FemTech Focus

In today’s episode, I interview Jennifer Saucier, the Senior Director of Clinical Genetic Services at Natera. Natera is one of the largest non-invasive prenatal testing and genetic counseling providers. Prenatal testing provides insights into the risk of a fetal genetic abnormality and can help inform pregnancy management before and after birth. Genetic counselors are critical healthcare providers that help families understand the results of their genetic tests and guide them in making decisions about the health of the mom and baby. Something that fascinated me in this interview was how the new overturning of Roe v Wade has profound implications on prenatal testing and how genetic counselors can and cannot do their jobs. To learn more about Natera visit https://www.natera.com. Enjoy the episode!

In today’s episode, I interview Laura Lazaro Cabrera, a Legal Officer at Privacy International. Since the overturning of the constitutional right to abortion in the United States, you may have seen social media posts telling you to delete your period tracking app or posts on Facebook about going "camping" in other states. We wanted to have a clear understanding for both the users of femtech digital health apps and the teams building them on what is the legal implications of tracking your reproductive health on your phone. Today I deep dive with Laura, a data privacy expert, on the facts and fiction of what having information on your female health could mean for you. Please be sure you are subscribed to the femtech focus newsletter and join our virtual community for more updates on how females and innovators in the US can stay vigilant and safe in these unprecedented times.

In today’s episode, I interview Beth Brooke, the co-chair of verity now. Beth is a prominent voice worldwide on Diversity and Inclusion, including most prominently on LGBT inclusion and women. She has been named eleven times to the Forbes “World’s 100 Most Powerful Women“list. Today Beth is working towards equal safety standards in the transportation industry. In the United States, women are over 17 percent more likely to die and 73 percent more likely to be seriously injured in a vehicle crash than men. VERITY NOW, which stands for Vehicle Equity Rules in Transportation, unites people to fight for equality in vehicle safety by educating on and advocating for, crash testing standards that protect men and women equally to make cars safer for all. Please visit vertiynow.org to find out how you can get involved in this vital consideration for female women and girls' health, wellness, and safety. Enjoy the episode!

In today’s episode, I interview Jackie Rotman, the founder of the Center for Intimacy Justice. Jackie has been a social entrepreneur for over 15 years. She has also worked in venture capital with a particular focus on women's health and sexual wellness. In 2019 she wrote a New York Times investigative op-ed on the sexual wellness market, which made the NY Times "Most Popular" list and was the Opinion section's display piece. Today Jackie is the founder and CEO of the Center for Intimacy Justice. This organization is leading the movement to rewrite corporate advertising policies in tech companies to allow sexual health and wellness ads for women and people with vulvas. These ads are systematically censored which causes huge barriers for femtech companies. The center for intimacy Justice believes in catalyzing greater technological innovation and investment, education, and cultural understanding toward female sexual health - and building a culture of greater equity, agency, and wellbeing. Learn more at www.intimacyjustice.org Enjoy the episode!

In today’s episode, I interview Glenise Kinard - Moore, the Founder and CEO Skii MooTech which produces their product the VDOM. SkiiMoo Tech was created to disrupt the status quo and break through societal barriers by leveraging "all things tech". Their focus is on creating tech-based consumer products for niche markets that are usually not at the forefront. Their premier product, The VDOM, is the first app-connected prosthetic penis that can go from flaccid to erect at the push of a button or via a swipe on a smartphone or smartwatch. This device is specifically designed to enhance the lifestyles of LGBTQ+ people, Erectile Dysfunction sufferers, and Spinal cord injury patients. While pre-order quantities have sold out, you can join our waitlist at www.thevdom.com Enjoy the episode!

In today’s episode, I interview Candace Mitchell, the CEO and Founder MYAVANA. Candace is a computer scientist and visionary entrepreneur transforming the hair care industry through science & technology. She serves as Founder & CEO of MYAVANA, a beauty technology company that uses artificial intelligence to recommend the perfect products for your hair. Through their mobile application, you're able to take a photo of your hair and receive an instant analysis of your hair type along with recommended products, consultations with an expert, and healthy hair guidance. For customers with specific hair challenges, MYAVANA offers a hair kit to send strands of your hair for a detailed hair analysis and personalized hair care plan. MYAVANA has developed it's own patent-pending proprietary technology to help women choose the best haircare products, ingredients, regimens, and professional salons to achieve desired styles and hair health. Our listeners get a special offer. Use promocode FEMTECH at www.myavana.com to save 20% on a hair analysis kit. Enjoy the episode!

