Thank you #WHISEU 2023!
After a successful first 2022 Summit, we were delighted to return to Switzerland to drive our mission of improving the access to and quality of healthcare for women across the globe.
Whilst the distribution of FemTech companies in Europe currently sits at 27% (in comparison to North America’s 51%), there is the potential for huge growth in the market. Our event aims to act as the catalyst for this growth in the development of solutions in this underserved area.
Our summit offered the opportunity for connection and partnership, bringing together the leaders and innovators from Europe and Israel, from large pharmaceutical companies and biotechs to start-ups, investors, and service providers, to collectively drive forward the women’s health market.
As we are busy planning #WHISEU 2024, register your interest below to be the first to hear about Summit updates and registration!
We look forward to seeing you next year!
Advisory Board
Gila Tolub
Passionate about healthcare and its role in improving society, Gila advises CEOs and top teams at the leading life sciences companies on growth strategy, sustainability, Health Equity and organizational transformation. Gila also leads McKinsey's work with Healthcare Innovators in Israel supporting VC funds and CEOs in bringing healthcare innovation to market more quickly.
Jessica McCreadie
Jess sits in the Health team, and her focus is engaging with, investing in and supporting Europe’s most promising health tech companies.
“The gap between health and life expectancy is widening and to improve quality of life in later years we need a more decentralised, preventative and personalised approach to healthcare.”
Prior to joining Octopus Ventures in June 2021, Jess led the health tech investing team at Legal & General supporting leading health innovations. She invested balance sheet capital into early-stage health tech businesses and supported scale up via board representation in her portfolio.
Earlier in her career Jess invested into and was a banker in a range of alternative asset classes including renewable energy, real estate, and Venture Capital Funds. Jess has a passion for sustainability and delivering social impact alongside economic value.
Outside of work Jess can be found enjoying London’s restaurants, cycling, running, trying out the newest fitness class on offer, or in the park running around with / after her dog.
Kathrin Folkendt
Kathrin Folkendt is the Founder & CEO at Femtech Insider, the number 1 source for all things femtech. The newsletter briefs people on deals, company and startup launches, as well as femtech and Healthtech industry insights. Alongside this, Kathrin is also the Co-Founder of PERLA Health, an evidence-based integrative approach towards changing the way that PCOS education and care are delivered.
Keren Leshem, MBA
Seasoned executive with over 20 years' experience in the medical device & pharmaceutical industries specializing in the management of innovative start-ups, strategy, commercialization, BD and financing.
Priya Oberoi
Priya Oberoi is the Founding Partner at Goddess Gaia Ventures, which is building a £100 million pre-series A venture fund to invest in companies innovating in women’s health and wellness. She is also the Founder and Managing Partner at Oberoi Capital Partners Limited. She is an avid angel investor and has over 20 years’ experience in the legal and financial industry and has a degree from Oxford University.
Chandra P. Leo
Chandra P. Leo is a member of the private equity team at HBM Partners, a Swiss-based healthcare investment firm with approximately $1.8 billion in assets under management. He has been responsible for investments in more than 15 private biotech, medical device and diagnostics companies in the United States and Europe, in most cases as a board member or board observer. Collectively, these companies have so far generated five NASDAQ IPOs, five M&A transactions and four FDA-approved marketed products.
In the women’s health field, Chandra has backed and worked with companies focused on e.g. cervical cancer, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, gynecologic infections, urogynecologic conditions, infertility and preterm labor. Before becoming a venture capital investor, he served as a physician in the Dept. of OB/GYN at the University Hospital in Leipzig, Germany, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in reproductive biology at Stanford University.
Chandra holds degrees as a Doctor of Medicine from the Freie Universität Berlin (Charité), a Master in Medicines Development (MAS) from the University of Basel, and an MBA with distinction from INSEAD (France/Singapore). He lives in Zurich with his wife (a gynecologist) and their two daughters.
