Innovation & Inspiration from Across Borders
Newsletter #3 | Nordic Women’s Health Hub Nordic Women's Health Hub
In our first two editions, we introduced you to the Nordic Women’s Health Hub—our mission, our network, and the growing momentum around women’s health. We explored how political agendas across the Nordics are beginning to prioritize women's health, and we provided an overview of key disease areas and conditions that clearly demand more attention.
In this newsletter, we’re excited to draw inspiration and learnings from developments beyond the Nordics—particularly in the US—and to connect our core values of Innovation, Knowledge, Activism, and Partnerships featured through the “community voice.” As always, you can also find our special highlights like Researcher and Startup of the Month, and, of course, upcoming events within the field of women’s health. Enjoy reading :)
Community & Ecosystem Updates
The voice of Kristine Kring: Who is she - and what makes her particularly relevant to speak on this topic?
Each month, we spotlight voices from our community to explore what’s shaping the future of women’s health. This month, we sat down with Danish-born, New York-based trailblazer Kristine Kring for a powerful conversation on the contrasts between the U.S. and Nordic healthcare systems - and what we can learn from both. Kristine shared her insights on the challenges women face, the opportunities for innovation, and how cross-border collaboration can unlock better health outcomes for women everywhere.
From investment banking and McKinsey to battling cervical cancer and founding Female founder house Kristine Kring’s journey is anything but ordinary. In our talk, she shared thought-provoking insights into the systemic differences between the U.S. and Nordic healthcare systems, the cultural shift toward holistic health, and the urgent need for women to become their own best advocates.
Kristine spotlighted the unique opportunity for the Nordics to lead in evidence-based, root cause-focused solutions — thanks to strong public health systems and a culturally open mindset. Through Female Founder House, she’s cultivating a space for founders, investors, and health experts to connect, innovate, and transform the landscape of women’s health.
Cracking the Code on Women’s Health: What the Nordics Can Learn from the U.S. Market Shift
*which kind of shifts due to women's health approach do you experience and what do you see as the main opportunities?
U.S. women’s health sector is undergoing a long-overdue transformation.
We’re looking at a $360B “ghost market” that’s been historically ignored—despite women making up over half the population and controlling 80% of healthcare spending. Only 2% of research goes toward women’s specific needs. That disconnect is fueling a surge in demand—and in 2024, the sector hit a new milestone with $2.6B in venture funding, but we still have a long way to go and the potential remains largely untapped.
Women are stepping into their own health journeys, seeking more agency, better data, and solutions that reflect their lived realities. Trust in traditional healthcare continues to erode, accelerated by how the COVID-19 pandemic was handled, causing consumers to spend out-of-pocket and look outside traditional healthcare for solutions that focus on root causes.
Another interesting shift is the rise of health and longevity as the new status symbols. Today, many consumers—especially women—would rather invest in a longevity reset than a designer bag. This shift in priorities is fueling an entirely new category of luxury offerings: from elite social wellness clubs and personalized longevity clinics to immersive retreats and performance-focused diagnostics.
Wellbeing is no longer a niche - everyone wants in.
Fashion houses are launching supplements and skin longevity lines. Hospitality groups are opening branded wellness destinations. Private membership clubs are centering community around health optimization. What was once seen as alternative is now aspirational—and the lines between medical, lifestyle, and luxury are blurring.
This cultural evolution is transforming the health economy—and women are at the center of it.
*So what challenges do you see?
The space is getting crowded - fast. Regulation is still limited, and many companies are rushing in with marketing-first solutions, often overlapping one another, focused on narrow symptom treatment over holistic root cause treatment and promising easy solutions to complex systemic problems. The players who will win long term will offer clear differentiation, evidence, and resonance - not noise.
Through my work supporting visionary leaders, founders and investors building winning brands and solutions in this space, what excites me most is not just the innovation, but how the most enduring companies are being built.
They’re:
Evidence-backed, with a holistic lens that goes beyond quick fixes
Community-driven from day one, building with women—not just for them
Authentic, because women are done being sold shallow solutions that ignore root causes
This is where I’ve focused much of my career: building brands that earn long-term trust. In women’s health, brand and community are part of the product. The companies that understand this will lead the next wave.
*Which kind of solutions do you see leading the trends right now in the US?
Some of the solutions I’m most excited about right now - many led by founders in the Female Founder House community - include:
At-home testing unlocking agency around hormones, gut health, and more
Everyday tools helping women track, understand, and optimize their health
Care models that address the emotional and energetic root causes of illness, including the effects of early childhood trauma
*Which implications do you see for the Nordics?
The Nordic region has a unique opportunity to become a global leader in women’s health innovation - but it will require a cultural shift.
With universal public healthcare and strong institutional trust, Nordic countries are well positioned to drive evidence-backed, holistic solutions—especially if the public sector begins to integrate the latest research in trauma, hormonal health, and preventive diagnostics. If embraced, this shift could radically reduce the long-term burden of care by addressing root causes rather than waiting for symptoms to escalate.
At the same time, we’re beginning to see a shift in the direct-to-consumer space. As more women feel frustrated by the limitations of traditional care, especially around hormonal transitions like perimenopause and menopause, they are increasingly willing to invest out-of-pocket. These life stages are becoming less taboo, more transparent—and many women now have the financial flexibility to act.
The DTC trend is inevitable: women want to feel good, not just “not sick.” And when their needs aren’t met by the system, they will seek out alternatives.
