FemTech Focus

Derek Sham, the founder and CEO of Cosm Medical, is an engineer who has launched over 8 medical devices in urology, gynecology, gastroenterology, and cardiology. His last urology diagnostic company was PE-back and exited in 2016. Inspired by the complications his grandmother faced, Derek set out to create a better solution for pelvic floor health like preventing pelvic organ prolapse and stopping urinary incontinence. Cosm Medical is creating a digital gynecology platform to personalize care for women. They are revolutionizing the pessary using ultrasound, AI, and 3D printing technologies. Derek is bringing pelvic floor health into the 21st century with cutting-edge technology. Learn more at www.cosm.care

Dr. Silvia Mah is the founder and chairwoman of Stella, a business accelerator for women, and the founder of Stella Angels. Stella Angels is a network of accredited angel investors who are funding women. In this interview, we cover what it’s like for angels investing in femtech, what they’re looking for, what challenges they see companies facing, and what they hope the future of femtech investing looks like.

Beatrice Dixon is the founder and chief innovation officer at The Honey Pot Co. Their products are sold online and at major retailers including Target, Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, Bed Bath and Beyond, Wegmans and more. The Honey Pot Company currently offers feminine washes, wipes, tampons, pads, mommy-to-be products, sexual wellness and soon-to-be additional offerings in both the feminine hygiene and feminine care segments. Their plant-derived feminine hygiene line is created with the goal to provide humans with vaginas, a healthy alternative to feminine care that is made with ingredients that are kind and safe for skin. Our listeners get a special offer! Go to www.thehoneypot.co and use promocode femtech for 15% off your order.

Celine Tien is the founder and CEO of Flowly, a mobile app that combines Virtual Reality and biofeedback for pain and anxiety management. Using a mobile app and VR headset, Flowly uses biometric data such as Heart rate and Heart Rate Variability and converts it to visualizations in virtual experiences that reduce pain by over 46%. Flowly has also been studied in NIH-backed clinical trials that show an average 40% reduction in opioid usage. This conversation around bioneurofeedback is super fascinating and I am excited to see all the challenges flowly addresses for women’s health! Learn more and sign up at flowly.world.

Lisa Falco is the author of “Go Figure! The astonishing science of the female body”. She was previously Director of Data Science at Ava, a Swiss FemTech startup, where she led a team developing algorithms and artificial intelligence in order to help women get pregnant faster by using their physiological data based on their menstrual cycle. Her book Go Figure, unravels the mystery surrounding women’s biology and explains what is happening underneath the surface. What triggers those changes and What are the sometimes unexpected consequences? The facts are as mind-blowing as they are entertaining.

In today’s episode, I interview Laura-June Clarke, the CEO and founder of Moonai. Monnai is an app that uses audio wavelengths to improve pain experienced during one’s period. Certain sounds, frequencies, and rhythms can impact the central nervous system and help reduce the perception of menstrual pain. Moonai is partnered with neuroscientists, gynecologists, and psychoacoustic experts to provide the most effective sounds for period pain relief. Downloads Moonai in the App Store or visit their website to learn more at www.moonai.es

In today’s episode, I interview Dr. Caralynn Nowinski Collens, the CEO of Dimension Inx. She manufactures 3D structures that enable cells to think they are inside the human body and restores their function. Dimension Inx is a next-generation biomaterials and biofabrication company developing 3D-printed therapeutic products that direct cells to rebuild healthy tissues. They are currently developing medical products for various therapeutic applications ranging from bone regeneration to fertility preservation. To learn more visit www.dimensioninx.com.

In today’s episode, I interview Barry McCann, the Founder and CEO NUA Surgical. NUA Surgical is a multi-award-winning start-up dedicated to creating innovative surgical solutions in obstetrics and gynecology. Headquartered on the West Coast of Ireland, the company has developed the patented SteriCISION C-Section Retractor. This c-section retractor is designed to improve ergonomics and make cesarean delivery of newborns safer by providing better access and visualization during surgery. You are never going to believe what the current standard of care is for a c-section. I am grateful femtech founders like Barry are finally leveling up this super common procedure. Enjoy the episode!

In today’s episode, I interview Dr. Elina Berglund Scherwitzl, the co-founder and CEO of Natural Cycles. Natural Cycles° is a birth control app used by millions of women around the world. As a Class II medical device, the Natural Cycles app is cleared by the FDA in the United States and certified to be used as a contraceptive in Europe, Australia, and Singapore. Their internal research team has contributed to 14 peer-reviewed research papers. After contributing to physics research that led to a Nobel Prize in 2013, Elina applied her skills to create the unique algorithm in Natural Cycles that accurately pinpoints when a female is fertile based on her body temperature. Download Natural Cycles and use promo code 'femtechfocus' to get 20% off an annual membership and a free thermometer. Enjoy the episode!

In today’s episode, I interview Molly Broache, a women’s health nurse practitioner and currently the Associate Director of Medical Affairs in the US Region for BD Integrated Diagnostic Solutions. BD is one of the largest global medical technology companies in the world with 75,000 employees in virtually every country. The BD Onclarity™ HPV Assay is the only FDA-approved HPV assay that identifies six high-risk HPV genotypes individually, including HPV 31. As more women received the HPV vaccine, the prevalence of two of the three highest-risk genotypes – HPV 16 and 18 – have declined. Unfortunately, HPV 31 remains prevalent. BD’s diagnostic tools provide a new standard of care for women. Learn more about BD’s commitment to women’s health at https://Womens-health-solutions.bd.com Enjoy the episode!