25% of VC funding that goes towards women’s health is invested in maternal health and pregnancy. So this space is well funded, right? Wrong. Only 0.6% of VC funding goes towards women’s health, so the less than 0.15% of VC funding that goes towards maternal health and pregnancy is not nearly enough to fuel all of the innovation in this $200+ BILLION industry. And as is evident by all of the startups that we highlight in this post, innovation in this space is booming.
So, what is Maternal Health?
Maternal health and pregnancy covers a lot more than birth itself. Everyday pregnancy complications faced by pregnant people and those who have given birth include:
- Preterm Labor
- Gestational Diabetes
- Prolapse
- Miscarriage
- Diastasis Recti
- Preeclampsia, and more
Postpartum depression, a serious mood disorder that affects women after childbirth, typically within the first year, was found to affect 1 in 7 women.
Currently, the United States has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the developed world, with black mothers being three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women.
To add to the wealth of stressors faced throughout the pregnancy journey, we are amid a baby formula shortage. In early June it was reported that one in five states were 90% out of baby formula.
Let’s go back a few years to look at the history of maternal health
So, we have a formula shortage, record-breaking maternal mortality rates, and a wealth of pregnancy-related challenges, how can the market still be overlooked?
To better understand this, let’s take a look at the evolution of maternal health over the past century that has only covered the tip of the iceberg.
1900 – there were virtually no standard practices or medications used for childbirth. Most child births took place at home.
1914 – the first maternity hospital was created. 90% of doctors had no formal education at this time, according to The Flexner Report, a comprehensive overview of medical education and practices. Yikes!
1930 – with the Great Depression in full swing, women had less income at their disposal but families unsurprisingly prioritized a safe childbirth. By the end of the decade nearly 75% of all births happened in a hospital, attended by a doctor who specialized in obstetrics.
1950 – ultrasounds became routinely used to check on fetal health. Medical ultrasound was developed from the method used to detect submarines during the Second World War. When it was first developed, it required the pregnant patient to be immersed in a bath of water.
1980 – epidural anesthesia became commonly used in childbirth.
1993 – the FMLA act was passed, requiring (unpaid) maternity leave for all.
1994 – postpartum depression was listed as a diagnosable mental condition, however, there are still no diagnostic criteria for postpartum anxiety.
Here’s the good news…
In recent years there has been an explosion of maternal health and pregnancy-focused companies that are unapologetically redefining the industry to improve the quality of life of pregnant and postpartum folks across the globe. We are proud to highlight incredible, fast growing startups that are making their mark on the maternal health and pregnancy space.
Oula aims to become the new standard for pregnancy care with its modern maternity center and in-person clinics in NY. Similarly, Millie is a new kind of maternity clinic starting out in the Berkeley Area.
The unicorn $1b dollar company, Maven, is a digital health platform that offers comprehensive care for everyone planning, starting, and raising a family. It covers both pregnancy and maternal healthcare.
Mahmee and Poppy Seed Health are supporting those in need with 24/7 access to doulas, midwives, and nurses for birthing, postpartum, and more.
Materna Medical is the creator of Materna Prep, a clinical-stage OBGYN device aiming to reduce pelvic floor injuries during childbirth.
Other companies are providing solutions to overlooked postpartum conditions, including:
- Every Mother, which offers fitness programs clinically proven to resolve diastasis recti (the separation of the abs after birth)
- Baymatob, creator of a device to predict postpartum hemorrhage well before birth
- Babyscripts, which offers remote monitoring for pregnant and postpartum patients
- Bloomlife, which uses a direct-to-mom wearable to create the largest physiological dataset in the world linked to birth outcomes
Elvie, the creator of the first silent, wearable electric breast pump, has racked up over $151m in funding, and Willow, another pioneer in the market, has raised $144m. Both companies are valued in the hundreds of millions! And Bobbie, a baby formula subscription service, has raised $21.5m to address this market.
While pregnancy and maternal health has only received VC attention in recent years, it is already proving to be a fruitful investment market. We are seeing massive later stage valuations as these companies gear up for exits, with Maven, Elvie and Willow to name just a few. Many early stage startups in need of funding are following suit and we (you and Amboy Street) are at the right place at the right time. Let’s invest!
Next, we’ll explore the history behind the underserved markets of Sexual Health and Pleasure – Taboo and stigma surrounding sexual health and women’s health. Subscribe to stay in the know!
