With the #MeToo movement and the increasing number of women running for public office, 2018 may just turn out to be the year of the woman. And when it comes to technology, more girls and women are learning to code and launching their own startups with a focus on helping other women.
Here are five startups founded by women to pay attention to this year.
1. Maven
Certain aspects of women’s healthcare still to this day remain taboo talking points. Periods. Contraception. Fertility.
Maven was created to change this and to provide women with easy access to healthcare and a community of support.
Founded by Katherine Ryder in 2014, Maven is comprised of a group of doctors, nurses, mental health counsellors and specialists in all areas of women’s health. The app makes it incredibly easy to schedule a convenient appointment via video or private message.
2. iSonoHealth
iSonoHealth is a startup that is utilising the power of AI and 3D technology to help women with personalised at-home breast health monitoring.
Founded in 2015 by Maryam Ziaei and Shadi Saberi, the solution features a machine learning algorithm that helps doctors identify abnormal masses in real time and helps to provide a more accurate diagnosis. This is a game-changer in early detection when it comes to breast cancer and a breakthrough in health tech development.
3. The Pill Club
The Pill Club provides women with access to birth control online. Part of the company’s mission and value statement is that a woman should have the ability to decide what is best for herself when it comes to her health.
The Pill Club makes it extremely easy to obtain the right type of contraceptive and in most cases, provides it for free.
4. Gwynnie Bee
Given that the average woman in the United States is a size 16, the fact that struggling mainstream stores like Macy’s haven’t jumped at the opportunity to embrace this underserved market is baffling. Enter Gwynnie Bee, an online clothing subscription service specifically for plus sizes.
Founder Christine Hunsicker launched Gwynnie Bee after doing research that revealed that 80% of women in the U.S. are between the sizes of 10 to 32, yet most clothing stores don’t stock sizes to reflect that data.
Recently, the subscription service became so popular that women of all sizes wanted access. In January, Gwynnie Bee launched an all-size inclusive business model.
5. Speakable
By bridging the gap between media and impact, Speakable makes it easy to take action on current news stories and events that inspire you. Through the Action Button you can instantly contact your congressional representative to voice your opinion and take the necessary steps to enact change.
Speakable was founded by Jordan Hewson in 2015 after she was inspired by reading an article about Malala Yousafzai and clicking on a link to petition support for girls’ education. She realised that by making it extremely easy to take action on societal issues from human rights to stricter gun laws, more people would be willing to make their voices heard and actually feel like they are having an impact.
This ability to try and change the course of the news stories one will consume in the future is especially popular among today’s millennial generation. In an interview with Quartz, Hewson stated, They want to do more than just read headlines, they want to change headlines.
This is just a small sampling of the many startups that are currently working the change the world for women. It certainly goes without saying that the future is indeed, female.
