What is FemTech, really?

I’ve spent the past few weeks shoulder-to-shoulder with the physicians, founders, and operators behind FemTech AZ. Our mission is simple but ambitious: attract the brightest health-tech entrepreneurs and investors to Arizona and help them re-wire care delivery for the 51 % of humanity too often treated as “the exception.”

Below is a deeper dive into the sector we’re betting on—what it is, where it’s headed, and why now is the moment to build.

1. What is FemTech, really?

Coined in 2016, FemTech refers to technology-enabled, consumer-centric products and services that address conditions unique to—or disproportionately affecting—women. Think virtual clinics, AI-powered diagnostics, smart wearables, and culturally tailored care models. FemTech companies are already transforming maternal health, fertility, menstrual and sexual health, pelvic care, menopause, and more ( McKinsey & Company).

2. A market in hyper-growth mode

Why it matters: Investors aren’t just chasing margin; they’re funding solutions that keep half the population healthier and more economically active.

3. How FemTech is changing care

🔄 From one-size-fits-all to personalized pathways

• Virtual & hybrid clinics
  Tia, Kindbody, Maven, and others blend telehealth with brick-and-mortar hubs, making OB-GYN visits as seamless as ordering food.

• Self-tracking & at-home diagnostics
  Wearables like Bloomlife and tests from Modern Fertility hand women their own data and decision-making power.

• Faster, smarter diagnostics
  DotLab (endometriosis) and Sera Prognostics (pre-term birth) cut diagnostic delays measured in years.

• Tackling taboo topics head-on
  Products from Thinx (menstrual health), Elvie (pelvic floor), Rosy Wellness (sexual health), and Elektra Health (menopause) show that stigma is just market whitespace in disguise McKinsey & Company.

🧬 Female-founded ≠ niche—It’s a competitive edge

More than 70 % of FemTech companies have at least one female founder, compared with ~20 % in the broader start-up universe. Lived experience is translating into products that resonate and scale (McKinsey & Company)

4. The “white spaces” no one has claimed—yet

Despite the buzz, meaningful gaps remain:

• Cardiovascular health beyond pregnancy

• Autoimmune & neurodegenerative diseases with sex-specific pathways

• Oncology innovations for breast, ovarian, and endometrial cancers

• Longevity & metabolic health tailored for women’s physiology

• Global south solutions that work in low-resource settings

For entrepreneurs and investors, these gaps are billion-dollar invitations.

5. Why Arizona is a perfect launchpad

• Diverse demographics → Rich datasets for inclusive AI models.

• Growing capital ecosystem hungry for health-tech wins.

• Collaborative policy landscape—state leaders recognize that economic-development and women’s-health agendas can be one and the same.

6. The road ahead: policy, partnerships, and culture change

Policy sets the on-ramp. Reproductive-health regulations, data-privacy laws, and reimbursement frameworks will determine market velocity.

Partnerships unlock scale. Traditional biopharma and device giants can bring distribution and R&D muscle that most start-ups lack.

Culture keeps the flywheel turning. Menopause was a whisper topic five years ago; today it’s an $18 B and climbing category, thanks to celebrity-backed brands and TikTok doctors. Expect similar arcs in pelvic health, female cardiology, and hormone optimization.

7. Call to action

1. Founders: If you’re working on any of the white-space areas above, come build in Arizona. FemTech AZ wants to de-risk your landing.

2. Investors: Diversify the health-tech portfolio. A bet on women’s health is a bet on global productivity.

3. Policymakers & payers: Align reimbursement and regulatory pathways with the realities of sex-specific medicine.

When we treat women’s bodies as standard, not special cases, everybody wins. Let’s close the gap—and open a trillion-dollar future together.