Lynae Brayboy
Lynae is the Chief Medical Officer at Clue, the company founded by Ida Tin who coined the term ‘femtech’. Clue’s mission is for women and people with cycles to make good choices for themselves, and live full lives not in spite of their biology, but in tune with it and was launched helloclue.com in February 2018 to help close the knowledge gap about the menstrual cycle—with information that’s accessible, serious, scientific, and empathetic.
Marija Butkovic
Key statistics
AUDIENCE BREAKDOWN
Start Ups/ Femtech/ Entrepreneurs/ Innovation
We are committed to increasing exposure of emerging companies in women’s health, at all stages of growth and development, who are seeking partnership opportunities and are at the forefront of shaping the future of this space.
Pharma/ Medical Device & Diagnostics/Biotechs
At the forefront of innovation, big pharma, medical device, and biotech companies play a key role in shaping the investments and innovation happening in the women’s health sphere.
Investors/Funding Groups
We look to bring together leading investors with a particular focus in women’s health, ranging from seed, to angel, venture capital firms, private equity, funds, and advisors.
Non-profits/ Advocacy Groups
Non-profit organizations and advocacy groups play a key part in our Summits, and in the women’s health space in general, ensuring the fight towards health equity continues and awareness of the industry is being spread.
Payors/Employers
Payers, insurance companies, and benefit providers provide an important bridge between stakeholders within the women’s health industry, and we are delighted to have more joining us at this years’ summit.
Service Providers
Industry support and service providers include advocacy groups, researchers, knowledge leaders and accelerators such as consultants, lawyers, CROs, non-profits and regulatory experts.
2023 Attendees Included
2023 Partners
Oncology Partner
GSK
Website: https://www.gsk.com/en-gb/
GSK is focused on maximising patient survival through transformational medicines. Our oncology pipeline is focused on immuno-oncology, cell therapy, tumour cell targeting therapies and synthetic lethality. Our goal is to achieve a sustainable flow of new treatments based on a diversified portfolio of investigational medicines.
Gynaecologic cancers are among the most common cancers affecting women. Nearly 1.4 million people were diagnosed with cervical, endometrial, ovarian, vaginal or vulvar cancer in 2020; however, awareness of these cancers and their symptoms remains low. At GSK, we are committed to supporting continued innovation in gynaecologic cancers, keeping the patient’s voice at the heart of our mission, and building a pipeline of novel programmes to meet their needs. For more information about our work in oncology, please visit: https://www.gsk.com/en-gb/
Platinum Partners
Gedeon Richter
Website: https://www.gedeonrichter.com/en
Gedeon Richter Plc., is the leading Women’s Health pharma company in Europe. One of Richter’s most important area is its Women’s Healthcare business with long-term experience in this therapeutic field and by pursuing partnering opportunities.
Our thinking goes beyond conventional approaches and we call for cooperation to improve and nurture the digital innovation within the Women’s Healthcare.
MODHealth
Website: https://modhealth.com
WOMENS HEALTH WILL HEAL US ALL
WE’RE READY FOR THE WORLD TO BE BETTER. ARE YOU?
Women’s health has been overlooked and underserved for far too long. We’re here to bring those dark ages to an end. MODHealth is a female-led, female driven agency illuminating women’s health from every angle with stories that are raw, handsome and true.
The path to a better world begins with women and the journey starts now.
Myovant
Website: https://www.myovant.com/
We aspire to redefine care for women and for men through purpose-driven science, empowering medicines, and transformative advocacy.
Our purpose is resolute and fueled by the opportunity to improve the lives of millions of women and men, many impacted by diseases during their most productive years of life. Despite the significant burden of common diseases like uterine fibroids, endometriosis, and prostate cancer, many women and men do not have the options they deserve and need.
Gold Partner
Philips
Website: www.philips.com/newscenter.
Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people's health and well-being, and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum – from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. Philips generated 2021 sales of EUR 17.2 billion and employs approximately 79,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries.
