Dr. Maria Blekher

Thank you, Selin Bucak, for shining a light on the funding disparities in the femtech space. Despite women founding over 70% of femtech startups, male founders consistently raised more capital. In 2022 alone, 57 male-founded femtech companies raised $731 million, while 105 female-founded femtechs raised only $408 million. As a female founder in the femtech space, I have personally faced these challenges. Even with a successful exit under my belt, fundraising remains an uphill battle. This disparity is not just a statistic—it's a reality that impacts the growth and potential of innovative femtech solutions. Despite the funding disadvantage, women-owned businesses generate higher revenues than their male counterparts. The average return on investment for women-owned companies is double that of men-owned businesses. According to the World Bank, women-owned firms in the US are growing at more than double the rate of all other firms and contribute almost $3 trillion to the economy. The numbers for 2023 create hope with some improvement, where femtech companies founded by women raised $7.5 million on average this year, versus $5.7 million raised by men. A shout out of gratitude for all the hard work of my fellow female founders and ecosystem partners. Unfortunately, the work is not done - we still have a long way to go to achieve true equity. It's not only about ensuring women have a seat at the table but also about making sure they have the resources to bring their innovative ideas to life. A big thank you to Rachel Bartholomew for establishing the Femtech Canada organization. Behind every great woman is another incredible woman who believes in her - Femtech Canada is a place where women founders can share, learn, and support one another, encouraging and empowering each other to be the best versions of ourselves. Let's continue to raise awareness about these disparities and work towards a future where female founders receive the funding and support they need to thrive. Sigrun WatsonOrchid Jahanshahi, Hannah Parish, Lauren Reid, Jigna Shah Ana Maria Palusci, Vanessa Williamson, Lisa Heath, Jane J. Wang, Angela Podolsky, Cindy C Comeau, Joanne Fedeyko, Eve Blossom, Jennifer Meldrum, Monique Rudder, Nancy Simonot, Golda Naana Boakye, Vicki Bradley, Sayeh Radpay, Rita Loncar, Monique Moran, Cherry Rose Tan, Louella Woodworth, Jodie Tatlock, Kathryn Speer, Lucia Cesaroni, Susan Richards, Julia Elvidge, Karen Linseman, Jocelyn Wessels, Julia Slanina, Alison Smith, Shelley Kuipers, Danielle Brewin Graham, Diane Wolfenden, Sarah Willson, Sarah Whittaker, Nancy Lockhart #Femtech #WomenInTech #FemaleFounders #Entrepreneurship #FundingEquity #Innovation #Healthcare https://lnkd.in/g252DVrY

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Awesome report from Rock Health (in the comments) about H124 digital health funding. 📈 Despite broader economic challenges, the digital health sector, including mental health, has shown resilience, raising $5.7B across 266 deals. There is a strong Series A pipeline, tapering off of unlabeled funding rounds and 3 public exits in Q2 2024 indicating a revival in the exit market and a return to more sustainable funding patterns​. Key insights about the mental health market: 🧠 Mental health continues to be the leading clinical indication in digital health funding, securing $682 million in H1 2024. This consistent top ranking highlights the ongoing investor interest and the market's recognition of the critical need for mental health solutions. 🤖 The focus on mental health is driven by a combination of increased awareness, the rising demand for accessible mental health services, and the integration of tech solutions...🙄 In fact, AI has become a significant factor in digital health investments, with 34% of the total sector funding going to AI-startups. This trend is also reflected in mental health, where AI is being utilised to enhance diagnosis, personalise treatment plans, and provide scalable, efficient care solutions. Let's go!

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Absolutely thrilled to share that Greylock and Sequoia Capital, two of the world’s leading venture capital firms, are re-establishing their presence in Israel by opening local offices. This move underscores the immense confidence in Israel’s thriving tech sector, which continues to attract top-tier global investors. Despite the hysterical calls to divest from Israel, these actions have only shone a brighter spotlight on the profitability and potential of investing here. Israel's investments are primarily focused on technology, not arms, with almost all military imports coming from abroad. The robust performance of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange further highlights the strong financial returns available to savvy investors. This is a clear message that Israel remains a premier destination for tech investments, driving significant growth and technological advancements. Investing in Israel is not just financially rewarding but also supports groundbreaking innovations in cybersecurity, healthcare, and more. Proud to see such a strong vote of confidence in Israel’s future and its role as a global tech hub! Read more here: https://lnkd.in/dYdWKEjH #Israel #InvestInIsrael #TechInnovation #VCInvesting #IsraeliStartups #InvestmentOpportunities

