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Whether you’re a FemTech innovator or you’re working within the health and care system to address health disparities, we can support your mission.
Get in touch with the team to find out more about our work.
Email usAccelerating FemTech
Women spend a significantly greater proportion of their lives in ill
health and disability. The awareness of disparities across women’s
health has grown significantly since the publication of the Women’s
Health Strategy for England in 2022. Yet, critical challenges persist,
with calls to advance women’s health with bold leadership, co-design
and co-development, and world-leading research and innovation.
Accelerating FemTech, which is funded by the Innovate UK Biomedical Catalyst, recognises the potential of UK-based innovation to help address current challenges in women's health and other conditions that affect women differently or disproportionally. It is designed to identify high-potential products and help to drive the commercial and funding momentum needed for long-term success.
It is delivered by the Health Innovation Network South London with DigitalHealth.London and national partners. It builds upon the experience of running the award-winning DigitalHealth.London Accelerator, Propel and other innovator support programmes from the health innovation networks.
This programme is currently closed for applications
Accelerate your FemTech innovation
We have proven track record of supporting early-stage innovators from across the UK, who are looking to take their innovation for women's health to the next level.
Building on the HIN’s experience of running the award-winning DigitalHealth.London Accelerator, at the heart of Accelerating FemTech is a 10 week programme of learning, networking and collaboration. The learning programme helps innovators with targeted workshops, peer learning and tailored mentoring, which are lead by subject matter experts, business coaches and the HIN team. This element of Accelerating FemTech aims to enhance product development, entrepreneurship skills and stakeholder engagement across the healthcare system.
Are you an innovator looking for support? Click to discover our DigitalHealth.London programmes
Accelerating FemTech is delivered in collaboration with partners and supporters from across the UK.
"I’ve never felt more supported. My Business Coach was incredibly helpful, well-connected, always reachable, and always had an answer to my questions… This has been the most transformative accelerator I’ve experienced in terms of progress…"Accelerating FemTech participant
The programmes
Accelerating FemTech 2023-2025
The first cohort of Accelerating FemTech ran from May 2023 to January 2024, supporting 12 UK-based small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) developing early-stage innovations for women's health.
For the second cohort, 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 21 UK-based, early-stage SMEs, university spinouts and entrepreneurial-minded academics focused on women’s health. The programme ran from November 2024 to March 2025.
Of these innovations, 25 companies were awarded feasibility funding through a special closed-call Innovate UK Biomedical Catalyst opportunity, available as part of the Accelerator.
Learn about Accelerating FemTech: 2023-25
Accelerating FemTech: Evaluate
Building on the Accelerating FemTech programme for early-stage companies and
recognising the demand for tailored support from innovators at more advanced stages of development, Accelerating FemTech: Evaluate was designed for later-stage innovations for women’s health with a technology readiness level (TRL) 4 or above.
The programme ran from November 2025 to February 2026, supporting 10 companies through tailored support, planning strategic partnerships and refining pathways for real-world evaluation, such as health economic analyses.
Learn about Accelerating FemTech: Evaluate
"For me, the programme was incredibly impactful — not only from a business learning perspective but also in how it shifted the narrative… It gave me a profound sense of belonging and strengthened my confidence to stand tall as a female founder. I genuinely believe this programme should go global."Accelerating FemTech participant
What our alumni say
Since Accelerating FemTech launched in 2023, our alumni have gone on to reach new commercial and funding milestones, from securing Innovate UK Biomedical Catalyst funding and private investment to establishing partnerships across the NHS, research, charities and academia.
Despite their early maturity levels, this pipeline of 43 innovations is set to make a real impact in women’s health, backed by the programme’s national network.
- 98% of participants would repeat the programme, with the most valuable elements of the programmes including discussions with experts that have provided insights to help business development, expanding networks and new contacts, and helping prepare to apply for the Innovate UK Biomedical Catalyst competition.
- 25 companies won funding as part of the special closed-call Innovate UK Biomedical Catalyst competitions, which is offered as part of the Accelerator.
- Excellent NPS category, with an average cohort score of 73.
Read the Accelerating FemTech Impact Report
Read the Accelerating FemTech 2023-2025 Evaluation
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