Northern FemTech and Women’s Healthtech Accelerator programme taking businesses to the next level

Health Innovation North East and North Cumbria (HI NENC) and the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (NENC ICB), in partnership with Lifted Ventures, are delighted to announce the launch of a brand new programme to address the gender gap in women’s health.

‘The Northern FemTech and Women’s Health Tech Accelerator Programme‘ is a gateway to early-stage investment, and the programme is looking for solutions-focused innovators with FemTech and women’s health business ideas that are ready for growth acceleration.

FemTech and Women’s Healthtech is becoming increasingly prominent, particularly in the innovation and tech sectors. However, there is still a fundamental lack of early-stage investment education, specific to this industry.

This new fully funded programme bridges the investment gap. It is bringing together FemTech and Women’s Healthtech innovative businesses, alongside investment ecosystem members, providing a cohesive accelerator programme for 10 business founders and access to finance. Innovators can apply here until the noon on 21st October 2024.

Dr Nicola Hutchinson, Chief Executive Officer for HI NENC, said: “I am delighted to announce the launch of the Northern FemTech and Women’s Healthtech Accelerator Programme, which aims to address the gender health gap in our region and drive innovation in women’s healthcare. By empowering early-stage businesses in FemTech and Women’s Healthtech, we aim to back transformative solutions that not only improve women’s wellbeing but also drive significant economic growth.

In light of the stark findings from the recent Women of the North report, it is clear that women’s health issues must be prioritised. At HI NENC, we are proud to lead a programme that is taking decisive action to address some of these challenges head-on.”

Claire Riley, Chief Corporate Services Officer for the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (NENC ICB), said: “Following the NENC ICB’s Women’s Health Conference in July, we must keep the spotlight on women’s health inequalities and take action to address them. The Accelerator programme presents a valuable opportunity to tackle the unique challenges faced by women in our region and beyond.

By supporting innovation in women’s health, we are investing in solutions that improve quality of life and contribute to a more inclusive and equitable healthcare system. We are proud to partner in this initiative and look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on both individuals and communities.”

Jordan Dargue, co-founder of Lifted Ventures, said: “The economic opportunities for investing in women’s wellbeing are enormous. A recent study by the World Economic Forum and the McKinsey Health Institute has shown that every $1 invested to improve women’s health could generate $3 for the economy as quality of life improves and women are able to actively participate in the workforce. It could lead to an extra seven healthy days each year for every woman, or more than 500 days over a lifetime.

“We’re passionate about supporting innovative founders who are developing health tech for women which will tackle ongoing challenges. We want to support these ambitious founders to prepare their businesses for growth and successfully go on to raise investment.”

The MHI’s research is the first report to quantify the economic opportunities of investing in women’s wellbeing and found that on average women were in poor health for 25% longer than men and that this could be cut by almost two-thirds if the health gap was closed. While women in the UK on average live longer than men, women spend a significantly greater proportion of their lives in ill health and disability when compared with men. And while women make up 51% of the population, historically the health and care system has been designed by men for men.