Issue # 133 – Mental Health Could Contribute $4.4 Trillion to Global Economy, Garmin Health Awards, & WHO’s AI Health.

✨Hey there! You’re reading the free edition of the FemTech India newsletter — your go-to source for the latest in women’s health, industry updates, and opportunities to help you navigate what’s next in your journey.

This May, we join a global movement to raise our voices for mental health and why investing in mental health could change the world by 2050. Since 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month has spotlighted the challenges faced by millions living with mental conditions globally –the $4.4 trillion opportunity no one’s talking about.

Mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders account for one-sixth of the global disease burden from noncommunicable diseases, yet they receive only 2% of healthcare funding. This leaves a massive funding gap of $200–$350 billion annually. Mental health disproportionately impacts youth, with stark gender disparities men make up 80% of substance-related deaths, while women face higher disability from anxiety and depression, impacting overall quality of life. 

By 2050, scaling these interventions could unlock up to $4.4 trillion in global GDP and enable 60 million more individuals to participate in the labor force. For every $1 invested, the return is $5–$6. 

Mental health drives the brain economy, and we can’t afford to ignore it. If you’re building in mental health or have a story to share, write to us.

Garmin is excited to announce the launch of our annual Garmin Health Awards, a prestigious recognition for those driving meaningful change through innovative solutions. This award honors individuals and organizations using Garmin smartwatches, fitness trackers, and the Garmin Health API or SDK integration to improve health and wellness. If you’re leveraging technology to make a positive impact, we invite you to submit your entry and showcase how your forward-thinking solutions are shaping the future of health. 

Join us in celebrating innovation at the 6th Garmin Health Awards – Apply here

With roots in journalism, Shilpa began her career telling human-centered stories, driven by a deep curiosity about people and their lived experiences. That passion naturally evolved into UX research, where she now brings empathy and insight to every project, shaping the way technology meets real human needs.

One of Shilpa’s standout moments was leading research within Pinterest’s backend engineering team—an area not known for user-centered design. Her work not only drove meaningful product improvements but also sparked a mindset shift in how teams view the value of research.

👉 Read her full story

• The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched the Global Initiative on Artificial Intelligence for Health Systems.
• Maharashtra Launches Student Health Cards Linked to Digital App. The cards will be updated after regular school health check-ups. A new digital health app will store each student’s health data.
• Royal Philips has launched the AI-enabled Elevate Platform upgrade on its EPIQ Elite ultrasound imaging system in India. 
• A multi-institute research team led by IIT Madras has developed a novel biosensor platform for the early detection of pre-eclampsia in pregnant women.

• Bengaluru-based healthtech startup Ultrahuman has entered advanced discussions to raise over $120 million in fresh funding, led by WestBridge Capital. Reportedly, this funding could catapult the company’s valuation to around $550–600 million, nearly a fourfold jump from its $125 million valuation in March 2024.
• Healthcare-fintech startup SaveIN has raised INR 37 Cr in a fresh funding round led by existing global investors including 10x Founders, Oliver Jung, and Leblon Capital, with new participation from Stem AI. The round takes the total capital raised by the Y-Combinator-backed company to over INR 100 Cr.
• Piramal Alternatives, the fund management arm of the Piramal Group, has invested Rs 160 crore in Chennai-based pharmaceutical company Saimirra Innopharm.
• Beauty tech platform Kult has raised $20 million in its Series A round led by Payal Kanodia and Aishwarya Bansal from the M3M Family Office, along with participation from Venture Catalysts.

• SafeHeal, a Paris, France- and Tampa, FL-based colorectal cancer surgery company, raised €35M in Series C equity funding.The round was led by Solar Eclipse with new investors Gideon Strategic Partners and M&L Healthcare, part of M&L Group, and returning investors Sofinnova Partners.
• Spark Biomedical, a Dallas, TX-based health tech company which specializes in wearable neurostimulation technology, raised $15M in Series A funding.
• Ovo Labs, a London, UK-based biotech company, raised £4M in funding.The round was led by Creator Fund and LocalGlobe, with participation from Blue Wire Capital, Ahren Innovation Capital, and Antonio Pellicer.
• HepaRegeniX GmbH, a Tuebingen, Germany-based clinical-stage company advancing novel therapies to treat acute and chronic liver diseases, raised €21.5M in funding.
• Poppins, a Paris, France-based neurotech startup, raised €5M in funding.

