A system in need of change: why do we need more women leading healthtech innovation?

For decades, healthcare innovation has been shaped by a male-dominated industry, often overlooking the unique health needs of half the population. However, a growing force of women entrepreneurs is challenging the status quo, bringing fresh perspectives, patient-centred solutions, and long-overdue medical technology and care advancements. As female founders step forward to lead change, they face two parallel battles: closing the gender health gap and overcoming funding biases in the start-up world. Their success is not just a win for gender equality—it is a crucial shift toward more inclusive, effective healthcare for all.

Addressing these inequalities isn’t just a matter of fairness; it’s a strategic imperative for the future of healthcare. That’s where initiatives like the EIT Health Women Entrepreneurship Bootcamp and EIT Health Women InnoVenture come in. These programmes go beyond traditional accelerator models, offering targeted support, mentorship, and access to vital networks to help female entrepreneurs scale their impact. By equipping them with the tools to navigate both the MedTech industry and the investment landscape, EIT Health is not just supporting women-led start-ups. It is actively shaping the future of healthcare innovation.

What happens when women innovate, not only for women?

For too long, healthcare innovation has followed a narrow path that often overlooks the realities of half the population. But change is no longer a distant ambition. It is happening now, led by women who refuse to accept a system that wasn’t built for them. These entrepreneurs are not just filling gaps—they are redesigning the future of healthcare with solutions that are more inclusive, more effective, and more attuned to the needs of all patients. Their work is a powerful reminder that when diverse voices lead, entire industries advance, and when women innovate not only for women, but the result is also nothing short of life changing.

Take Monika Štěpánová, CEO and Co-Founder of Lightly Technologies, whose unusual work in portable counterfeit drug detection is making healthcare safer and more reliable. By developing innovative biotechnology solutions, her company aims to bridge the gap between research and real-world applications. As the winner of the Validation Track at the 2024 EIT Health InnoStars Awards, Monika has demonstrated that female-led innovation extends beyond women’s health, driving advancements that improve healthcare for all.

Similarly, Joana Caldeira, CEO and Co-Founder of Fetalix, whose pioneering work in developing fetal-inspired biomaterial offers an innovative solution for treating low back pain. This approach not only aims to regenerate intervertebral discs but also significantly reduces intervention times and hospital stays, enhancing patient recovery and quality of life. As the winner of the Health category in the EIT Jumpstarter 2020 programme, Joana exemplifies how female-led innovation is changing healthcare by introducing effective, minimally invasive treatments that address widespread medical challenges.

These women are not just breaking barriers but setting new standards for what healthcare innovation can and should look like. As Angela Gusztos, EIT Health InnoStars Business Creation Lead, underlines, “Women entrepreneurs are not just disrupting the market; they are building solutions that challenge outdated norms and directly impact patient lives. Their innovations shape a future where healthcare is designed for everyone.”

The fight for investment

Women-led health start-ups are driving groundbreaking innovation, yet they receive less than 2% of global VC funding—a staggering gap that reflects deep-seated biases in investment. In deep tech, where scientific breakthroughs shape the future, the numbers are just as stark: only 15% of seed funding goes to female-led ventures. The problem isn’t a lack of vision or market potential. It’s a system that consistently undervalues female entrepreneurs. Research shows that while male founders are asked about growth and opportunity, women are scrutinized for risk and stability.[1]

Mary Alcantara, Senior Partner at Interactive Venture Partners, reflects: “I see very few deals with female founders, and this gap means we are missing out on the incredible perspectives and innovations that women bring to the table. We also need to empower more female VCs who are willing to take bold chances on women-led ventures, paving the way for a future where everyone thrives.”

At the same time, many investors fail to recognise women’s healthcare as a trillion-euro opportunity, often dismissing it as a niche sector. But the landscape is shifting. A new wave of female-focused investment funds, accelerator programmes, and forward-thinking VCs is challenging outdated mindsets. They understand that backing women-led start-ups isn’t just about diversity—it’s about opening high-impact innovation.

As Gabrielė Poteliūnaitė, Deep Tech Investor at Balnord puts it: “The reality is, investing in women’s health is not niche—it’s half the population. The start-ups we back today are not just filling gaps; they are creating entire markets. The investors who fail to see this will simply be left behind.” The question is no longer why to invest in women-led healthcare. It’s who is bold enough to lead the change.

A new model for innovation

Innovation isn’t just about technology, it’s about perspective. European Commission has already acknowledged the underrepresentation of women in research and innovation and, therefore, has implemented a formal requirement for Gender Equity Plans (GEPs) in institutions applying for EC funding to improve gender balance in decision-making bodies in research organisations and to include gender dimensions in relevant research and innovation content[2]. As Monika Ślęzak, Coordinator of the Industry Contact Point for Medical Technologies and Health at Łukasiewicz PORT, the EIT Health Partner, explains: “Women-led innovation is reshaping healthcare by focusing on what truly matters – patient well-being, accessibility, and sustainability. Their approach is not just creating new solutions; it’s redesigning the industry’s values.”

These innovators are proving that the future of healthcare isn’t just about who leads, it’s about how we rethink care itself. As they tackle pressing challenges like sustainability and ethical production, they ensure that tomorrow’s healthcare is smarter, fairer, greener, and truly built for all.

From start-ups to systemic change

Women entrepreneurs are not just breaking barriers but building a more inclusive, effective healthcare system. Yet, their potential remains underleveraged due to outdated funding structures and systemic biases. With March as HER Time, this is the moment to shift from conversation to action. Governments, investors, and industry leaders must recognise that empowering women in healthcare innovation is not about diversity metrics but better outcomes for everyone. Healthcare isn’t broken, it’s unfinished. And the women leading today’s start-ups might be the ones to complete the picture.

[1] https://eit.europa.eu/news-events/news/only-15-seed-funding-goes-women-led-deep-tech-start-ups-reveals-new-study

[2] Gender equality strategy – European Commission