Free Women’s Health Innovation Program in PA Now Accepting Applications

Four years. That’s how much later women are diagnosed than men, on average, across hundreds of conditions. Women also spend 25% more of their lives in poor health. Yet only 6% of private healthcare investment goes to women’s health, and conditions like endometriosis and menopause get less than 2% of that. Women’s health has been underfunded and understudied for too long, and it’s something I’ve cared about for years. Now that I’m in my early 40s, it’s also become personal. 
 

I’m excited to see Upstart Impacts launch its Women’s Health Innovation Program here in Pennsylvania. It’s backed by Ben Franklin Technology Partners and Life Sciences Greenhouse Investments, with Temple’s Lewis Katz School of Medicine as clinical partner. The program will take 10 early-stage life sciences and MedTech companies from Pennsylvania and provide hands-on mentorship from clinicians, investors and industry experts on IP, regulatory, clinical development, reimbursement, commercialization and fundraising. There’s no cost or equity required. It’s open to companies already focused on women’s health, and to companies in any therapeutic area that want to look at how their technology works for women.
 

Philly has a strong life sciences community, and it would be great to see it become a hub for women’s health too. Applications close December 15. Please share this with any founders who should apply, and I’m happy to help with introductions where I can.
 

#WomensHealth #LifeSciences #MedTech #Pennsylvania #PALifeSciences