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The conventional wisdom of avoiding #fundraising during the summer months is something that many Israeli founders grapple with. No doubt, summer is a slower time for many of us. But #VC is changing, and so are the norms around fundraising. While it's true that many #investors may be less active during the summer… it doesn't mean that all activity comes to a halt. I’d say that we’re as active as we’ve ever been, and I know that many other seed investors have the same mindset. We’re in the business of backing amazing founders year-round, and that includes the summer. That being said, for Series A or later rounds, it might be a good time to have your ducks in a row, so when you go for a full swing come September, you’re in a great position to close a round of funding. In the end, the “right” time to raise capital can vary greatly depending on the specific circumstances of each startup. Founders should focus on their company's needs, growth plans, and the readiness of their business to take on additional capital. Bottom line, the hustle never stops 😉 My friend Hadley Harris sums it up perfectly in his recent tweet here: https://lnkd.in/eJZGzbNX 97212 Ventures #venturecapital #mondaymotivation #foundersjourney

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The most talked about AI x Medical startup Abridge is working to rescue doctors from the never-ending admin grind (which causes burnout and less patient face-time). Abridge's AI listens to patient visits and generates precise medical notes, slashing the clerical workload. Now, doctors can focus on what truly matters: patient care. Major health systems like Yale and Emory are already on board and raving, calling it "life-changing" and "magical." 🔷 A big reason --> Payback of the scribe tool is easy to measure. It supports 14 languages including Haitian Creole, Brazilian Portuguese, and Punjabi. An ongoing criticism of generative AI is that it still has few substantive business applications. This seems to quash that. Question: is a dedicated medical LLM needed to be successful in the space? Or will the huge foundational models (GPT-4o, Google, and Meta) ingest a plethora of medical notes and kill the competition with performance? We're dealing with a fast and furious pace, and today's edge may not be relevant tomorrow. Competitors include Microsoft-owned Nuance Healthcare , Ambience Healthcare, Nabla and Suki. I'm excited to continue to see this field revolutionized. 🌟 #AI #MedTech #Abridge #HealthTech

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As physicians, we are committed to improving patient care through clinical excellence. However, there's an often-overlooked avenue where our expertise can significantly impact healthcare innovation: serving as medical advisors for startups. Here are a few reasons why I believe we should engage with the entrepreneurial community 👇 1️⃣ Driving Innovation Forward: Startups are at the forefront of medical technology and services. By contributing our clinical expertise, we can guide these companies to develop solutions that are not only innovative but also practical and patient-centered. 2️⃣ Broadening Impact: While our primary influence is within the confines of our practices or hospitals, working with startups allows us to extend our impact globally. Technologies we help develop could benefit patients worldwide, many of whom could never visit us in person. 3️⃣ Learning and Growth: Engaging with startups exposes us to the latest technologies and business strategies, enriching our understanding beyond the medical field. This cross-disciplinary knowledge can enhance our own practices and the way we approach patient care. 4️⃣ Professional Networking: Collaborating with entrepreneurs and other tech innovators can open new doors. These connections can lead to other advisory roles, speaking opportunities, and even advancements in our own careers. 5️⃣ Financial Opportunities: Often, advising roles come with financial compensation, including equity options. These can provide significant financial benefits, particularly if the startup succeeds. 6️⃣ I urge my fellow clinicians to consider stepping into the role of a medical advisor. Our insights are invaluable, and our participation can be the key differentiator in the success of health-focused innovations. ---- Join our vibrant community of 2,000+ healthtech experts and thought leaders. Comment below or DM me, and I’ll provide you with an invitation to our fast-growing network. 📩

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🚀DEMO DAY is coming soon! Want to come see what our founders are working on?🎉 Cohort 10 of the What If Fellowship is coming to an end May 17th! We will be showcasing 21 #digitalhealth startups at the earliest stages during demo day! We would love for you to attend. If you'd like to receive an invite, just fill out the typeform below. Who should attend❓ 1) Investors - those looking to invest in healthcare startups 2) Strategic partners / advisors - those who want to advise, help, or partner with digital health startups Demo Day will take place on May 17th at Noon ET remotely via Zoom webinar. We have limited spots, so please sign-up soon if you want to see what our #founders have been working on for the last 2 months! Attendees will see 21 healthcare #startups pitch for 3 minutes each and answer a few investor questions live in front of our audience. This is a great chance to find investment opportunities, and learn more about what the earliest of companies in our space are working on. This is about more than money - some of our founders need advice, advisors, Board members, co-founders and more. So come look for your opportunity to get plugged into the mental health hashtag #startup ecosystem with one of these early stage companies. One thing to point out - we highly encourage investors to attend, and pursue investing directly in these companies. We will NOT stand in the way nor require anyone to invest through What If Ventures to get access to any of these companies. So, please don't feel like we're trying to recruit you to give us money! Sign-up to attend demo day: https://lnkd.in/gEFt5YrY

