FemTech Forum 2020

(All time slots are BST)

9am - Opening words by organising team

9:15am - Panel discussion: 'Balancing Trust, Privacy and Innovation in FemTech' - In a world where practically everything is digitalised and tech-enabled, protecting data from cyber breaches is top of mind, especially for sensitive data that relates to our health. When women upload information about their fertility or sexual habits on an app, discuss their results on a video call or chat with an online bot, they want to know that this data is safe and private. How do FemTech companies keep innovating while making sure the information they collect remains confidential?

Speakers:

• Nicole Leeds, New Business & Go-to-Market Strategy Lead at Clue
• Dr Stephanie Kuku, MD, Senior consultant at Hardian Health; Clinical Entrepreneur at NHS and Senior Advisor at World Health Organization
• Natasha Singh, Principal Consultant - Privacy & Data Protection at Gemserv
• Thérèse Mannheimer, Founder and CEO of Grace Health

Panel discussion will be moderated by Marina Gerner, an award-winning journalist writing for the Guardian, the Times’ Raconteur special reports, the Wall Street Journal and more.

10am - Panel discussion: 'Designing Products To Suit (And Fit) A Modern Woman’s Needs' - Female entrepreneurs have decided that it was time to put an end to the “one-size-fits-all” approach when it comes to designing products for women, which are often built around male-driven data. We’re in an era where women are pushing the frontiers of innovation in the healthtech industry, designing products that suit (and fit) a modern woman’s needs because they’re the ones who know their customers best. From a sustainable menstrual cup to a hormone-based mini lab, FemTech startups are revolutionising the space.

Speakers:

• Eirini Rapti, Founder and CEO of Inne
• Urska Srsen, Co-Founder of Bellabeat
• Kristy Chong, Founder and CEO of Modibodi
• Danela Zagar, Global Brand Manager at INTIMINA

Panel discussion will be moderated by Olga Razumovskaya, a former Wall Street Journal reporter covering technology, venture capital and startups in the US and Russia, now Strategic Communications Consultant at EM.

11am - Panel discussion: 'Investing in FemTech: Challenges and Opportunities' - Investors are starting to recognise the value of the FemTech industry, which is estimated to be worth $50 billion by 2025 (Frost & Sullivan). From ovulation-tracking bracelets to CBD-infused tampons and sexual wellness apps, VCs across Europe and the U.S. are backing more and more startups in the women’s health space. Simultaneously, there is an increasing number of female VCs that are either joining firms as partners or launching their own firms. These investors understand the needs of women and want to back more female leaders to reduce the gender gap in tech.

Speakers:

• Sophia Bendz, Partner at Atomico
• Maren Bannon, Founding Partner at January Ventures
• Louise Samet, Partner at Blossom Capital

Panel will be moderated by Bérénice Magistretti, FemTech Journalist and Angel Investor, passionate about promoting and investing in female-led companies.

12pm - 'Tech for Mums' - Fireside chat with Michelle Kennedy, Founder and CEO of Peanut - Becoming a mum changes our lives forever and sets us on an ongoing rollercoaster of emotions. Yet even though many women go through postpartum depression, loneliness and anxiety, we often only talk about the good moments as mental health is still considered taboo in our society. Can a tech solution help mums feel more empowered by sharing and connecting with other mums? Michelle Kennedy, who just raised a $12 million Series A for her Peanut app, has the answers.

Fireside chat will be led by Anja Streicher, CMO at Women of Wearables.

1pm - 2pm - Lunch Break

2pm - Panel discussion: 'The Gender Gap in Medical Research' - It wasn’t until 1994 that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the U.S. mandated the inclusion of women in clinical trials. Although progress has been made, we still have a long way to go. How does the exclusion of women from scientific research impact treatments? And how does failing to account for the different effects a drug may have on men versus women compromise quality of care for women? On this panel, we will be covering topics that revolve around the lack of physiological data, the economic costs of research in women’s health, gender bias in science and more.

Speakers:

• Jill Angelo, Founder and CEO of Gennev
• Ilka Schellschmidt, Head of Women’s Health Clinical Development and trained OB/GYN at Bayer
• Valentina Milanova, Founder and CEO of Daye

Panel will be moderated by Laura Lovett, Managing Editor of MobiHealthNews where she covers the intersection of healthcare and technology. She also leads the Women in Healthcare IT newsletter.

3pm - Panel discussion: 'Fertility: Not Just a Woman’s Issue' - Infertility has become a global reproductive health issue that is affecting many individuals and couples. But while men also face infertility issues, the pressure and burden of reproductive health is often imposed on women. How do we empower women and men with actionable data? And how do we motivate them to become more proactive about their fertility? From fertility-tracking apps to sperm testing and egg freezing, this panel aims to open up the discussion around reproductive health.

Speakers include:

• Khaled Kteily, Co-Founder and CEO of Legacy
• Elina Berglund Scherwitzl, Co-Founder and CEO at Natural Cycles
• Lea von Bidder, Co-Founder and CEO of Ava
• Alyssa Atkins, Founder and CEO of Lilia

Panel will be moderated by Amy Lewin, deputy editor of Sifted, the new media platform covering startups and tech in Europe, backed by the Financial Times.

4pm - Panel discussion: 'Is Sexual Wellness Still a Taboo in Business and Venture Capital?' - When male investors still cringe upon hearing the word “vagina” and Facebook’s algorithms ban ads that allude to a woman’s anatomy, you know there is something wrong with the world of tech. Thankfully, there are fearless female leaders out there that see these obstacles as an opportunity to tackle gender bias by normalising the conversation around vaginal health. Join us in an open and honest conversation about the vagina, sexual wellness and orgasms.

Speakers include:

• Lora Haddock DiCarlo, Founder and CEO at Lora DiCarlo
• Dr. Jane van Dis, Medical Director at Maven Clinic
• Trish Costello, Founder and CEO of Portfolia
• Billie Quinlan, Founder and CEO of Ferly

Panel will be moderated by Bérénice Magistretti, FemTech Journalist and Angel Investor, passionate about promoting and investing in female-led companies.

5pm - Panel discussion:'Launching and Scaling A Successful FemTech Startup' - With less than 3% of venture capital money going to female-led startups, the fundraising landscape for female founders is challenging, to say the least. And when some VCs label the FemTech space as a “niche market”, it’s that much harder to raise for products and services that target women’s health. Yet with successes like Maven Clinic’s recent $45 million Series C round, top tier investors, like Sequoia Capital, are beginning to understand the value of investing in FemTech companies. Add to that Modern Fertility and Ruby Love both raising $15 million for their Series A rounds and you get a coherent investment thesis - FemTech may be an emerging sector, but the market is there: 50% of the population.

Speakers include:

• Katherine Ryder, Founder and CEO of Maven Clinic
• Afton Vechery, Co-founder and CEO of Modern Fertility
• Kat Mañalac, Partner at Y Combinator
• Crystal Etienne, Founder and CEO of Ruby Love

Panel will be moderated by Chris O'Brien, European Correspondent for VentureBeat.

6pm - Closing words by the organising team

See full agenda and speakers list!

*All registered attendees will get the opportunity to purchase curated selection of discounted products and services from brands participating at the FemTech Forum! Book your ticket and you will receive more information via email!