The $1 Trillion Investment Opportunity in Women’s Health: What You Need to Know
With government funding in retreat, private capital can fuel the next wave of women’s health innovation and see financial returns.
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A woman walks into a doctor’s office, bleeding heavily from fibroids. She’s in pain, she’s exhausted, and her doctor offers her two options: birth control pills or a hysterectomy. No middle ground. No modern innovation. Now, imagine the treatment she desperately needs exists but funding cuts just killed the research behind it.
This isn’t hypothetical. Over the past few weeks, the U.S. scientific community has been shaken by sweeping federal funding cuts. Johns Hopkins University, a global leader in medical research, lost $800 million in grants overnight. The National Institutes of Health (NIH), the backbone of biomedical research, now faces new restrictions on indirect costs, forcing institutions to make impossible choices: cut programs, halt research, or let go of staff.
These shifts are not just numbers on a spreadsheet. They will directly impact women’s health, an already underfunded sector. But in crisis, there is also opportunity. As government funding retreats, private capital has the chance to step in, not just to fill the gap, but to generate financial returns in an undervalued trillion-dollar market.
The Gendered Cost of Cutting Research
For women’s health, these cuts could be devastating. Consider dementia, a disease that disproportionately affects women. Nearly two-thirds of Alzheimer’s patients are women, yet research into why remains underfunded. Texas lawmakers are stepping up with a $3 billion dementia research fund, but this is a single-state effort against a national pullback.
Beyond dementia, the broader implications are alarming:
Autoimmune diseases, which affect women at far higher rates than men, may see fewer advancements in treatment.
Reproductive health, menopause research, and maternal health, already underfunded, now face even greater uncertainty.
Early cancer detection, hormone therapies, and innovative biotech solutions for women may struggle to reach commercialisation without alternative funding sources.
But here’s the good news: this is not just an impact opportunity—it’s an economic one.
Women’s Health is the Next Big Exit. Here’s Where Smart Investors Are Placing Bets
Women’s health isn’t a niche. The global femtech and women’s health market is projected to boost the annual economy by $1 trillion annually by 2040. Yet, it remains significantly underfunded, with many investors failing to recognize its financial potential.
Just a decade ago, mental health startups struggled for funding, but today, companies like Calm and Headspace are valued in the billions. Women’s health is at the same tipping point—an undervalued market poised for rapid expansion.
One company that proves the opportunity? Gynesonics.
How Gynesonics Got It Right and What Investors Can Learn
Gynesonics, a pioneering medical device company, recognized a massive unmet need: non-surgical treatment for uterine fibroids, a condition that affects 70-80% of women by age 50 and disproportionately impacts Black women.
For decades, women facing fibroids were given limited and often invasive options including hysterectomy, which has long-term consequences for health and fertility. But Gynesonics saw an opportunity to develop a minimally invasive, incision-free alternative.
What They Did Right:
✅ Addressed a High-Demand Market: Uterine fibroids cause severe pain, heavy bleeding, and infertility. The treatment landscape had seen little innovation, making Gynesonics’ solution highly attractive.
✅ Secured Regulatory Approval & Expansion: The company successfully secured FDA approval for Sonata in 2018, validating its clinical efficacy. They expanded internationally, gaining CE Mark approval in Europe and securing reimbursement deals to make the procedure widely accessible.
✅ Attracted Private Capital & Scaled Effectively: Gynesonics attracted significant investment from Healthcare Royalty Partners and Bain Capital, enabling it to fund clinical trials, expand commercialization, and drive adoption.
✅ Delivered a Profitable Exit: In October 2024, Hologic, a global leader in women’s health, acquired Gynesonics for approximately $350 million. This represented a significant return for early investors, particularly those who backed a $67 million financing round in late 2023. While exact ROI figures remain undisclosed, early investors likely saw double-digit returns. a testament to the untapped value in women’s health innovations.
How to Invest in the Future of Women’s Health
The U.S. government’s retreat from research funding doesn’t mean progress must stall. But it does mean that private investors must step up, not just to fill the gap, but to seize an untapped economic opportunity. Here’s how investors can position themselves for success:
3 Key Ways to Get Involved Now
Join an Angel Syndicate Focused on Women’s Health
Gain access to early-stage companies and vetted investment opportunities.
Look at Late-Stage Clinical Innovations Ready for Series B Funding
Gynesonics proves that regulatory-approved solutions in women’s health have strong acquisition potential.
Partner with Leading Investors & Experts in the Space
Connect with experienced investors who specialize in healthcare and biotech to identify promising startups.
Don’t Just Watch the Shift
Women control over $30 trillion in global wealth, and they’re demanding better healthcare. Those who invest now will not only drive medical breakthroughs but stand at the forefront of a trillion-dollar market poised for exponential growth.
Want to see where smart investors are placing their bets in women’s health? Join us for an exclusive breakdown of the most promising early-stage companies in the space.
When the money stops, progress doesn’t have to. Private capital is the future of women’s health innovation.
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Disclaimer
The content in this newsletter is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, legal, or medical advice. Opinions expressed are those of the author and may not reflect the views of affiliated organisations. Readers should seek professional advice tailored to their individual circumstances before making decisions. Investing involves risk, including potential loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Sadly, I have been negatively impacted by the lack of funding for women’s health research. I developed adenomyosis after my 2nd child and no doctor could help me. It made my life unbearable at 33 with 2 young children that needed me. I was given a choice of birth control or a hysterectomy. After trying so many types of birth control, some of which exasperated my symptoms to horrific levels, I decided on a hysterectomy at 35. What a decision to make to be able to live a happy healthy life again.😒 I don’t regret it, but I wish there were more options. My hope is in the future other women won’t have such limited options.
So as somebody that doesn’t have tons of money and is not an accredited, investor, how could I start busting what little I do have in femtach?