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NY friends! Please come see me at Tech Day on my panel discussing the future of the NY tech ecosystem and what I hope to bring to it!

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🚀 Meet Our Advisors! We are excited to highlight that Neil Littman, Founding Partner of Bioverge Ventures and Partner of Riverine Ventures, as one of the esteemed advisors in our #H7 accelerator program. 👉 We are open for application for the 2024 Cohort of H7 Healthcare Accelerator, powered by H7 BioCapital. Early Bird Applications are open until 💥 July 20th 💥! 🦄 Apply for the Program: https://shorturl.at/TfJdB 🦄 Apply to Become Advisor: https://lnkd.in/eSbGpX28  📅 Early Bird Deadline: July 20th, 2024 🎯 About H7 Accelerator Program: https://lnkd.in/g3ycA8eE ------- 🎯Get to know our top-tier accelerator advisor - Neil Littman "Neil Littman, M.S. is Founder & CEO of Bioverge Ventures, a venture capital firm exclusively dedicated to investing in #earlystage, #cuttingedge #healthcare companies. Bioverge’s investment thesis is focused on companies spanning the intersection of health + tech that are utilizing advances in technology to modernize healthcare, from bench-to-bedside." "Previously, Neil was Vice President of Business Development at Notable Labs, an oncology startup and Bioverge portfolio company, where he led the development of global corporate partnerships and contributed to the strategic vision of Notable as part of the Senior Leadership Team. Neil oversaw business development at Notable through the successful completion of the company’s $40 million Series B and was instrumental in negotiating multiple terms sheets to in-license clinical stage oncology assets." 🌷Apply now to learn invaluable insights from Neil Littman get connected with our 100+ industrial leading experts, pitch to top #investors, and scale your #startup! 🥳 Once you're selected for #H7 accelerator cohort, you'll be part of the #H7 community for life. Expand your business and expand your network with access to a talented group of founders, investors, mentors, and industry leaders. #accelerator #venturecapital #fundraising #healthcare #lifesciences #biotech #drugdevelopment #artificialintelligence #medicaldevices #hospitals #clinicaltrials #oncology #research #startup #founders #precisionmedicine #commercialization #sales

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🚀 Meet Our Advisors! We are excited to highlight that Gopi Rangan, Founding Partner of Sure Ventures, as one of the esteemed advisors in our #H7 accelerator program. 👉 We are open for application for the 2024 Cohort of H7 Healthcare Accelerator, powered by H7 BioCapital. Early Bird Applications are open until 💥 July 20th 💥! 🦄 Apply for the Program: https://shorturl.at/TfJdB 🦄 Apply to Become Advisor: https://lnkd.in/eSbGpX28  📅 Early Bird Deadline: July 20th, 2024 🎯 About H7 Accelerator Program: https://lnkd.in/g3ycA8eE ------- 🎯Get to know our top-tier accelerator advisor - Gopi Rangan! "Gopi Rangan is the founding partner at Sure Ventures, a Silicon Valley based venture capital firm investing in #earlystage #startups. He invests with a mission to enable peace of mind. He is also the host of The Sure Shot Entrepreneur Podcast and teaches entrepreneurship courses at INSEAD." 🌷Apply now to learn invaluable insights from Gopi Rangan and get connected with our 100+ industrial leading experts, pitch to top #investors, and scale your #startup! 🥳 Once you're selected for #H7 accelerator cohort, you'll be part of the #H7 community for life. Expand your business and expand your network with access to a talented group of founders, investors, mentors, and industry leaders. #accelerator #venturecapital #fundraising #healthcare #lifesciences #biotech #drugdevelopment #artificialintelligence #medicaldevices #hospitals #clinicaltrials #oncology #research #startup #founders #precisionmedicine #commercialization #sales #marketing #seed #angel

