Women’s Health: Italy’s First FemTech Observatory Launched with Minerva Lab – Sapienza University of Rome

Rome, April 8, 2025 – The gender health gap costs the global economy up to $1 trillion by 2040, yet only 1% of healthcare investments are directed towards solutions specifically for women’s health (World Economic Forum, 2024).

Against this backdrop, Tech4Fem is born, the first Italian non-profit association dedicated to FemTech and innovation in women’s health. Its mission is to bridge the Women’s Health Gap by supporting research, startups, and technological solutions to transform women’s health into an economic, social, and public health priority.

Confirming this commitment, Tech4Fem is launching the first FemTech Observatory in Italy, created with the support of Minerva Lab – Sapienza University of Rome. The Observatory will monitor the sector through data, trends, and market analysis, with the aim of offering a clear vision of the challenges and opportunities of Italian FemTech.

“Women represent 50% of the world’s population, but over 80% of clinical trials are conducted on men. FemTech is a concrete response to this imbalance, but in Italy the sector is still poorly recognized and supported. Our Observatory aims to fill this gap with useful data and tools for institutions and investors,” states Valeria Leuti, Founder and President of Tech4Fem.

Key data on women’s health and FemTech:

• Women spend 25% of their lives in debilitating health conditions but receive fewer treatments on average than men (The Lancet, 2023).
• 50% of global healthcare costs fall on women of working age (20-64 years), with enormous impacts on productivity and the economy (Deloitte, 2024).
• Only 10% of VC funds in FemTech go to startups founded by women, despite 80% of companies in the sector having at least one female founder.
• The global FemTech market will grow to $112 billion by 2033, with an annual growth rate of 12.6% (Precedence Research, 2024).
• Italy vs. the world: while in the USA and UK FemTech is already recognized as a strategic sector for digital health, Italy still lacks a regulatory and incentive framework for startups in the sector.

Save The Date: Tech4Fem Advance at SaniDays

On May 7, 2025, Tech4Fem will be a key player at SaniDays, the first widespread event on health and well-being in Italy.

Where: Casa delle Tecnologie Emergenti – Roma Tiburtina

When: May 7, 2025

What’s happening: Debates, startup pitches, networking among innovators, companies, institutions, and investors

• The event will be a unique opportunity to:
  • Discover the Italian startups that are revolutionizing the sector
  • Explore the data from the FemTech Observatory
  • Discuss strategies with institutions and companies to bridge the gender gap in healthcare

“FemTech is not just a technological innovation, but a lever for economic and social growth. Investing in women’s health means investing in productivity, well-being, and equal opportunities,” adds Valeria Leuti.

With the patronage of the Department of Productive Activities and Equal Opportunities of Roma Capitale, and Fondazione Onda, the Tech4Fem Advance event is organized with the support of the Pazzi Fuori podcast and the LUZ agency with the Ensemble project.

Speakers at the event will include the Luca Coscioni Association and the Italian National Institute of Health (Istituto Superiore di Sanità).

All info at https://tech4fem.it/eventi/evento-tech4fem-advance/

Tech4Fem will close the SaniDays week with the theatrical performance Imperformance. Stories of women with endometriosis, which will be held on Sunday, May 11 at 6:00 PM at Fonderia delle Arti, via Assisi 31.

All info on the theatrical performance at https://tech4fem.it/cosa-facciamo/progetto-teatro-endometriosi/