Health Innovation Network South London has welcomed 21 innovators to cohort two of the Innovate UK and Medical Research Council Funded Accelerating FemTech Programme.

 Health Innovation Network (HIN) South London has announced the launch of the latest cohort for their Innovate UK and the Medical Research Council-funded Accelerating FemTech programme. 21 companies have been chosen for their work in driving innovation across a wide range of women’s health needs, from improving menstrual and reproductive health with advanced diagnostics and wearable technologies to enhancing support for women experiencing menopause.

Other innovations in Cohort Two include digital solutions that improve pregnancy outcomes and support women throughout their postpartum journey, apps that assist users in hormonal health monitoring, as well as personalised healthcare platforms designed to provide data-driven insights and support at every stage of a woman’s life.

Despite comprising over 51% of the population, women have historically been underrepresented in medical research and underserved in healthcare innovation, leading to gaps in diagnosis, treatment, and care. FemTech solutions have the potential to transform this landscape and drive systemic change to ensure equitable and accessible healthcare for women, strengthening the overall health system. The FemTech sector also represents a rapidly growing market - in 2023, the global FemTech industry was valued at over £39 billion - with the potential to drive economic growth in the UK.

This year, Accelerating FemTech received 122 applications, a 42% increase compared to its inaugural cohort, reflecting the growing interest and innovation in the FemTech sector. Applicants ranged from entrepreneurially minded academics and university spinouts to early-stage startups and established businesses, showcasing the diversity and depth of talent in digital transformation within women’s health. Of the companies that make up Cohort Two, 29% are university born, 71% are female majority owned and 33% are majority ethnic majority owned.

 Health Innovation East Midlands (HIEM) is providing support to the programme leading valuable workshops on areas such as benefits analysis, bid writing and mentoring.

Building upon the expertise gained from running the award-winning DigitalHealth.London Accelerator, Accelerating FemTech is a specialised programme dedicated to advancing women’s health innovations. It offers bespoke support, targeted workshops, and mentoring to enhance product development, entrepreneurship skills, and stakeholder engagement across the NHS and academia. The national 10-week programme will also support participants in preparing for a special closed-call feasibility funding opportunity through the Innovate UK Biomedical Catalyst.

The delivery of Accelerating FemTech is led by the HIN in collaboration with partners across the UK, including: DigitalHealth.London, CW Innovation, Health Innovation West of England, Health Innovation East Midlands, Health Innovation West Midlands, Health Innovation Yorkshire and Humber, Health Innovation North East and North Cumbria, Health Innovation North West Coast, the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI) Scotland, Health Innovation Research Alliance Northern Ireland (HIRANI) and others.