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Despite the media buzz, 'Femtech' is still struggling to find equality

This year's CES demonstrated why so-called "Femtech" still has a long way to go to get the recognition it deserves.

Mariel Brown
9 min read

My first trip to CES in 2013 felt like I had gate-crashed the boys' club.

I was one of the only women at the fair who was not a "booth babe". The speaker line-up was almost entirely male and the one place where women had considerable presence was in the marketing imagery for hoovers, washing machines and dishwashers.

So, this month at CES 2023 I couldn't help but reflect on the changes over the course of the past ten years. What difference had a decade made? Had the notorious #CESGenderBias moment of 2019 been a catalyst for reflection and change? Sadly, not as much as it should have been.

“She didn't finish her sentence; the silence said it all” 

CES feels a bit like prospecting: sift through enough terabytes of the banal and you'll likely hit gold. Gold, in this instance, is a tech innovation which offers a strong value proposition and shines a light on the future of technology and, by mutuality, society itself. The Women’s health section at Eureka Park is a reliable place to hit "pay dirt", so it was here I headed first.

When I spoke to one exhibitor about the response to her product, she said: "To be honest, it's really tough to get male show-goers to see the value in it and I'm a woman of colour so…". She didn't finish her sentence; the silence said it all.

Despite the buzz in the media, when it comes to investment, "Femtech" is still a sector struggling to find equality. A recent study by Pitchbook noted that women's health only receives 4 percent of healthcare research and development funding worldwide.

In 2021, CTA and the World Bank launched The Global Woman's Health Tech Awards to recognise innovative start-ups that leverage tech to improve women's health and safety in emerging markets. The winners showed a sophisticated understanding of the users' emotional needs, alongside life-changing functionality.

Take, for example, iBreastExam. The non-invasive, ultra-portable wireless device enables early detection and easy diagnosis of breast cancer in regions where access to medical support is limited. The results are shared instantly, avoiding torturous wait times, and the process is pain-free, unlike more traditional screening techniques such as mammograms, which are painful. With breast cancer the world's most prevalent cancer affecting one in eight women during their lifetimes, iBreastExam is a powerful example of tech innovation at its best.

I was sad to see no sign of the Global Woman's Health Tech Awards continuing this year, especially as the CES theme of 2023 was "Human Security for All".

 “A quick count of the CES Innovation Award judging panel showed 12 women to 75 men”

How can we improve the status quo for 50 per cent of the world's population? One answer may lie in better representation. A quick count of the CES Innovation Award judging panel showed 12 women to 75 men. This shortfall is important, as the innovation awards draw the attention of journalists and investors. If male attendees can't see the value in Femtech, then representation on judging panels matters. As Anias Nin shrewdly reflected "we see things as we are, not as they are". If lived experience is critical to perceiving value, then it follows that the more diverse a judging panel is, the better it will be at forming an opinion on what is award worthy.

One female-health-friendly product awarded at this year's show – but still splitting public opinion somewhat – was Withings U-Scan. The small, pebble-shaped, hands-free urine lab sits under the toilet rim and can track 100 biomarkers, allowing users to easily monitor hydration, nutrition, and menstrual cycles.

Withings U-Scan

"They are literally taking the piss," quipped a male show attendee as we waited in line to view the new device. Yet, for the millions of women worldwide who must wake up to the hopes, fears and stresses of ovulation stick tests, the U-Scan is no joke.

Another launch aiming to make health monitoring seamless was the Evie Smart Ring, which gathers insights such as resting heart rate, heart rate variability, oxygen saturation, respiration rate and skin temperature variability. The ring has been given FDA clearance, making it the world's first medical-grade wearable to empower healthy lifestyles through personalised insights, delivered via an app.

Evie Smart Ring

While the sleek design offers a nice lifestyle fit, what really excited me was where the new data gathered by this device could lead. After all, women have only been included in clinical trials since the mid-1990s, partly because of the misheld belief that fluctuating hormones would make women difficult to study.

The fact the ring was designed to support women throughout their life stages (including those who are perimenopausal, menopausal and post-menopausal) generated a surprising number of headlines during the show, underlining the fact that Femtech solutions have a long way to go when it comes to normalising female health issues.

Evie Smart Ring and App

Conversely, it also emphasised the fact that Femtech can advance technology and culture for everyone – men and women alike – as it is mainstreaming topics that have been taboo for centuries. The growing conversation around menopause in women has stimulated discussion about the male menopause: men can develop depression, loss of sex drive, erectile dysfunction, and other physical and emotional symptoms when they reach their late 40s to early 50s.

"Femtech", as a term, is currently sparking important debate. People are questioning whether the phrase, coined in by Ida Tin in 2016 to promote female health and wellness, is in fact doing the opposite, by causing an "othering" effect where Femtech is unduly separated from broader health and wellness tech and positioned as "niche". There is no such thing as "Mentech", after all.

Furthermore, does the gender-binary term "Femtech" alienate people who may identify as intersex, trans or non-conforming? Many people who might benefit from Femtech functions (such as menstruation apps) do not identify as female. If the future of tech is a space where we escape the constructs of our bodies, then surely the associated vocabulary needs to match this ambition.

While the lack of diversity on judging panels felt tone-deaf, on a more positive note, there was an increase in female voices on stage. A standout was Alice Xiang, head of Sony Group's AI ethics office and senior AI research scientist, who spoke about the importance of diversity when designing future products like AI.

"First, I would say please enter this field," she said. "It's extremely low-diversity and that's a big problem when we think about tackling problems like systemic biases in AI. When you’re talking about developing an AI product, it starts with who’s in the room and that group of people needs to be diverse. We need diverse perspectives."

Let's hope the CTA were listening, and that the most influential tech showcase in the world makes leaps and bounds in 2024, bringing more diverse perspectives to the fore, paving a way for a more inclusive future.

