Blog

In 2025, it should be easier for women to succeed in health technology and innovation—but the reality tells a different story. Despite the undeniable impact women have in this sector, less than 2% of health-focused venture capital funding goes to female-led startups. This isn’t just a funding issue; it’s a systemic issue. When women are underrepresented in leadership, innovation, technology, research, and investment, we miss out on groundbreaking ideas that could transform healthcare for everyone.

This is why Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber hosted Empowered by Innovation: Women Shaping the Future of HealthTech—an event bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, healthcare professionals, and system leaders to explore how we can create real change. This wasn’t just about highlighting challenges; it was about driving solutions.

Why this matters

Women face well-documented barriers in HealthTech. Female-founded health tech startups receive a disproportionately small share of venture capital (VC) funding. In 2023, startups founded solely by women secured just 1.8% of the total VC capital invested in Europe,and women founders frequently encounter closed networks, limited mentorship, and unconscious bias when pitching for investment. At the same time, evidence consistently shows that women-led businesses deliver higher returns, foster innovation, and create more inclusive healthcare solutions. The question isn’t whether women belong in HealthTech, it’s why we are not doing more to support them.

Turning conversations into action

This event was designed to do more than just acknowledge the problem—it was about turning discussions into meaningful steps forward. I wanted to create a space where women in HealthTech could connect with investors, mentors, and ecosystem partners, explore ways to close the funding gap, and most importantly, celebrate success stories to inspire future female founders. Too often, the narrative focuses solely on the challenges, but I wanted this to be about what is possible and celebrate the successes.

We were thrilled to have Answer Digital as our event sponsor and Nifty Fox capturing key insights through live scribing. The energy in the room was electric, with diverse stakeholders including startup founders, investors, NHS leaders, and researchers, all committed to making HealthTech more inclusive.

What I heard

One of the most striking discussions for me was around funding. Many attendees described the investment landscape as an “old boys club’ network,” where male investors often fail to understand the problems women health startups are solving. Confidence and visibility were also key themes—women are more likely to undervalue their expertise, hesitate to pitch, or wait until they feel 100% ready, meaning many game-changing ideas never reach the table.

Another challenge is that there is no clear pathway into HealthTech. From a lack of education about HealthTech careers in schools to the absence of structured support and networking opportunities, women often struggle to find their footing in this space. We need to be exposing young girls to the possibilities within this industry much earlier, showing them what they can achieve and ensuring they have access to the right knowledge and connections.

Most fundamentally, systemic inequalities persist. Many women juggle careers with caring responsibilities in a society that is not structured to support them. Without flexible funding, networking, and training opportunities, the playing field remains far from level.

What’s next?

This event was just the beginning. Along with Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber, I am committed to translating these conversations into action. A detailed report will be published on International Women’s Day, outlining the key themes, ongoing work in the region, and practical steps to improve representation and access to funding.

Alongside this, I am working with key partners, stakeholders, and system leaders to explore investment coaching and dedicated funding streams for female-led HealthTech ventures. But my real ambition is bigger than this – I want to establish a formal network for women in HealthTech. A space where women can share knowledge, access mentorship, and navigate investment opportunities together. A platform where this collaboration can take root and grow.

This is not just one event; it is the start of a cultural shift. Individually, we can move molehills, but together, we can move mountains. I want to help shape a future where my daughter has the same opportunities as my son, where my son grows up as an ally who understands the inequalities around him and actively works to dismantle them. I will use my platform, my voice, and my position to drive real change for those who don’t have the same opportunities.

The time for action is now. Whether you’re an innovator, an investor, or someone who believes in the power of diversity to drive better healthcare, we’d love for you to be part of this drive! Let’s build a future where innovation knows no barriers, contact me or the team if you want to learn more.