Susan G. Komen awards $15.4M in research grants to accelerate breast cancer breakthroughs 🎗️
The world's leading breast cancer organisation has awarded $15.4M in grants to researchers working on the most promising frontiers of breast cancer science - including AI-powered approaches for better health outcomes and vaccine-based therapies targeting the most aggressive and deadliest forms of the disease. It's one of Komen's largest annual grant cycles and reflects a deliberate shift toward emerging technologies.
“At a time when federal funding for scientific research is increasingly limited and complicated, Komen’s investment is helping sustain critical momentum in the search for breakthroughs. Demand exceeds currently available government funding, creating growing challenges for scientists, particularly early-career investigators, whose groundbreaking ideas often face the greatest barriers to securing support,”
— Victoria Wolodzko Smart, Senior Vice President of Mission, Susan G. Komen
WPS acquires Mavida Health to expand women's mental health services 🧠
Wisconsin Physicians Service (WPS) has acquired Mavida Health, a virtual mental health platform built specifically for women. Mavida offers therapy, psychiatry and coaching tailored to women's mental health needs across life stages. The acquisition gives WPS a specialist digital mental health offering and extends Mavida's reach through WPS's existing network.
“One of the primary reasons WPS pursued this acquisition was to help accelerate Mavida’s growth and expand access to specialized mental healthcare for more women and families,”
— Rochelle Myers, Chief Growth Officer, WPS
Xella Health launches with $4.7M to build AI-powered precision testing for women 🔬
Xella Health has emerged from stealth with $4.7M in angel and pre-seed funding from Capital F, Precursor Ventures, Ulu Ventures and Swizzle Ventures. The platform uses AI to sequence biomarker variables across genomics, proteins and hormones to screen for 130+ female-specific conditions - from perimenopause timelines to complex metabolic pathologies. It's designed to address a diagnostic gap where women are, on average, diagnosed four years later than men for identical conditions.
“Women’s health data has historically been treated in isolated silos, a hormone test here, an ultrasound there, but no one was connecting the dots across the entire biology. By tracking unique biological patterns longitudinally across cycles and life stages, we aren’t just providing data, but a clear path forward.”
— Adriana Dantas, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, Xella Health
Ovum raises $4M seed to build AI infrastructure for women's health 🥚
Australian startup Ovum has raised $4M in seed funding - at three times its pre-seed valuation, pricing the company at $18M. Founded by Dr. Ariella Heffernan-Marks after her own experience of being dismissed by the healthcare system, Ovum is building what it describes as the first AI infrastructure designed specifically for women's health, with anonymous consent at its centre. The round follows a $1.7M pre-seed raise a year ago.
“Ovum exists to help women better understand their bodies, advocate for themselves with confidence, and contribute to research that improves care for future generations. This raise allows us to scale that mission responsibly by getting Ovum into the hands of more women and continuing to build a trusted platform grounded in clinical integrity, privacy and consent.”
— Ariella Heffernan-Marks, Founder, Ovum
Oli secures A$2M government grant to establish manufacturing for its maternal monitoring device 🤰
Following last month's A$6.5M Series A3, Australian startup Oli has secured a further A$2M from the Australian Government's Industry Growth Programme to establish manufacturing operations in Sydney. The grant brings Oli's total non-dilutive government funding past A$11.5M. The company's wireless wearable monitors maternal and foetal signals across up to 15 conditions and is targeting regulatory submission with both the TGA and FDA.
"The opportunity is significant, with Oli projected to benefit more than nine million patients across Australia and the United States alone. It's incredibly encouraging to see support for innovation in an area where earlier visibility and intervention can have a profound impact on women, babies and families."
— Tara Croft, Chief Executive Officer, Oli
Berry Street and Tia partner to bring clinical nutrition therapy to women at every life stage 🥗
Women's healthcare platform Tia has partnered with metabolic health company Berry Street to give its members access to clinical nutrition therapy through Berry Street's AI-powered platform and network of 1,800+ registered dietitians specialising in women's health. The partnership focuses particularly on perimenopause and menopause, where hormonal and metabolic changes can affect energy, sleep, weight and cardiovascular health.
“Women's health is one of the most underserved areas in clinical nutrition. Hormonal health, fertility, pregnancy and lactation, and PCOS all have direct dietary components, and when women get consistent, evidence-based support from dietitians trained in these conditions, outcomes improve in ways that aren't possible with general advice. That's what this partnership is built to deliver."
— Marjorie Nolan, Founding Clinical Director, Berry Street
DecipHER raises pre-seed funding to advance AI-powered postpartum depression detection 🧬
Dutch startup DecipHER has secured pre-seed investment from Graduate Ventures to develop its AI platform for the early detection and prevention of peripartum and postpartum depression. Postpartum depression affects an estimated 10-20% of mothers worldwide, yet care pathways remain largely reactive. No investment amount was disclosed.
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