An article we liked from Thought Leader Shaheen Sheik-Sadhal of Esse Law:

Venture Capital is Failing Women’s Health, And It’s Costing Lives

Investors are ignoring one of the biggest untapped markets in healthcare. Here’s why that needs to change.

Venture capital claims to thrive on innovation and market opportunity, yet investors routinely look the other way when it comes to women’s health. They label it “too small”, “too specific”, or “too risky” while pouring billions into volatile sectors like crypto and AI. The numbers tell a different story. Women comprise 50% of the population and control 80% of healthcare decisions. Yet, femtech and women’s health startups received just 2.3% of all venture capital funding in healthcare, a 43% drop from the previous year and the lowest since 2021.

If women start companies focused on our health concerns, we face an even bigger uphill battle to get funding. Meanwhile, the global femtech market is projected to hit $103 billion by 2030. The demand is massive. The opportunity is clear. And yet, women’s health is still seen as a second-tier investment.

It’s time to stop calling women’s health a niche. It’s not. It’s big business—and one of the largest untapped markets in healthcare.

The Funding Gap: Why Investors Keep Overlooking Women’s Health

Despite the overwhelming market opportunity, women’s health remains one of the most underfunded sectors in venture capital. The reasons? Bias, discomfort, and a history of exclusion.

• Investor Blind Spots: With only 12% of VC decision-makers being women, many male investors lack a firsthand understanding of women’s health needs. This leads to unconscious bias in funding decisions.
• The “Taboo” Factor: Menstruation, menopause, and sexual health make investors uncomfortable. That discomfort keeps dollars locked away from businesses tackling these critical issues.
• Historical Neglect: Until 1993, women were excluded from clinical trials, leaving massive gaps in medical research. That exclusion still shapes investment patterns today.

Women’s health startups aren’t underfunded because...

Read the rest of this article at theesselaw.substack.com.

Thanks for this article excerpt and its graphics to Shaheen Sheik-Sadhal, Esse Law, Founding Attorney.

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