• Delhi govt launches Vaya Vandana scheme, free treatment up to Rs 10 lakh to citizens aged 70 years and above. This initiative offers free medical treatment up to ₹10 lakh with diagnostics, medicines, and hospitalisation for all residents aged 70 and above
• New study suggests the consequences of smoking, drinking, and skipping workouts in your younger years start showing up by the time you hit 36. The study, published in the journal Annals of Medicine, was conducted by the University of Jyvaskyla by tracking the data of about 370 residents of the Finnish city for over 30 years. The data was collected via surveys and medical tests at the ages of 27, 36, 42, 50 and 61.  
• New research from the US has revealed new details on how the uterus develops, leading to a better understanding of female reproductive health while providing clues to early disease detection. 
• Hologic has announced data from a study of of its AI-driven mammography technology, which found that the technology was able to identify cancer cases that were not initially identified by radiologists
• A new study has evaluated the performance of an AI enabled electrocardiogram (AI-ECG) and an AI-powered digital stethoscope to see how well they could detect early signs of heart dysfunction in women of reproductive age.
• New research has shed light on an understudied area of science: iron levels in the blood and their relationship to cognitive performance in women transitioning into menopause. 
• NHS Wales is teaming up with AI tech company, Paige, to launch a new pilot project that will evaluate Paige’s AI-assisted cancer diagnostic application – PanCancer Detect – in what will be the platform’s first ever clinical use.
• FemDx Medsystems has announced the successful completion of its first-in-human clinical study of its miniaturised endoscopic system designed to visualise the fallopian tube lumen via the uterine route.
• In a new study, researchers have successfully created stem cells that are better at developing into other cell types, like a younger, fitter version of themselves – by changing their diet.
• A team from the University of Mississippi (UM) have devised a new technology that can ideally identify heart attacks faster and more accurately

• LIfT BioSciences, (LIfT), a rapidly emerging biotech and the global leader in neutrophil immunotherapies, announces progress in advancing the planned clinical trial for their Immunomodulatory Alpha Neutrophils (IMANs), a first-in-class cell therapy designed to overcome treatment resistance in solid tumours, which will be conducted in partnership with the University of Galway, one of Ireland’s leading cancer centres, and Hooke Bio, experts in clinical analytics and biomarkers.
• Sun Nuclear, a Melbourne, Fla-based Mirion Medical company, acquired Oncospace, a company providing cloud-based, AI-powered solutions for the radiation oncology community.
• Granata Bio has acquired Oviva Therapeutics, a women’s health biotech company focused on treatments addressing female physiology and ovarian aging.
• LifeMD, a provider of virtual primary care services, has acquired key assets from Optimal Human Health MD, a women’s health virtual care provider in the U.S.

• The Parliamentary Panel on Health and Family Welfare has sought the Ministry of Ayush to ensure effective implementation of various practices for quality and safety of medicinal plants used for manufacturing of Ayush drugs in the country.
• The Union health ministry has notified the rules related to compounding of offences for minor offences under the drug regulations.The final notification was much awaited by the industry – with the draft published almost nine months back – as the rules in tune with the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023 would help reduce legal burdens, support better compliance and promote ease of doing business.

📳 – Quick Reads: 

• Is your phone causing neck pain? Know more about text neck and how to prevent it. A recent study has found that using smartphones for prolonged hours increased the likelihood of neck pain by 82 per cent
• How ‘Kult’ set a new trend in personalised skincare among Gen Z: Rather than manufacturing its own products, Kult plans to source over 700 premium offerings from around the world

🎉Have news to share? Publish a press release on FemTech India to reach industry-leading executives, investors, and passionate individuals.

See you next Friday, friends 👋
Navneet

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