When FORMEL SKIN was founded in 2019, its mission was clear: make dermatology accessible, efficient, and personalized. Now, six years later, this German healthtech star has joined forces with MANUAL, a UK-based platform specializing in general health and well-being for men. As I read about their recent merger, I couldn’t help but see the enormous potential in this partnership, especially from the perspective of an entrepreneur navigating the intricacies of scaling while staying true to a mission.
This collaboration is more than the sum of its parts. By integrating FORMEL SKIN’s dermatology expertise with MANUAL’s broader focus on health optimization, the unified entity plans to offer solutions well beyond skin care. Together, they’re stepping into areas such as medically supervised weight management and behavioral health support. Under the freshly minted brand VOY, the companies have laid down an ambitious goal: creating the world’s leading digital health platform. Let’s examine why this merger matters and the lessons it holds for female entrepreneurs in Europe.
Why This Merger Stands Out
The European healthtech sector is thriving. FORMEL SKIN has led the charge with over 2 million treatments delivered to date, while MANUAL has steadily built a reputation for promoting accessible men’s health services. As a woman who bootstrapped her startups with limited resources, I’ve learned how critical it is to identify complementary strengths when entering collaborations. FORMEL SKIN’s granular understanding of personalized dermatology, paired with MANUAL’s knack for broader health services, is one example. Entrepreneurs can learn from how this merger prioritizes synergy over competition.
What Female Entrepreneurs Can Learn
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Start with Specialization but Stay Nimble
FORMEL SKIN began its journey focusing exclusively on dermatology through a digital platform. Over just a few years, it was ready to leap into whole-body care. For startup founders, this underlines the importance of starting with a focused product and moving into adjacent spaces once the foundation is strong. -
Build a Strong Brand, But Don’t Be Afraid to Rebrand
The launch of VOY as a new entity signals readiness to reposition for larger markets. Branding isn't static, it's a moving piece of your story. Whether starting out as a solopreneur or managing a growing team, think ahead about how your brand could evolve to reflect where you want to go. -
Tap Into Complementary Expertise
By joining with MANUAL, FORMEL SKIN didn’t just grow its user base but also gained expertise in overall health management. Female founders often hesitate to engage competitors, but merging strengths can save years of trial and error. -
Data Drives Credibility
FORMEL SKIN’s 90% success rate in skin health wasn’t a happy coincidence. It collaborated with leading universities and built trust through transparent metrics. Entrepreneurs, take note, back up claims with results, and use them to strengthen your pitch to partners or investors.
Pitfalls to Avoid
Some partnerships fail because they focus too much on buzz and too little on impact. Here are avoidable mistakes:
- Over-expanding Too Quickly: Both companies balance growth with expertise. Entrepreneurs can overextend themselves when chasing new markets, grow at a pace that matches your capacity.
- Ignoring Team Dynamics: A collaboration isn’t just for customers; it demands internal alignment. Always assess how well teams mesh before entering serious partnerships.
- Neglecting Brand Values: Scaling doesn't mean abandoning core values. Whether you focus on sustainability, transparency, or another unique feature, ensure it remains central as you grow.
Path for Startup Founders
If you see potential partnerships as an opportunity but feel overwhelmed by risks, here’s your roadmap:
- Research Thoroughly: Learn how the other party approaches business and how success is measured.
- Start Small: Begin with joint ventures or limited collaborations before pursuing full mergers.
- Align Missions: Check if values match, as this sets the tone for long-term compatibility.
- Measure Impact Continuously: Use data to track progress and adapt quickly if there are misalignments.
Final Thoughts
As an entrepreneur, I see collaborations like the FORMEL SKIN and MANUAL merger as more than just business strategies, they’re community-building exercises. While FORMEL SKIN had its roots in dermatology, combining resources means both users and founders benefit from a holistic approach to health. Female business owners often focus on "building alone," but scaling up often benefits immensely from finding the right allies.
Whether in healthtech, education, or any field you’re passionate about, this story is a masterclass in starting small but allowing yourself to think big and act even bigger. Growing a business is a series of calculated risks combined with value-based decision-making. And if two ambitious startups can join forces to aim for global impact, there’s no reason why a female-led business in Europe can’t do the same.
For aspiring founders, keep FORMEL SKIN’s journey in mind: begin with solving one problem exceptionally well, and when the time comes, don’t be afraid to spread your wings, especially if it means working with someone who shares your vision. That’s how you scale enthusiasm into impact.
FAQ
1. What is FORMEL SKIN, and when was it founded?
FORMEL SKIN is a German healthtech startup specializing in personalized dermatology services through digital platforms. It was founded in 2019. Learn more about FORMEL SKIN
2. What is MANUAL, and what does it focus on?
MANUAL is a UK-based digital health platform specializing in general wellness and men’s health care. Explore MANUAL
3. What is the significance of the merger between FORMEL SKIN and MANUAL?
The partnership aims to expand from dermatology services to whole-body care, creating a unified global health platform under the new brand VOY. Learn more about the merger
4. What new services will the unified VOY brand offer?
VOY will provide Germany's most advanced, medically supervised weight-loss programs, including personalized clinical treatments and behavioral support. Discover services by VOY
5. How many treatments has FORMEL SKIN delivered so far?
FORMEL SKIN has delivered over 2 million treatments since its inception. Check treatment stats
6. What lessons can entrepreneurs learn from FORMEL SKIN's journey?
Entrepreneurs can learn the value of starting with specialization, building strong branding, and leveraging complementary expertise for scaling. Read more about entrepreneurial lessons
7. How do FORMEL SKIN and MANUAL plan to differentiate themselves in the digital health sector?
The merger prioritizes synergy, combining dermatology expertise with whole-body health services to deliver comprehensive care through a digital-first approach. Understand their strategy
8. What impact has FORMEL SKIN achieved in dermatology?
FORMEL SKIN has reported over 90% improvement rates in skin conditions, backed by collaborations with leading academic institutions. Learn about FORMEL SKIN’s impact
9. What branding changes occurred because of the merger?
The merger led to the launch of VOY, representing the companies' unified vision for expanding beyond niche dermatology into whole-body care. Explore VOY branding
10. What does the future look like for VOY and digital health in Europe?
VOY plans to become a global leader in digital health by focusing on innovative, evidence-based care that combines clinical and behavioral health solutions. Discover VOY’s future goals
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.
