Jane Kennedy
Chief Business Officer, Discovery Park
Despite strides in medical science, women’s health remains underrepresented. The UK Government’s Women’s Health Strategy has brought attention to this issue, showing healthcare solutions and research overlook their unique needs.
On average, women live longer than men but spend more of their lives in poor health.1 Bridging this gap calls for immediate action, particularly in supporting femtech startups, which are vital for long-term advancements in women’s healthcare.
Gender disparities in healthcare
Statistics reveal a stark imbalance: women are diagnosed an average of four years later than men across various diseases, from diabetes to cancer.2 Chronic conditions like heart disease are often considered male issues, yet they remain a leading cause of death among women worldwide. Furthermore, women make up 70% of chronic pain sufferers, yet 80% of pain medication testing excludes female subjects.3 This disparity leads to higher risks of adverse effects for women, underlining the need for female-specific health innovations.
We’re fostering a supportive
environment for life sciences
companies focused on health equity.
Investing in female-founded solutions
Investment in femtech also lags, with only 2% of venture capital allocated to female-founded businesses.4 Yet, female-led companies, often resource-efficient and highly innovative, are uniquely positioned to address women’s health concerns effectively. For meaningful change, it’s crucial to support more female-founded businesses in health technology, promoting gender diversity in both leadership and investment.
Supporting femtech health equity
At Discovery Park in Kent, we’re fostering a supportive environment for life sciences companies focused on health equity. Through our Discovery Spark programme and Discovery Park Ventures, we provide mentorship, funding and networking opportunities to empower startups in the femtech space. We believe in the importance of female-focused data to create personalised, effective healthcare solutions, which is why we’re committed to advancing this field through our initiatives and partnerships.
The future of healthcare hinges on addressing historical biases and supporting femtech innovations. By prioritising women-specific research and encouraging investment in this space, we can pave the way for a healthcare system that truly serves everyone’s needs.
[1] gov.uk, 2022.
[2] University of Copenhagen The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, 2019.
[3] Harvard Medical School, 2017.
[4] World Economic Forum, 2024.