Kinneir Dufort
Website: https://kinneirdufort.com/
Kinneir Dufort (KD) is a world-leading user centred Innovation, Design and Development consultancy, which focuses on designing a better world and creating value through tomorrow's products and experiences. We combine expertise in Design, Technology and User Experience to help progressive and ambitious companies deliver successful new innovations across the world. Our exec and management team is 50% female, unique in our industry at our scale. (Design Council’s Design Economy report 2018, states 95% male in UK product design).
In 2021, we launched XXEquals, as a response to the lack of female representation across our industry, our XXEquals team being over 75% women, with a deep expertise around creating products and services for women across healthcare & wellness, ensuring lived experience and empathetic approaches alongside user experience are central to the process. Our partners vary from femtech start-ups to global blue chips, all focused on delivering compelling innovations, products and services in women’s health and wellness. Find out more at www.xxequals.com / www.kinneirdufort.com
Perrigo
Website: www.perrigo.com
About Perrigo: Perrigo Company plc is a leading provider of Consumer Self-Care Products and over-the-counter (OTC) health and wellness solutions that enhance individual well-being by empowering consumers to proactively prevent or treat conditions that can be self-managed. Visit Perrigo online at www.perrigo.com.
Event Partner
Weber Shandwick
Website: https://webershandwick.co.uk/
Please visit our website for more information.Start-Up Zone Partner
Pregnolia
Website: www.pregnolia.com
Pregnolia AG is a Swiss medical technology company in the field of preterm birth detection. The company has developed a CE-marked measurement system to accurately determine the stiffness of the cervix. This parameter is an important indicator for assessing the risk of preterm birth. Early diagnosis of preterm birth enables preventive interventions to prolong pregnancy and improve the health of newborns.
Care Package Partner
Daye
Website: https://yourdaye.com/
Daye is a female-founded gynae health start-up on a mission to close the gender health gap for good. We started out with the invention of the world’s first pain-relieving tampon, designed to support the 90% of women, who experience menstrual cramps.
After helping over 75,000 women & AFAB individuals kick period pain to the curb, we launched our second generation tampon to facilitate the at-home detection of vaginal infections, STIs and HPV.
Next, we want to develop solutions for under-served gynae health conditions like endometriosis, PCOS and menopause. Within the next five years, we will build an ecosystem where every woman can understand, monitor, and improve her health from her smartphone.
Media Partners
Cambridge Femtech Society
Website: https://www.cambridgefemtech.com/
The Cambridge University Femtech Society aims to create a network of motivated students and alumni who want to promote knowledge-sharing and tackle challenges in femtech - the intersection of women’s health and technology. We strive to give students the opportunity to meet key opinion leaders - entrepreneurs, investors and researchers - operating in femtech. Likewise, we provide femtech companies and investors with the chance to address Cambridge students and researchers who are interested in starting a career in femtech or bringing their femtech ideas to life.
FemTech France
Website: http://femtechfrance.org/
Launched in September 2022, Femtech France aims at accelerating women's health innovation in France by fostering more collaboration within the ecosystem —founders, investors, healthcare professionals, corporates, etc.
To start Femtech France has created a bootcamp dedicated to aspiring femtech entrepreneurs who don't have a medical background. The training is divided into 3 parts: women's health, the French healthcare system, and the femtech market. Femtech France is supported by two partners for this bootcamp, Organon and Groupe VYV.
Tech4Eva - We Accelerate women's health innovation
Website: http://www.tech4eva.ch/
Tech4Eva was founded in 2021 by EPFL Innovation Park and Groupe Mutuel. It is a global FemTech community with international reach and a 9 month equity free FemTech start-up acceleration program for companies developing innovative solutions to improve technologies relating to women’s health. Solutions cover the following areas: mental health & wellbeing, period health, pregnancy & post-partum, fertility & infertility, prevention & diagnostics, menopause. We help selected start-ups companies to refine their business models and go-to-market process strategy, to meet investors and potential customers and connect them with leading FemTech hubs around the globe with the support of partners, corporate and executive mentors. To date Tech4Eva start-ups raised CHF 62+ million for women's healthcare.
