Start-ups - Current Cohort

GIC Space is a pioneering healthtech venture redefining women’s health through innovative, affordable technologies tailored particularly for the developing world. Their flagship solution, the ‘C-Spec Smart Speculum’, merges a speculum and colposcope into one sleek, portable device; designed to enhance patient comfort, empower clinicians, and bring point-of-care gynecological exams to underserved communities. From routine pelvic exams, to screening for cervical cancer and Female Genital Schistosomiasis (FGS), their device ensures timely, more accurate, and less painful care, anytime and anywhere, faster and cheaper. They are making quality women’s health a universal reality, not a privilege.

AYCO is an Amsterdam-based medtech start-up improving maternal and child health outcomes through sustainable design. Founded by a multidisciplinary team of engineers and entrepreneurs, LAYCO emerged from the frustrations of clinicians working with outdated, disposable vacuum extractors. In close collaboration with over 200 obstetricians worldwide, the team developed vela®, the world’s first user- and patient-friendly reusable vacuum extractor.

With sustainability at its core, LAYCO addresses both the environmental burden and cost inefficiencies of single-use medical devices, while maintaining gold-standard clinical performance. vela® can be safely reused up to 100 times, reducing medical waste by 98% and CO₂ emissions by 40% per use compared to disposables. Its intuitive, compact design integrates seamlessly into existing hospital workflows, without requiring changes to sterilization protocols or additional clinical training.

Medsol AI is a pioneering company in healthcare diagnostics, leveraging advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions to enhance patient care. Their flagship product, Breast AI, utilizes ultrasound technology for real-time breast mass risk prediction, aiming for early detection and improved patient outcomes. They make cutting-edge technology accessible and affordable, with a strong focus on underserved communities.
Their commitment to addressing healthcare challenges is evident in their integrated approach, combining innovative technology with collaborative partnerships. By focusing on patient-centered care and utilizing AI and Deep Machine Learning (DML) systems, Medsol AI strives to improve diagnostic efficiency, reduce turnaround times, and bridge the gap between diagnosis and treatment. They are continuously expanding their product line and collaborations to transform healthcare delivery and make a significant impact on global health.

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Menoqueens aims to define how women experience and understand menopause. Founded by Prof. Dr. med. Petra Stute, a leading gynecologist and expert in hormonal and menopause health, Menoqueens combines science-based education, medical expertise, and peer support to empower women aged 40 to 60 throughout their menopause journey.

The platform offers a holistic ecosystem featuring curated content, interactive tools, and a safe community space. It is uniquely designed to serve both individuals seeking trustworthy information and healthcare providers looking for structured, research-informed resources. The platform also contributes to advancing women’s health by collaborating with researchers, clinicians, and pharmaceutical partners to close the evidence and communication gap in menopausal care.

Menoqueens responds to an urgent, global need: accessible, credible, and empowering support for a life phase still widely underserved. Guided by clinical and research expertise, Menoqueens is building a future where menopause is understood, supported, and destigmatized.

MoleSense advances women’s healthcare with molecular wearables—a new class of medical devices that go beyond tracking vital signs to continuously and non-invasively monitor biochemical markers such as proteins and hormones. By integrating personalized molecular data with biology-aware machine intelligence, their wearables provide proactive healthcare for high-risk pregnancies.

oasicare is dedicated to improving maternal care during childbirth, aiming to enhance outcomes for birth givers and, consequently, their quality of life. oasicare is developing its first product: a medical device designed to prevent perineal tears – one of the most common complications during vaginal births. Approximately 85% of individuals who have given birth vaginally have experienced this injury, many of whom suffer from short- or long-term consequences. Despite its prevalence and impact, there are currently no widely adopted solutions. Leveraging data-driven insights, oasicare strives to lead the field of birth injury prevention – improving not only the quality of care and life for birth givers but also the efficiency of healthcare resource utilization.

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Powerly is a science-driven, mobile mental health app developed from research conducted atthe University of Zurich and the Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich. Designed to supportemotional well-being during and after pregnancy, Powerly offers evidence-based tools—delivered in an accessible, personalized format. Built in collaboration with clinical experts, medical doctors, and expectant mothers, it provides a low-threshold solution for preventingpostpartum depression and anxiety.

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Predica Diagnostics B.V. a start-up from the RadboudUMC, is active in the field of diagnostics, prognostics and prediction of treatment response in Women’s Health. Their platform technology is based on targeted RNA sequencing, making use of proprietary probes, next generation sequencing and unique algorithms. Predica Diagnostics first product, the CervicaDX test, allows non-invasive detection of cervical abnormalities in women who are at risk of developing cervical cancer. CervicaDx, will prevent overdiagnosis of women participating in population based cervical cancer screening programs, taking away unnecessary worries of HPV+ tested but healthy women, and reliably identify the women who need referral to a gynecologist, thereby streamlining the screening process and reducing redundance. After successful implementation of the CervicaDx test, Predica Diagnostics intends to expand its portfolio with diagnostic tests for other Women’s Health indications. They are currently developing tests for European market (CE/IVDR), but are keen to build a network for future certification and expansion in the US.

