, such as gynecological and reproductive health, sexual health, and conditions that women are more likely to have or that manifest differently in women than men, such as oncology, bone health, heart disease, and cognitive and brain health conditions.
"We're seeing an increase in the number of Big Pharma and other large companies that want to have eyes on the next generation of companies in women's health," said Buford-Young."They want to identify early-stage innovative companies efficiently, and that's where we come in. These organizations serve as advisors, provide research assistance, and provide grants or corporate venture capital.
When Portfolia formed its first fund in 2016, it wasn't dedicated to women's health but still invested in the sector."We realized what a huge untapped market there was," declared Trish Costello, founder and CEO of the venture capital firm. "The sector was ignoring women," exclaimed Costello. In 2018, Portfolia launched its first femtech fund. It will be launching its third fund this year, and it's up to its second fund in the active aging and longevity space. Its other funds also make investments in women's healthcare.
"[Because men don't understand women's healthcare] it's critical to have women writing checks," said Costello. While the number is growing, only