Femtech Careers & Entrepreneurship

Hello Femtechers! This post summarises what we’ve learnt from this week’s event on femtech careers and entrepreneurship, with advice about working in a startup, in the VC sector and finally for those working in academia who want to venture in the femtech industry.

Building a startup is a creative process, where developing the right technology is all about problem solving and customer care. Startups are stimulating environments for those who want to explore building a product from beginning to end, and although being a high-risk, high reward venture, startups can bring many advantages for one's career goals. Working in smaller businesses makes it easier to get to know your customer instead of reading more "general reports". The femtech sector is currently seeing an abundance of interested investors. When building a team for your startup, a strong intrinsic motivation and passion for the company’s mission is important, as well as emotional intelligence, as interacting with people well is number one priority in this journey.

If you aspire to assist femtech startups grow, getting involved in the venture capital sector may be the option for you. Candidates with some entrepreneurship experience tend to thrive in it, benefiting from their previous experience building businesses. Starting with small angel investments can also help gain a better understanding of the world of investing and to develop a critical mind towards business ideas.

Many of us may come from an academic background, having completed our PhD or Postdoc and wish to venture in the femtech industry. Research skills gained in academia are extremely valuable in entrepreneurship, but candidates may be intimidated by their lack of previous experience in the sector. Some University fundings programmes can offer funded industrial placements, helping students to get some experience and start building up networks in more industrial settings. Many femtech companies also offer valuable graduate programs. When transitioning from academia to industry, your first role may not perfectly fit your current skill set. However, your first role should be seen as a stepping stone, not a ‘label’. Make sure the work environment fits your needs, and to have plenty of interaction with more senior colleagues.

The femtech sector is a young industry where a vast set of skills are still needed, including technical, creative and market growth analysis skills. Due to the research gaps still present in the women's health field, medical advisors are heavily needed in the industry. There is a need for data specialists in female health and rules to capture data in an ethical and compliant way that can bring new innovation and health solutions.