Women’s health has long taken a backseat in a health care system that has historically defaulted to male physiology in research and innovation. But a new wave of visionaries is flipping the script, advancing FemTech –  technology specifically designed to address women’s health needs.

On November 15, 2024, a panel of innovators and a journalist explored the intersection of AI, FemTech, and the future of women’s health. From personal experiences that fueled research to the critical need for more inclusive data and investment, the panel highlighted how interdisciplinary collaboration, targeted funding, and policy change are essential to elevate women’s health from niche to recognized necessity. The event, held in Schapiro Hall at Columbia University, was hosted by the Department of Biomedical Informatics and co-sponsored by the Data Science Institute and Columbia Engineering.

panel of four women in lecture room
From left: Ridhi Tanyal, Noémie Elhadad, Marina Gerner, and Kristin Myers share their expertise during a panel discussion exploring advancements in AI and FemTech and their impact on women’s health.

Here are five key insights from the event which featured Kristin Myers, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Columbia Engineering, as moderator, and panelists Noémie Elhadad, a member of the Data Science Institute and Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Biomedical Informatics at Columbia University, Marina Gerner, author of The Vagina Business, and Ridhi Tariyal, CEO of NextGen Jane.

1. The Gender Data Gap in Health Care Needs Urgent Attention

    The panel spotlighted a critical issue: women’s health conditions like endometriosis remain under-researched, leading to diagnostics and treatments that overlook female physiology and experiences. Innovations such as wearable smart bras for heart health and menstrual data platforms for uterine health are tackling this disparity by capturing sex-specific data, paving the way for more inclusive and personalized care.

    2. Personal Health Journeys Can Fuel Health Tech Innovation

    For many FemTech leaders, innovation starts with personal challenges. Ridhi Tariyal, CEO of NextGen Jane, developed a menstrual data platform to make reproductive health data accessible, enabling women to analyze their samples and contribute to clinical research. Similarly, Noémie Elhadad, Chair of Biomedical Informatics at Columbia, turned her experience with endometriosis into a mission, creating tools that empower patients as research collaborators. These stories show how personal needs can drive transformative, patient-centered solutions.

    3. Femtech Must Shed the “Niche” Label

    Despite serving solutions for over half the global population, FemTech is often dismissed as “niche.” With applications ranging from menstrual health to heart health, its undervaluation limits growth. The journalist Marina Gerner, author of The Vagina Business, which explores the emerging field, argued that shifting perceptions and mainstream investment could elevate FemTech to its rightful place as a core health care sector.

    4. Interdisciplinary Collaboration is Essential

    Addressing women’s health challenges like endometriosis requires interdisciplinary collaboration across fields such as engineering, data science, and medicine. Innovations like digital twins for pregnancy health highlight the power of cross-disciplinary approaches. Kristin Myers emphasized how diverse engineers and innovators are uniquely positioned to drive change. She encouraged women engineers to embrace their potential, inventing solutions for themselves and others, and highlighted how interdisciplinary collaboration can transform health care systems to better address women’s unique needs.

    5. Investment Must Shift Toward Innovation

    A lack of sustainable funding remains a barrier to bold innovation. Ridhi Tariyal emphasized that FemTech companies often receive small, incremental investments, limiting their ability to scale.

    Marina Gerner noted that venture capital tends to prioritize profitability over foundational research, which can stifle progress. The panel called for diversified funding sources and policy reforms, such as better reimbursement rates, to drive progress. 

    While the discussion touched on major challenges, the lively discussion with the audience highlighted the promise for the future for FemTech. Kristin Myers closed with a call to action,  encouraging women engineers to “keep showing up” in engineering and innovation and flood patent offices with new ideas. The energized crowd, comprised of many women engineering students who lingered to speak with the panelists, suggested a promising future with new innovators joining the ranks of FemTech leads.