One thing is clear: women must stand at the center of their own health journeys.
We need to be informed advocates - learning how to optimize across body, mind, and soul to live longer, healthier lives and unlock our full potential.
Start-up & Researcher of the Month
Induvita: Start-up of the month
*In one sentence, how would you pitch your startup to someone who’s never heard of it before?
Induvita is a pioneering med-tech startup revolutionizing women's healthcare by designing innovative, anatomy-specific medical devices that enhance comfort, efficiency, and outcomes.
*What problem does your startup address, and how is your solution unique?
Induvita addresses the critical need for medical equipment in women's healthcare that is specifically designed for female anatomy and patient comfort. Traditionally, devices such as balloon catheters for labor induction and gynecological speculums have been adapted from male-oriented designs, leading to discomfort and suboptimal experiences for women. For instance, in Norway, approximately 15,000 births are induced annually, often using urinary catheters originally designed for men, which can result in prolonged labor and increased physical and emotional challenges for women.
Induvita's unique solution lies in its development of medical devices tailored to women's specific needs. Our product portfolio includes:
Iola® Catheter: A balloon catheter designed explicitly for labor induction, aiming to reduce pain and discomfort during the procedure.
Vega® Speculum: A gynecological speculum reimagined for better patient comfort and practitioner usability.
Runa® and Ayla® Simulators: Multifunctional simulators for training in gynecological examinations and childbirth procedures, enhancing diagnostic and treatment quality.
By focusing on user-centered design and leveraging extensive clinical experience, Induvita is pioneering advancements in women's health technology, ensuring that medical equipment aligns with the anatomical and emotional needs of women
*What’s next for your startup, and in what areas do you need support, contacts, or partnerships?
To support our next phase of growth, Induvita is seeking:
Distribution and Commercialization Partners: Alliances with distributors and healthcare providers to expand the reach of our products globally.
Investment Opportunities: Engagements with investors interested in advancing women's health innovations to support scaling and development efforts.
Academic and Training Collaborations: Partnerships with medical schools and training centers to integrate our simulator into educational programs, enhancing the quality of gynecological and obstetric training.
By focusing on these areas, Induvita aims to bring our user-centered, anatomically designed medical devices to a broader audience, improving women's healthcare experiences worldwide.
*One piece of advice that has worked for you, that you want to share with other startup founders or innovation stakeholders within women’s health?
One key piece of advice from Induvita's success is to engage directly with end-users—patients and healthcare professionals—throughout the design and development process to ensure that your solutions address real, unmet needs with empathy and precision. This user-centered approach not only builds trust and relevance in the market but also ensures that your innovations make a tangible impact on women’s health.
Isabella Jasmar - reasearcher of the month.
1. In one sentence, how would you describe your research focus to someone outside of your field?
I am investigating the metabolism of a specific immune cell that plays a key role in the spread of ovarian cancer.
2. What challenge within women's health does your research address, and how does your approach stand out?
My research focuses on the deadliest gynecological disease affecting women, ovarian cancer. As an early-career researcher, it's still challenging for me to describe my approach, but I aim to bring a more holistic perspective to oncology by integrating both the internal biological environment and external factors. This includes considering the role of sex hormones, the circadian rhythm, and bioactive environmental compounds in experimental design.
3. What are the next steps or ambitions for your research and are there specific areas where you would need support, collaborators, or partnerships?
I hope to generate results that emphasize the importance of the female life cycle. In the premenopausal phase, where an increasing number of menstrual cycles have significant consequences for modern women, and in the postmenopausal phase, which now constitutes more than a third of many women’s lives due to increased life expectancy. The sudden lack of estradiol and progesterone is an important factor in the development of a range of age-related a range age-related diseases, including ovarian cancer.
My side project, concerning menstrual effluent metabolomics, ccould use some enthusiastic collaborators, for sure!ould use some warm collaborator hands, for sure!
4. What impact do you hope your research will have on women's health in the coming years?
I hope to contribute to the growing recognition of the importance of sex as a fundamental variable in all aspects of health research.
AND of course I dream about contributing to a better treatment of ovarian cancer.
Upcoming Events
Internal events:
&Robyn x Nordic Womens Healht Hub
Save the date - we are hosting an event with the creative agency Robyn&Robyn on:
🗓️ 4th of June
Stay tuned for more information and signup!
Nordic Women’s Health Hub - Vision for Nordic Women’s health 2040 - Open call
On April 29, we posted an open call on LinkedIn inviting organizations and individuals across the Nordics to help shape the Vision for women’s health 2040. We’re looking for participants from clinicians and practitioners in healthcare, corporates within life sciences and youth organizations to join us at the workshop at Christiansborg on:
🗓️September 8th, 2025.
There’s still time to apply via this link if you want to be part of this unique opportunity to set new, inclusive standards for the future of women’s health in the Nordic region. Don’t miss your chance to contribute your perspective and ideas, read more and apply via the link above!
External events
Female Founders x OneThirtyLabs
Sneak Peak from Kristine Kring:
This summer, Female Founder House is teaming up with OneThirtyLabs to host its first event in Copenhagen - bringing together visionary women to connect, recharge, and unlock their next level. Kristine is excited to open access to her global community for those ready to lead from vitality and build bold, enduring legacies - across body, mind, and soul.
Stay tuned for more information and sign up.
To learn more and be among the first to join, sign up for Kristine’s newsletter and follow @femalefounderhouse on Instagram.