RephImmune is a preclinical-stage biotech company incubated in Boston and incorporated in Taiwan. The company is pioneering a new era in solid tumor treatment with its proprietary RACE (Reconstitute-Immunity Antigen-Cell Engager) technology. Unlike conventional engineered cell therapies, RACE bypasses traditional signaling pathways to unleash the full potential of immune cells, offering superior potency, persistence, and safety. Backed by compelling preclinical data demonstrating strong tumor-killing activity and reduced toxicity, RephImmune is initially focused on ovarian and breast cancers. Its innovation has earned global recognition, including 3rd Place in the Health Tech Pitching Competition at the SelectUSA Investment Summit and inclusion in the Hatcher+ Top 100 Global Startups list.

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Salva Health is the creator of Julieta, an AI-powered and IoT-connected device designed to identify women at high risk of breast cancer, prioritizing them for early diagnosis and treatment. Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death among women in low- and middle-income countries, where limited access to early detection tools leads to late-stage diagnoses.

Julieta is a portable, affordable solution built for primary care settings, enabling healthcare providers to triage patients efficiently without relying on traditional imaging. Tested with over 2,500 patients in clinical settings, Julieta empowers early intervention and helps reduce system-level delays in access to care.

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Silatha is focused on creating psychologically safe workplaces by breaking taboos around topics often overlooked in corporate environments — such as women's health, neurodiversity, parenthood, and biases. We offer a data-driven platform that combines personalized support, science-backed education, and help employees and leaders to navigate these topics with confidence and empathy.
Silatha partners with organizations to drive real behavior change, improve retention and performance, and build high-performing, inclusive teams. Their unique approach bridges personal well-being and business outcomes — proving that investing in taboo health topics isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s smart business.

Smartweave Inc. is a regenerative therapeutics company revolutionizing the discovery, development, and commercialization of connective tissue restoration and chronic disease treatments. Initially focused on women’s continence care, Smartweave is advancing Heraweave™ to commercialize pre-IND treatments for pelvic organ prolapse and safer surgical solutions for urological incontinence.

Developed in collaboration with surgeon scientists from leading academic medical centers in the US, Heraweave integrates regenerative bio-scaffolds and AI-based, personalized tissue-specific treatments into a groundbreaking solution for a pervasive women’s health challenge. Smartweave’s clinical collaborators and technology platform have been backed by $20M in non-dilutive funding and support from institutions such as the US National Institutes of Health, the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine, and Dassault Systemes (an EU based visual technology leader).

IMSER Group is focused on transforming diagnostics and preventive care through science, technology, and equity. It engages in research, invention, and patent development, with a robust pipeline of technologies designed to improve early detection of cervical cancer, with a commitment to developing high-impact solutions that address the needs of vulnerable and underserved populations.TIMSER oversees the full innovation cycle—from ideation and preclinical research to clinical trials and market launch—leveraging its multidisciplinary expertise and strategic partnerships.
PREVENTIX is the latest product launched to the market, with the commitment to accessibility, scientific rigor, and social impact, TIMSER has developed the only blood-based test for detecting pre cancerous lesions or cervical cancer, with over 95% sensibility it stands as the only non invasive test in the market that can truly prevent cervical cancer worldwide. PREVENTIX has patents awarded in multiple countries, reshaping the future of prevention for women in Latin America and beyond.

Woost is dedicated to creating a paradigm shift in the diagnosis of gynaecological conditions starting with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) with the use of menstrual blood testing. Close to 400M women worldwide suffer from PCOS, a chronic, symptom-heavy disease with links to diabetes, infertility, CVD and cancer; nevertheless, it takes 3+ doctor visits leading to 2-8 years to get a diagnosis. We are developing home-centred care and testing solutions to track key biomarkers in menstrual blood to significantly reduce diagnosis time of PCOS from >2 years on average to <6 months.

Their test devices will be easy-to-use, affordable and accessible to any woman anywhere to monitor their gynaecological well-being. Their patient-centric model will eliminate location-specific restrictions providing real-time, regular, point-of-care testing to efficiently reach an earlier diagnosis of PCOS. The digital platform will provide continuous access to health data for all women to use, be preventive and take actions towards a better health throughout their lifetime.

They are devoted to building a community, in which women’s health concerns are effectively targeted and more importantly, being heard.

Xemperia, a spin-off from the University of Fribourg, is pioneering a groundbreaking approach to blood testing that leverages the body's immune response to detect breast cancer at its earliest and most treatable stage.

Xena is the first B2B AI-powered Precision Surgery solution for Gynecology, transforming 4 Mn+ surgeries annually in the U.S – a 3 Bn+ U.S. market.

Gynecological surgery is broken. 600M women suffer from conditions like endometriosis and fibroids, yet surgery—their only option—is shockingly imprecise. Up to 50% of surgeries fail, leading to repeat procedures, complications, and lifelong suffering as surgeons are operating almost blind.

Xena's AI-powered 3D disease mapping is helping surgeons see the invisible during pre-surgical planning. Their product has been used in 10 pilot studies and 20+ surgeries. Next, they are moving to AR-guided precision surgery. Their team brings expertise from Stanford Biodesign, Roche, J&J, Fertility AI startups, and gynecological surgery.