For far too long, the financial world - and particularly venture capital - has been dominated by men. But as interest grows in women’s health and female-centric innovations, there’s a growing opportunity for women to not just benefit from these advancements but to invest in them.
If you’ve ever wanted to put your money toward projects that support the female body and women’s health, now is the time. Investing in women’s health doesn’t just offer potential financial returns - it’s a way to help drive solutions for some of the most pressing issues facing women today.
So, how can the everyday woman begin investing in projects that benefit the female body? Let’s dive into practical steps you can take to get started, even if you’ve never invested before.
1. Educate Yourself About Women’s Health Innovations
The first step to becoming an investor in women’s health is to educate yourself about the current landscape. Over the past decade, there’s been a surge in startups and companies dedicated to improving women’s health. These include innovations in fertility, menopause, maternal care, and conditions like endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Take time to read up on these areas and get familiar with the “femtech” sector—a term that refers to technology specifically designed for women’s health. Many startups are pioneering solutions that could revolutionise how we care for women’s bodies, from cutting-edge apps for tracking menstrual cycles and fertility to new medical devices and therapies designed to treat female-specific conditions.
Some successful companies to look into include:
Maven Clinic, a digital health startup that offers women’s healthcare services.
Clue, a period and fertility tracking app.
Willow, a company innovating in the space of wearable breast pumps.
By understanding the opportunities in this sector, you’ll be better equipped to make informed decisions about where to invest.
2. Start with Crowdfunding
One of the easiest ways for beginner investors to get involved in projects that benefit the female body is through crowdfunding platforms. These platforms allow everyday people to invest small amounts of money in startups, often with relatively low risk. You don’t need to have thousands of pounds to get started - many platforms allow you to invest with as little as £100.
Here are some popular crowdfunding platforms where you can find women’s health-focused startups:
SeedInvest: This platform features a wide range of startups, including those focused on women’s health and wellness.
Republic: A crowdfunding platform that often includes fem-tech and female-focused healthcare startups.
Wefunder: Known for supporting mission-driven companies, including those in the health tech space.
By using these platforms, you can directly support startups working to improve women’s health, while also gaining early-stage investment opportunities.
3. Look for Female-Focused Investment Funds
Another route to consider is investing in female-focused investment funds. These funds specifically target companies that benefit women, including those innovating in female health. The advantage of using an investment fund is that the fund managers do the hard work of finding and vetting the companies, so you don’t need to have extensive knowledge of the market to participate.
Some well-known female-focused investment funds include:
The Female Founders Fund: A venture capital fund that backs early-stage female-founded companies, many of which focus on women’s health.
Portfolia FemTech Fund: A fund designed specifically to invest in companies focused on women’s health and wellness. This fund is a great choice if you’re looking to back companies working on solutions for reproductive health, menopause, fertility, and more.
All Raise: An organisation that supports female founders and has a network of female investors working to support women in the venture capital space.
By investing in these funds, you can help fuel female-led companies that are developing innovations for the female body.
4. Support Publicly Traded Companies Focused on Women’s Health
If you prefer a more traditional route, consider investing in publicly traded companies that are making strides in women’s healthcare. There are several large healthcare and pharmaceutical companies that are prioritising research and development in women’s health products, treatments, and services.
For example, companies like AbbVie (known for its endometriosis treatments) and Hologic (a leader in women’s health diagnostics and medical devices) are actively involved in addressing women’s health issues. By purchasing shares in these companies through a brokerage account, you can support their work while potentially benefiting from their financial success.
You can also look into exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that focus on healthcare. Some ETFs include companies that specialise in women’s health, offering a diversified way to invest in the broader healthcare market while still supporting women-focused initiatives.
5. Invest in Yourself and Your Network
Investing in projects that benefit the female body doesn’t always have to be about money. Sometimes, it’s about supporting women’s health innovations through advocacy, sharing knowledge, or participating in a community of like-minded individuals. Consider joining female investor networks or groups that focus on supporting women’s health startups.
Some examples include:
Pipeline Angels: A network of women investors that helps fund female-founded companies, many of which focus on women’s health.
Angel Academy: Another network of female investors who are passionate about supporting female-led ventures, including those in the health space.
Joining these communities can provide valuable learning opportunities, connect you with other investors, and give you a direct line to women’s health startups seeking funding.
6. Start Small and Build Confidence
For those new to investing, the idea of putting money into women’s health startups can feel daunting, but it’s important to remember that you don’t need to start big. Begin with small investments, especially through platforms like SeedInvest or Republic, and take the time to watch how your investments grow. The more you learn and build confidence, the more you can diversify your portfolio.
Another option is to open a Robo-advisor account, where automated investing platforms can guide you based on your financial goals. Many robo-advisors allow you to choose industries or sectors you want to focus on, making it easy to include women’s health in your portfolio.
Investing in a Better Future for Women’s Health
The time is ripe for the everyday woman to begin investing in projects that benefit the female body. As the world wakes up to the unmet needs in women’s healthcare, opportunities to invest in startups, companies, and innovations that make a difference are growing.
Whether you choose to start with crowdfunding, explore female-focused investment funds, or support publicly traded companies advancing women’s health, the important thing is to get involved. Not only can you potentially see financial returns, but you can also play a role in shaping the future of women’s healthcare, helping to drive forward solutions that benefit millions of women globally.
Investing in women’s health is not just about making money - it’s about creating a future where the health and well-being of women are prioritised, respected, and adequately addressed.
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