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Email usAccelerating FemTech: 2023-25
In the UK, women consistently spend more of their lives in ill health or disability compared to men, and the life expectancy for women ranges from less than two years to 12 years or more than men across the country. Recognising the urgent need for a more inclusive and gender-sensitive approach to healthcare, the Accelerating FemTech programme was created, utilising funding from Innovate UK as part of the Biomedical Catalyst.
As part of the programme, innovators are also supported to prepare for a special closed-call feasibility funding opportunity through the Innovate UK Biomedical Catalyst. The Biomedical Catalyst is Innovate UK’s flagship grant funding mechanism. It enables small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) to test and develop innovative health and care solutions across life sciences, including therapeutics, medical devices and digital health. In 2023, Accelerating FemTech alumni were awarded more than £1m in funding through the Biomedical Catalyst.
Read the programme evaluation
The first cohort of the programme, which was delivered between September 2023 and December 2023, was designed to support small and medium-sized (SMEs) companies developing early-stage innovations for women’s health.
Meet the first cohort
For cohort 2, support was broadened to be delivered through funding from Innovate UK in collaboration with the Medical Research Council. It recognised the important role universities play in cutting edge innovation, providing help for UK-based, early-stage companies, university spinouts and entrepreneurial-minded academics focused on women’s health. The programme ran from November 2024 to March 2025.
Meet the second cohort
Programme impact
Across the two cohorts of the programme, 33 early-stage FemTech innovations were supported, of which 66.6% of which were female owned or managed. These companies covered a diverse range of areas related to women's health, including innnovations focused on gynaecology, maternity and the menopause, as well as conditions where women experience gender health inequalities such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
The programme delivered almost 3,000 hours of bespoke support to innovators, including 145 one-to-one subject matter expert sessions and a wide range of networking events, workshops and webinars.
An evaluation of the programme found that:
£1m
of Biomedical Catalyst funding was awarded to 10 innovators (cohort 1)
97.4%
of participants felt expert guidance from the programme supported their business development
78.5%
of participants said they were more aware of important considerations for business development
Read the programme evaluation
Participants on the programme rated the programme as "great" based on Net Promoter Score feedback; 96% of participants said they would repeat the programme.
Since taking part on the programme, many of the Accelerating FemTech alumni have gone on to further success. Some of these milestones include securing significant further funding, publishing peer-reviewed studies, and successful pilots within the NHS and other health and care settings.
Check out our case studies to find out more about the work of companies supported by Accelerating FemTech.