Media Planet
Website: www.healthawareness.co.uk/womens-health
Mediaplanet is currently working on the Women’s Health campaign, which aims to raise awareness for key women’s health conditions including female cancers, reproductive health, and gynaecological conditions. We will highlight the importance of prevention and early diagnosis, as well as the new innovations in treatment which are helping improve patient pathways.
Ultraviolet
Website: https://www.ultraviolet.agency/
Founded by FemTech veteran Anna Butterworth and futures expert Rhiannon Jones, Ultra Violet Futures addresses the burgeoning market currently ignored by traditional trends agencies. As one of the fastest growing areas of innovation it's vital to have a dedicated collective focused on mapping the forthcoming changes and developments to better align product developers, trading teams and marketeers with the needs of the future consumer.
Ultra Violet Futures is uniquely placed to combine intimate industry knowledge, contacts and experience to provide insightful and, most importantly, accurate forecasts within the now thriving field. Working with us gives you a unique perspective in the future of your consumer allowing your business to not only envisage but define the future of this category
Women of Wearables
Website: https://www.womenofwearables.com/
Please visit our website for more information.Femtech World
Website: https://www.femtechworld.co.uk/
We are a global media platform, run by award winning journalists, on a mission to contribute to closing the gender health gap by providing valuable news, insights and analysis on the exciting femtech sector. Produced by specialist health media group Aspect Publishing, Femtech World aims to give the femtech community a voice, breaking down professional borders, spreading opportunities and destigmatising women’s health issues.
FemTechnology
Website: https://femtechnology.org/
FemTechnology seeks to build the future of women’s health by bringing together Femtech Startups, chief clinicians, groundbreaking researchers and university students for a 360 degree perspective on innovation in women’s health.
Our platform encompasses FemTechnology Summit (our work to connect existing actors in women’s health to bridge the gap in care and solve collective painpoints), FemTechnology University Series (our work to build the pipeline of innovation in women’s health by scouting and activating the next gen of researchers and founders in women’s health) and FemTechGuide (our work to translate innovations in women’s health for clinicians and employers to create an integrated platform that is easily accessible).
2023 Speakers
Marija Butkovic
Tania Boler
Alia El-Yassir
Priya Oberoi
Priya Oberoi is the Founding Partner at Goddess Gaia Ventures, which is building a £100 million pre-series A venture fund to invest in companies innovating in women’s health and wellness. She is also the Founder and Managing Partner at Oberoi Capital Partners Limited. She is an avid angel investor and has over 20 years’ experience in the legal and financial industry and has a degree from Oxford University.
Valentina Sartori
Chantal Cox
Dr Mridula Pore
Dr Mridula Pore is the Co-Founder and Co-CEO at Peppy. A next-generation solution that’s transforming digital healthcare, working with employers and private medical insurers to give individuals physical, mental and emotional support when they need it most. Mridula has spent her career driving innovations in healthcare to make it more accessible and affordable. Most recently she has led commercial teams in the pharmaceuticals and digital health industries. Prior to that she was an engagement manager at McKinsey & Co. She has a PhD in chemical engineering from MIT and an MBA from the MIT Sloan.
Valentina Milanova
Valentina Milanova is the founder of Daye, the gynae health research and development company on a mission to close the gender pain gap and overcome historical gender biases in medical research and product innovation. After years of research and testing, Daye launched its first consumer product in 2020 - the world‘s only cramp-soothing tampon. From the outset, Valentina has baked her core values into the DNA of the company - Daye‘s products are created by women who used to be in the prison system, and their tampons are produced in a fully carbon neutral operation. Born and raised in Bulgaria, Valentina moved to the UK to attend the University of Buckingham, where she got degrees in business, economics, and law. After considering careers in journalism and econometrics, Valentina soon found herself drawn in by the start-up world, working first at Techstars and then as a venture associate for Founders Factory. Meanwhile, she began working on her own idea for a company. After 180 pitches to investors, Valentina managed to raise £4.23 million in seed funding and in 2018, Daye started officially changing the face of female health for the better.
