In the world of entrepreneurship, it’s always inspiring to see more attention given to FemTech, an industry focusing on female health and wellness. As a bootstrapped entrepreneur and founder of The F/MS Startup Game, I’ve spent years navigating startup ecosystems, particularly in Europe, and the shift towards recognizing and funding FemTech is an encouraging sign. While still battling underfunding and cultural biases, this sector is slowly proving its potential, with innovative solutions that bridge the gaps in women’s healthcare and wellness. For female founders, especially those in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), the journey can be daunting but also deeply rewarding.
What follows is a deep dive into six standout CEE-based FemTech startups, alongside lessons and insights that could empower women entrepreneurs to make their mark in this burgeoning industry.
6 EMERGING FEMTECH STARTUPS IN CEE THAT DESERVE YOUR ATTENTION
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ARTEMIS by Alpha Femtech (Hungary)
This company has developed a smart bodysuit designed to alleviate menstrual pain, an issue that affects countless women worldwide. Founded by Anna Zsofia Kormos and Dora Pelczer, ARTEMIS shows how hyper-focused solutions to niche health challenges can also have broad market appeal. Supported by funds like Hiventures, it represents a success story in addressing menstrual health in a practical, high-tech way. -
Snuggs (Czech Republic)
Known for its eco-conscious period underwear, Snuggs merges sustainability with comfort. Founders Linda Sejdova and Thomas Zahradnik have built a thriving business that appeals to environmentally conscious millennials and Gen Z, two critical demographics for long-term growth. Their €5.2 million funding round is a testament to the growing recognition of sustainable FemTech solutions. -
Your KAYA (Poland)
Your KAYA offers customizable eco-friendly menstrual products via a subscription model. Founded by Kaja Rybicka-Gut and Marek Gut, the brand is an excellent example of how the future of FemTech combines personalization with sustainability. Working with the bValue Fund and raising €1.04 million for expansion, they’ve shown that businesses addressing women’s needs can scale. -
MIM Fertility (Poland)
MIM Fertility is pioneering AI-driven software for in-vitro fertilization (IVF) clinics. Their platform analyzes embryo development, providing groundbreaking predictive insights into implantation potential. This helps eliminate stressful uncertainties for couples navigating the complex and sometimes heartbreaking path to parenthood. Funding of €1.73 million highlights MIM Fertility's potential to revolutionize fertility tech. -
Soula (Belarus)
Soula, helmed by Natallia Miranchuk, dives into mental health support using AI. By focusing on neuroscience-based interventions, this Belarus-based startup fills a critical gap in maternal mental health during pregnancy and postpartum. Despite the challenges Belarus faces, Soula’s work reflects resilience and innovation. They’ve secured €1.04 million in total funding, an impressive feat under difficult circumstances. -
Momfident (Bulgaria)
Founded by Zhenya Dimitrova and Stoyanka Cherkezova-Mateva, Momfident offers AI-powered mental health support tailored for mothers. The app provides tools to screen and address mental health issues that often go overlooked during pregnancy and early motherhood. Their work reminds us of the crucial role FemTech plays in removing stigma and increasing accessibility for vulnerable populations.
LESSONS FOR FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS IN EUROPE
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Start with a Specific Problem
All the startups above focus on clear, relatable problems. Whether tackling menstrual discomfort, sustainability, or mental health, these companies resonate because they solve tangible issues. In my own experience creating tech solutions, specific pain points often lead to scalable innovations. -
Sustainability and Personalization Are the Future
FemTech consumers increasingly demand products that prioritize sustainability, personalization, and ethical practices. Founders like those at Snuggs and Your KAYA excel here. If you’re building in this space, develop products that align with these values. -
Look Beyond Traditional Funding
Most CEE FemTech startups are still at the seed stage, largely reliant on smaller investments. If venture capital isn’t the right fit, consider grants, crowdfunding, or partnerships with universities. My startups, for instance, received grants and collaborated with academic partners to build frameworks for early products. -
Don’t Shy Away from Emerging Technologies
MIM Fertility’s use of AI and Soula’s application of neuroscience highlight how incorporating advancing technologies helps smaller startups stand out. Learning tech-specific skills or adding a tech-savvy co-founder could elevate your product development.
COMMON MISTAKES TO AVOID
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Ignoring Consumer Feedback
Products focusing on women’s health often require thorough beta testing and consumer validation. Misaligning with customer needs can be a startup-ending mistake. Incorporate continuous feedback loops into your development process. -
Overlooking Market Trends
Sustainability and eco-friendliness aren’t trends, they’re expectations. Building without considering these dynamics can cause missed opportunities. -
Failing to Foster a Community
A strong sense of community supports brand loyalty. Many successful FemTech startups curate safe spaces for feedback and discussions, making their customers feel both heard and valued.
PERSONAL INSIGHTS AND TAKEAWAYS
With 20 years of experience across industries and regions, I’ve seen how women founders face obstacles that their male counterparts don’t. However, I’ve also seen women thrive using their resilience, empathy, and creativity to lead. Efforts like those of these CEE FemTech startups stand as proof of what’s possible when determination meets innovation.
Building my gamepreneurship-based platform taught me the value of making learning and problem-solving fun. Similarly, FemTech encourages organizations to reimagine traditional healthcare through a female lens, making health and wellbeing accessible, inclusive, and solution-oriented.
FINAL THOUGHTS: AN EXCITING TIME FOR CEE FEMTECH
FemTech’s roots in CEE may be young, but the potential is immense. I encourage women founders to dig deep into this space, especially in areas traditionally ignored by healthcare giants. With an industry projected to reach $97.25 billion by 2030, now is the time for bold steps forward.
If these startups prove one thing, it’s this: a great idea, no matter how niche, can change lives. By choosing to tackle overlooked challenges, you may not only grow your business but also shape the future of health and wellbeing for women everywhere.
FAQ
1. What is FemTech?
FemTech refers to female technology focusing on health and wellness solutions tailored specifically for women. This includes areas like reproductive health, mental wellness, and menstrual care. Learn more about FemTech startups
2. How much is the FemTech market projected to grow?
The FemTech market is forecasted to grow from $39.29 billion in 2024 to approximately $97.25 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of around 16.37%.
3. What is ARTEMIS by Alpha Femtech?
ARTEMIS, a product by Alpha Femtech in Hungary, is a smart bodysuit designed to alleviate menstrual pain. Discover ARTEMIS’s innovation
4. What does Snuggs from the Czech Republic offer?
Snuggs creates eco-friendly and comfortable period underwear targeted at sustainability-conscious consumers. Explore Snuggs’s product range
5. What is Your KAYA?
Your KAYA is a Poland-based FemTech startup offering customizable, eco-friendly menstrual products through subscription services. Learn more about Your KAYA’s products
6. What is MIM Fertility’s innovative solution?
MIM Fertility, out of Poland, offers AI-driven software for IVF clinics, providing predictive insights on embryo implantation potential.
7. What kind of support does Soula provide?
Soula, based in Belarus, offers mental health support for mothers through AI-powered programs focusing on maternal well-being during and post-pregnancy. Check out Soula's inspiring story
8. What does Momfident offer to mothers?
Momfident, a Bulgarian FemTech app, provides AI-powered psychological support for mothers focusing on mental health needs during and after pregnancy.
9. What is the significance of Flo Health?
Flo Health, a Belarus-founded app, became Europe’s first FemTech unicorn in 2024 after raising $200 million, highlighting the massive growth potential in FemTech.
10. Why is personalization important for FemTech products?
Personalization ensures that solutions cater directly to individual needs, improving user experience and the effectiveness of products. Understand FemTech market trends
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.
