through better, proactive healthcare.”
Under the acquisition, Feminade’s community and expertise will integrate into Superpower’s platform, expanding access to comprehensive health testing and personalized care. Superpower has raised $4 million in pre-seed funding to date, garnering support from notable investors including Tyler Winklevoss, Arielle Zuckerberg, and Scott Banister, alongside institutional investors such as Susa Ventures, Long Journey Ventures, and Seaside Ventures. The acquisition includes both cash and equity components, though specific terms were not disclosed.