In today’s episode, I interview Pilar Diaz, the Global Head of FemTech at MAS holdings. MAS specializes in creating reusable and sustainable apparel and textile solutions for women’s health and hygiene. They work in collaboration with femtech companies and startups such as Thinx period underwear and Become menopause sleepwear to create apparel and textile solutions across all female life stages, from menstruation to maternity to menopause, and everything in between. Headquartered in Sri Lanka, MAS Holdings is one of the world’s most recognized design-to-delivery solutions providers in apparel and textile powered by 30 years of operations, 53 manufacturing facilities across 16 countries, and 99,000 employees. Pilar is eager to work with more femtech companies to bring their textile and apparel visions to the market. I would be happy to introduce you to Pilar if you send me an email at [email protected] Learn more about MAS holdings at www.masholdings.com. Enjoy the episode!

In today’s episode, I interview Melissa Kramer the CEO and Founder of Live UTI free. As a women's health advocate Melissa works closely with researchers, clinicians, and members of the public to ensure the patient perspective is acknowledged, particularly in the area of recurrent urinary tract infection - the second most common infection in adults, globally. In 2017, she founded Live UTI Free, a patient advocacy and research organization with a highly engaged community. 7 million females experience a UTI each year in the United States with about 35% of them having another UTI within 6 months. Many of these reoccurring infections may be caused by an underlying bladder infection that goes undiagnosed and ineffectively treated. My favorite resource they offer is the ‘take to your doctor’ and ‘patient guide’ resources. These are documents that help empower women to speak with their physicians about what they believe they are experiencing. Get these resources and more at www.LiveUTIfree.com. Enjoy the episode!

In today’s episode, I interview Madeline Waugh, a social scientist with a focus on reproductive rights in the United States. In this episode, we walk you through the history of abortion in the United States and the present-day situation we find ourselves in. Unfortunately, it feels like most of the world is in chaos so many of us may not realize how close we are in the United States to losing our right to an abortion. In June the Supreme Court will review a Mississippi abortion law and there is a high probability that the court will overturn Roe v Wade making abortion no longer a constitutional right. This will cause a domino effect state by state of the elimination of a female’s right to decide what’s best for her and her body. Although this seem very gloom for women’s rights today we still have an opportunity to improve our chances for the future. The opportunity lies in voting, especially in local elections. I recently met Lisa Mead, a woman running for election in my community. If elected, she would be the youngest female County Commissioner and only parent of school aged children. In Wake County North Carolina we have a very important local election on May 17, with early voting beginning April 28. If you live elsewhere, please make sure to check with the Board of Elections to see when your primary election is, many are occurring in the next month! Local elections can have huge impacts on women's rights and health, so it is important to vote. Please share this episode with your networks because female rights may take a huge setback but we must be prepared to fight for our right to choose. If you benefited from listening to this episode, please consider donating to FemTech Focus which is a 501c3 non-profit empowering the women's health innovation industry. https://femtechfocus.org/donate/

In today’s episode, I interview Erin Parks, PhD the co-founder and chief operating officer of Equip Health. Equip helps families recover from eating disorders at home. Equip’s virtual, evidence-based care is provided by a dedicated five-person team that empowers families to help their loved ones achieve lasting recovery. In the US alone 5 million people will develop an eating disorder which has the 2nd highest mortality rate of all mental illnesses. In fact, there’s been a 70% increase in eating disorders since the start of the pandemic indiscriminate of gender, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Did you know that 40% of people struggling with anorexia are males? When a disease is considered a female disease it is wildly underserved. If you’re a male suffering from a culturally-perceived female condition, you may even have it worse than the females suffering from that illness because of the bias. If you or someone you know is wondering if their disordered eating is actually an eating disorder then please take a free assessment at www.equip.health