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Understanding the importance of traction can change the game for startups looking to raise funds. Traction is not just about numbers—it’s about showing consistent growth and potential. Whether it’s user engagement, revenue increases, or strategic partnerships, highlighting these achievements can make your fundraising efforts more fruitful.💡 #TractionFirst

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What an amazing discussion! From regulations and implementation to finding news ways to utilize AI to save money, hyper scale your business and dominate your market, AI has tremendous potential if used judiciously. Gentreo @Alineaventures AuditMate

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Fundraising is the number one focus for Israeli #founders. In taking feedback from my recent survey, https://lnkd.in/efvpYYCT, fundraising seems to be what most founders are focused on this quarter. The beginning of 2024 has been much more active on the #VC side, and the market seems to have stabilized. This is good news for many CEOs who have delayed #fundraising to the point where they have more to show… and where the timing feels more “right”. Yet, navigating the world of fundraising for early-stage Israeli startups in today's economic climate is a challenging endeavor. Rounds take longer to close. #Investors look for more data points. Relationship-building between founders and investors is a real thing again. Here are some points to keep in mind as you get ready to raise your next round: Get your story right - Seriously. I see many founders creating complicated decks and diving into unnecessary details. Make it simple... investors are flooded with decks, emails, texts, and phone calls. Getting the story right, and grabbing their attention is a good place to start, no matter the stage of the company. Leverage your network - The importance of a strong network cannot be overstated, especially now. Reach out to your current investors, advisors, and strong connections for advice, warm intros, and potential funding opportunities. Many of them cannot just open doors, but follow-up with their contacts after the connection is made. Backchanneling is one of the most underestimated elements of fundraising. Do your research - Don’t just ask for an intro to fund X, Y, or Z. Which partner in the firm is most interested in your space? How many investments have they made in the past 12 months? Does the fund have fresh capital or is it towards the end of their investment period? These are all important things to know before asking for an intro or meeting with VCs. Resilience is paramount - Fundraising can be a long and difficult process, but resilience and adaptability are key. Keep refining your pitch and keep your eye on the ball. Eventually, a lot of it is about consistency, and not giving up.  Remember, fundraising is a marathon, not a sprint. Stay positive, stay focused, stay connected, and keep your energies high. As we’re deep into Q2, many funds are looking for interesting opportunities and startups to invest in. We, at 97212 Ventures, are extremely active so feel free to reach out if you’re at the pre-seed or seed stage. #venturecapital #startups #nyctech

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What constitutes a longevity clinic? You can find a well-structured answer in a wonderful white paper “In search of best practices for Longevity Clinics," which is a solid reference point for longevity practitioners of various backgrounds (linked in the comments). Here are some common “traits” of longevity clinics: ✔ They are focused on measuring biological age using advanced diagnostics such as DNA methylation clocks (e.g., DNAmAge, PhenoAge) and multi-omics approaches. ✔ Such clinics employ comprehensive health assessments including whole genome analysis, precision imaging like MRI and CT scans, and epigenetic testing. For instance, Fountain Life’s ‘150GB Upload’ program integrates imaging, genetics, and blood diagnostics, while the European Longevity Center offers assessments incorporating mitochondrial and blood marker analysis. ✔Interventions in the longevity clinics are highly personalized, often involving genomics-based exercise plans, nutrigenomic diets, and sleep optimization via wearables like EEG headbands. ✔Clients receive customized action plans that may include innovative therapies like hyperbaric oxygen therapy for muscle regeneration or cryotherapy for inflammation reduction. ✔The clinics typically leverage AI and machine learning for continuous health monitoring and predictive analytics, exemplified by deep phenotyping and immune response predictions. ✔Stress management and hormonal health are addressed through biofeedback and personalized hormone replacement therapies. Clinics often provide multi-cancer early detection diagnostics, utilizing AI-driven imaging and blood tests for preventive care. ✔Additionally, these centers tend to support at-home diagnostics, collecting longitudinal data via wearables to enhance personalized treatment strategies. So, longevity clinics thus represent a convergence of advanced diagnostics, personalized medicine, and preventive care. The central idea of the longevity industry is to shift the existing medical paradigm from reaction,disease treatment, to prevention and health optimization. Longevity clinics are the closest we can get to this paradigm, at the moment. #longevity #longevityclinics #agingresearch Kudos to Evelyne Bischof, MD, PhD Joanna Bensz, Eric Verdin, David Karow Andrea B. Maier and others who contributed to the creation of this white paper. Healthy Longevity Medicine Society

