A Conversation with Swarnima Bhattacharya the founder of Gytree.
Swarnima’s story begins in Lucknow/India, in a humble middle-class family. Her father, who began his professional life as a bank clerk, climbed his way to the top and retired as a General Manager. His decades-long journey was one of grit, discipline, and quiet perseverance. Her mother was a nursery school teacher, a role that brought her great joy despite the many relocations our family went through because of her father’s transferable job. Starting over again and again wasn’t easy for her, but she did it without complaint — always committed, always graceful.
“Sometimes it was really hard. Sometimes she had to settle for a little less just because it was a new city,” Swarnima recalls. “But she just kept at it.”
That quiet strength and tenacity deeply influenced Swarnima’s own path. The values of perseverance, humility, and doing the work—no matter how small—were not taught through words, but lived out through action.
“My parents never had to say it out loud—through their actions, they taught me what it means to be persistent, humble, and honest,” she shares thoughtfully.“Today, as a founder, those lessons guide me. Whether it’s rolling up my sleeves for a sales pitch, manning a booth at an event, or handling the unglamorous side of operations, I’ve never been afraid of doing the hard work myself.”
Finding Her Way into FemTech
The concept of FemTech was still nascent in India when Swarnima entered the space. In 2017, while part of the DO School’s social impact accelerator in Berlin, she launched Thea—her first step into the world of women’s health.
“It was difficult,” she admits. “There was no VC interest in FemTech back then. I didn’t even know what business model would work. I just knew I wanted to try things—community building, expert platforms, policy roundtables, events. I did it all.”
Those experiments paid off, supported by grants from institutions like IIT Delhi, the Department of Science and Technology, and international organizations like Women Deliver. Thea also hosted India’s first women’s health festival, FemmeCon. This phase, as Swarnima puts it, laid the foundation: “It gave me hands-on learning to truly understand our users’ pain points and how to grow something organically. Those learnings really bloomed when I joined hands with Shaili to build Gytree.”
Shifting the Paradigm: Gytree’s Vision
Gytree, Swarnima’s current venture, is a one-stop platform focused on women’s health—specifically on bridging nutrition deficiencies and offering holistic care through guided supplementation. From protein and calcium to iron, vitamin D, and sleep support, Gytree offers products, consultations, lab tests, and programs that close the loop of care.
“We help women feel stronger, happier, and more in love with themselves,” she says simply. “Our most unique proposition is our approach. Where most companies focus on either services or products, we do guided supplementation—complete handholding through high-quality, data-informed care.”
Importantly, Gytree has also stepped into the underserved areas of midlife and menopause, helping women manage these transitions with dignity and care.
Achievements That Matter
In the last year alone, Swarnima has successfully onboarded over 50 companies to offer women’s health benefits for employees—without spending a single rupee on marketing.
“This wasn’t possible just a few years ago,” she says proudly. “Companies are now recognizing that female employees need tailored health benefits. We’ve partnered with the likes of L&T, Bharatpe, Healthkart, Emcure Pharmaceuticals, and many others who are leading the charge.”
For her, it’s more than revenue—it’s a shift in awareness. “These are early signals that the female consumer is evolving. And Gytree is part of that evolution.”
Why FemTech Matters
The FemTech movement is deeply personal for Swarnima. She recalls how, when her mother faced menstrual health issues after childbirth, a hysterectomy was offered without discussion or alternatives. “The doctor said it, and we did it. No questions asked.”
FemTech, she believes, is changing that. “It’s enabling women to advocate for themselves, to access their own health data, to build community, and to break taboos. It’s generation-defining.”
What the Future Holds
Looking ahead, Swarnima sees three major trends shaping FemTech in India and beyond:
- AI-Driven Companions – “Women need quick, science-based, personalized answers about their health. AI can help with that, especially in early symptom identification.”
- Integrating Family Health – “Women often take the lead in family well-being. I believe future solutions will center around women, but serve entire families.”
- The Three M’s: Midlife, Menopause, and Mental Health – “These areas have long been overshadowed by maternity. But that’s changing. There’s a global push, and in India, we’re beginning to see real momentum.”
Advice for Aspiring FemTech Founders
Swarnima offers practical wisdom for those entering the FemTech space: “Start with a sharp focus. It’s tempting to try solving everything, but you need to understand the market and find your niche.”
She warns against blindly following trends. “Just because fertility or maternity gets the most funding doesn’t mean it’s the right area for you. Look for gaps—real, meaningful ones—that you can own and solve.”
A Call for Change
If she could bring one major change to the FemTech industry, it would be twofold: more clinical rigor and more female investors backing female founders.
“Even if it’s just small seed checks,” she emphasizes, “we need more women cutting checks for women building in women’s health. That’s how revolutions begin.”
If you’re a trailblazer in women’s health or FemTech, we’d love to hear your story! Share your journey and insights with us at info@femtechindia.com. Together, let’s amplify the voices driving positive change.
