The intersection of women's health and technology.
An initiative founded in 2018 with the mission of addressing unmet health needs of women globally and increasing gender equity in technology and venture.
3
Large Scale Pitch Days
Welcoming innovators to pitch their digital health solutions to a panel of expert judges.
The future of women’s health is bright.
The Women’s Health Tech Challenge invites innovators, entrepreneurs, and startups to propose novel solutions to fulfill unmet needs of women worldwide.
Femtech is projected to grow to $50 billion by 2025*
of women hold the purchasing power in their households*
Established Challenges
- 1 online challenge with international scope
- 3+ networking events
- 1 Women’s Health Tech Innovators Showcase
Goals
- Representation: 30 countries represented in application process
- Exposure: 1,000 people join the next WHT (6 months) / WHT featured in Forbes (2 years)
- Traction for finalists: 3 finalist companies who raise series B or higher (2 years)
Our Program Leaders
Susan Solinsky
Director, Women’s Health Tech Initiative; Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer, Ellipsis Health
Nicole Anderson
Lead Coordinator
Our Vision
We seek to improve global women’s health by connecting early-stage startups with the resources they need to successfully launch innovations.
Our Mission
We facilitate access to advice on building, funding, and scaling women’s healthcare technology innovations through content, connectivity, and capital.
Our Impact Partners
Our Executive Committee
Priscilla Beal
Global Head of Partnerships - Committee Chair
Vanessa Liu
Entrepreneur, Non-Executive Board Director
Prem Tumkosit
Healthcare Venture Capital Investor
Kristopher Brown
Tech Law Partner
Amy West
Head of US Digital Transformation & Innovation
Elise Mortensen
Director of Research at HTD Health
Natalie Principe
Head of Innovation: Strategy & Digital Health Technologies
Our Ambassadors
Dipty Desai
Efua Edusei
Gati Dharani
Jill Angelo
Jill Parker
Christina Vanvuren
Chrysanthi Kefala-Dori
Deb Smolensky
Rashmi Kilam
Carli Sapir
Teo Tijerina
Nathalie Feldman
Uche Udekwe
Rohit Joshi
Arun Agarwal
Jonson Hor
Saoimanu D. Sope
Andrea Ippolito
Uche Udekwe
Ryan Splitler Ph.D
Ella Berlyand
Sari Kaganoff
Dr Mabel Yen Ngoc Nguyen
Julie Abrams
Sasha Cahill
Candice Smith
Rachel Trobman
Jedidah Karanja
SIman Abuzeid
Izza Hehre
Serena Editoiu
Nina Joshi
Nina Keshavarzi
Erin Sharoni
Nina Roth
Falak Muhammedi
Justin Bulova
Dr. Tahmida Nazreen
Merck Global Health Innovation Fund is excited to partner with HITLAB to build an innovative, disruptive healthcare ecosystem around the wellbeing of women. By sponsoring the 2020 HITLAB Women’s Health Tech Challenge, our collective goal is to support solutions that empower women to take charge of their health, make informed choices, and access higher standards of care.