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I used to spend 2-3 hours daily on clinic notes, skeptical of AI scribe technology. However, I've been impressed with RevMaxx, a generative AI company transforming clinical note creation by listening to physician-patient conversations and automatically generating comprehensive notes. This platform accurately captures crucial ICD-10 codes, saving valuable time ⏰. 👉 Why This Matters: - **Reducing Physician Burnout:** Administrative tasks are a significant contributor to physician burnout. Innovations like RevMaxx alleviate this burden effectively. #HealthcareInnovation #AI #PhysicianBurnout #MedicalDocumentation #HealthTech #RevMaxx

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Thanks Girls Into VC for inviting me to be your 1st #startupfounder guest on your podcast 💓 I chatted about some of the following topics: 1️⃣ Founders should get really good at prioritizing rather than chasing “shiny things” that may not be as productive at the current stage of your startup.   2️⃣ Travel and consumer spending is picking up and surpassing pre-COVID levels, and Wander Health is innovating right in the middle of it. 3️⃣ Time is currency and how you spend it matters more than you think. Listen below 👇 #startupjourney #travelhealth #womenfounders #globalhealth

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Last week Boston Founders Forum held its latest meetup event at WeWork downtown which included a fireside chat with Reshma Shetty, Co-Founder of Ginkgo Bioworks, Inc. Hosted and moderated by BFF #founders Eleni Vorvis and Christopher Harris, they did a deep dive into Reshma’s journey from MIT to founding one of the leading #biotech companies to come out of the #Boston #startup ecosystem. Some of the finer points of the discussion included -         What’s Reshma’s story? How she, and w/4 cofounders from MIT got started. -         A Turning point: One of their trusted consultants said ‘just start’, you don’t need funding, so the co-founders went out, got a sidegigs and started Gingko. -         How did the cofounders decide on the roles? Everyone kind of fell into their roles naturally, sort of made it up as they went. -         How did the initial success happen? Hypothesis testing the product and services until they got traction, then came Sam Altman to get them into Y Combinator. -         Small startup to publicly traded company. What were some lessons Reshma learned that still ring true today? -         Be ready for the next challenge and always have a mindset to learn. -         The challenges being a female founder & CEO and what it takes to overcome them. -         Perception of founders who are parents and setting the boundaries for work versus family. -         Have the accolades changed things much? No. As a founder keep your eyes off the hype and keep an eye on making good decisions for the business. Bonus point during the Audience Q&A Bootstrapping vs accelerator? There is no right answer, it will depend a lot on where a startup is in their lifecycle. Gingko took the gamble on joining Y combinator and won. After the Fireside chat Chris had some further announcements including another upcoming social event at Citizen M (TBD) as well as expansion of Boston Founder Forum into NYC. Congrats on the further growth of the BFF community.

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Exciting news from Monica Chopra, Jeffrey De Flavio, MD, Samantha Adelberg, and the rest of the Auxa Health team as they officially announce their $5.2M Seed round. The team's deep industry expertise and drive for change have led them to solve critical infrastructural friction to providing quality healthcare and adoption of value-based care. Auxa's AI benefit navigation platform is simplifying the complexities of healthcare by streamlining all of the fragmented and siloed data and information to make it actionable in real-time for healthcare organizations. For the 70% of Americans who aren't getting access to the health and social care benefits they deserve, Auxa's solution will be pivotal in enabling equitable care. We're thrilled to partner with co-investors Zeal Capital Partners, AlleyCorp, Laconia, and Chaac Ventures on this journey and look to share many more milestones ahead. Cc K50 Ventures, Ryan Bloomer, Daniel Vásquez, Nick Talwar, Stefanie Ng https://lnkd.in/dPDY7-Db

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Over the years, we at GFR Fund have solidified our investment thesis, which is that we invest in "emerging digitally native communities." These communities can be built around games, social media, and any consumer applications. Now, founders have many easy-to-use tools to build user communities, such as Discord, X/twitter, Instagram, etc, and we believe the founders should start building communities even before they launch a product. The communities can help founders: - reach PMF faster - acquire users cheaper - retain and engage users longer - build better UX/UI, and - hire early employees Below, you can see how RTFKT and Omeda Studios built the community and then worked with them to create a product the users really wanted. We would love to talk to the founders who think the community is essential in building a product!

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