Peony Li
Shirley Sylvester
Jérôme Michaud
Veronika Horvath
Peter Turek
Mathieu Horras
Yotam Hod
Ipek Gunduz
Melis Guvensoy Okalper
Ricarda Dewes
Cecile Real
Heloïse Nogues
Issy Gordon
Adam Amara
Nina Stanley
Ricarda Dewes
Stasa Stankovic
Nina Zoric
Axelle Ducos
Chris Payne
Alison Slingsbury
Alison Slingsby is the Global Lead Women’s Health Innovation at Perrigo. Her main responsibilities are to uncover unmet needs and find appropriate new products and services to fill these gaps.
Alison’s career has been focused on Women’s Health for last 28 years, with her experience spanning across the various stages of a woman’s journey from contraception, fertility and through to menopause. Over her career Alison has been responsible for the launch of several new and innovative products.
At Perrigo we champion the right of women and people to determine their own sexual health journey and access the solutions they want. Alison is passionate to improve women’s lives through broadening access to solutions that really make a difference.
Alison is looking forward to networking and connecting with other like-minded professionals to continue on this journey.
Sara Rico
Marco Rüedi, MD
Marco is Entrepreneur, Coach and Trainer in the Swiss Start-up ecosystem with 20+ years international experience in strategic and operational roles across the LifeScience Industry and Healthcare Management.
He is a strong believer in well-balanced teams: motivated to challenge the status quo! Passionate to work with the next generation of Entrepreneurs/Managers for the challenges of tomorrow. He focused on Start-up and Innovation Management, Translational medicine. His motto is “From idea to market”.
He holds a Medical Doctor from the University of Fribourg, Berne and Zurich, an Executive Masters in Medical Management from eMMM PHW Bern, and an Executive Masters in Business Administration from eMBA PHW Bern.
Jeanne M. Schilder, MD
Marcel van Duin, PhD
Gunita Bhasin
Annie Theriault
Annie Thériault, Managing Partner at Cross-Border Impact Ventures (CBIV), an impact venture capital firm investing in women's, children's and adolescents' health technology companies addressing large international markets. The firm focuses on four verticals, sexual and reproductive health, maternal, newborn and child health, general health and health infrastructure software with an emphasis on expanding access to world class technologies within North America and Europe as well as beyond to reach people living in emerging economies. Throughout her career, Annie has been immersed in impact investing, venture capital, royalty financing, and capital markets. Annie is a thought leader in the field of inclusive health technology investing with a gender and impact lens.
Prior to founding CBIV, Annie worked with high impact companies to mobilize more than $100 million in non-dilutive capital as a venture capital investor and venture advisor. Annie was previously a director on the boards of several North American venture-backed companies, is an advisor to crowdfunding fintech company FrontFundr, and was previously Chief Investment Officer at Grand Challenges Canada. Annie obtained her PhD in Management from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, is a CFA Charterholder, and holds the ICD.D designation. She also has a master’s degree in Business Economics from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Bachelor of Science with First Class Honours in Chemistry from Mount Allison University.
Carina Roth
Lucy Baldwin
Audrey Tsang
Carrie Walter
Madeleine Szeluch
Siwen Pan
Eirini Rapti
Michelle Tsai
Dirk Schneider
Magdelena Plotcyzk, PhD
Diana Torgersen
Danchen Zhao
Caroline Noublanche
Malin Riddarström
Ruth Coleman
Emanuela Kufel
Slava Rakov
Eileen Burbidge
Register your interest for 2024
To discover our 2023 agenda and register your interest in the 2024 Summit, fill in your details on the right-hand side.
View the 2023 #WHISEU Agenda
Venue Description
Venue
Congress Center Basel Messepl. 21, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
The Congress Center Basel is the largest congress center in Switzerland in terms of area. Look forward to comfortable furnishings and the latest technology that meets even the highest demands.
To view a list of nearby hotels, please click here.
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