Mariel Brown is Director of Foresight & Strategy at Seymourpowell.

Industry Insight
Technology
Industry Insight
arrow icon
Return to LAB

Despite the media buzz, 'Femtech' is still struggling to find equality

This year's CES demonstrated why so-called "Femtech" still has a long way to go to get the recognition it deserves.

Mariel Brown
9 min read

My first trip to CES in 2013 felt like I had gate-crashed the boys' club.

I was one of the only women at the fair who was not a "booth babe". The speaker line-up was almost entirely male and the one place where women had considerable presence was in the marketing imagery for hoovers, washing machines and dishwashers.

So, this month at CES 2023 I couldn't help but reflect on the changes over the course of the past ten years. What difference had a decade made? Had the notorious #CESGenderBias moment of 2019 been a catalyst for reflection and change? Sadly, not as much as it should have been.

“She didn't finish her sentence; the silence said it all” 

CES feels a bit like prospecting: sift through enough terabytes of the banal and you'll likely hit gold. Gold, in this instance, is a tech innovation which offers a strong value proposition and shines a light on the future of technology and, by mutuality, society itself. The Women’s health section at Eureka Park is a reliable place to hit "pay dirt", so it was here I headed first.

When I spoke to one exhibitor about the response to her product, she said: "To be honest, it's really tough to get male show-goers to see the value in it and I'm a woman of colour so…". She didn't finish her sentence; the silence said it all.

Despite the buzz in the media, when it comes to investment, "Femtech" is still a sector struggling to find equality. A recent study by Pitchbook noted that women's health only receives 4 percent of healthcare research and development funding worldwide.

In 2021, CTA and the World Bank launched The Global Woman's Health Tech Awards to recognise innovative start-ups that leverage tech to improve women's health and safety in emerging markets. The winners showed a sophisticated understanding of the users' emotional needs, alongside life-changing functionality.

Take, for example, iBreastExam. The non-invasive, ultra-portable wireless device enables early detection and easy diagnosis of breast cancer in regions where access to medical support is limited. The results are shared instantly, avoiding torturous wait times, and the process is pain-free, unlike more traditional screening techniques such as mammograms, which are painful. With breast cancer the world's most prevalent cancer affecting one in eight women during their lifetimes, iBreastExam is a powerful example of tech innovation at its best.

I was sad to see no sign of the Global Woman's Health Tech Awards continuing this year, especially as the CES theme of 2023 was "Human Security for All".

 “A quick count of the CES Innovation Award judging panel showed 12 women to 75 men”

How can we improve the status quo for 50 per cent of the world's population? One answer may lie in better representation. A quick count of the CES Innovation Award judging panel showed 12 women to 75 men. This shortfall is important, as the innovation awards draw the attention of journalists and investors. If male attendees can't see the value in Femtech, then representation on judging panels matters. As Anias Nin shrewdly reflected "we see things as we are, not as they are". If lived experience is critical to perceiving value, then it follows that the more diverse a judging panel is, the better it will be at forming an opinion on what is award worthy.

One female-health-friendly product awarded at this year's show – but still splitting public opinion somewhat – was Withings U-Scan. The small, pebble-shaped, hands-free urine lab sits under the toilet rim and can track 100 biomarkers, allowing users to easily monitor hydration, nutrition, and menstrual cycles.

Withings U-Scan

"They are literally taking the piss," quipped a male show attendee as we waited in line to view the new device. Yet, for the millions of women worldwide who must wake up to the hopes, fears and stresses of ovulation stick tests, the U-Scan is no joke.

Another launch aiming to make health monitoring seamless was the Evie Smart Ring, which gathers insights such as resting heart rate, heart rate variability, oxygen saturation, respiration rate and skin temperature variability. The ring has been given FDA clearance, making it the world's first medical-grade wearable to empower healthy lifestyles through personalised insights, delivered via an app.

Evie Smart Ring

While the sleek design offers a nice lifestyle fit, what really excited me was where the new data gathered by this device could lead. After all, women have only been included in clinical trials since the mid-1990s, partly because of the misheld belief that fluctuating hormones would make women difficult to study.

The fact the ring was designed to support women throughout their life stages (including those who are perimenopausal, menopausal and post-menopausal) generated a surprising number of headlines during the show, underlining the fact that Femtech solutions have a long way to go when it comes to normalising female health issues.

Evie Smart Ring and App

Conversely, it also emphasised the fact that Femtech can advance technology and culture for everyone – men and women alike – as it is mainstreaming topics that have been taboo for centuries. The growing conversation around menopause in women has stimulated discussion about the male menopause: men can develop depression, loss of sex drive, erectile dysfunction, and other physical and emotional symptoms when they reach their late 40s to early 50s.

"Femtech", as a term, is currently sparking important debate. People are questioning whether the phrase, coined in by Ida Tin in 2016 to promote female health and wellness, is in fact doing the opposite, by causing an "othering" effect where Femtech is unduly separated from broader health and wellness tech and positioned as "niche". There is no such thing as "Mentech", after all.

Furthermore, does the gender-binary term "Femtech" alienate people who may identify as intersex, trans or non-conforming? Many people who might benefit from Femtech functions (such as menstruation apps) do not identify as female. If the future of tech is a space where we escape the constructs of our bodies, then surely the associated vocabulary needs to match this ambition.

While the lack of diversity on judging panels felt tone-deaf, on a more positive note, there was an increase in female voices on stage. A standout was Alice Xiang, head of Sony Group's AI ethics office and senior AI research scientist, who spoke about the importance of diversity when designing future products like AI.

"First, I would say please enter this field," she said. "It's extremely low-diversity and that's a big problem when we think about tackling problems like systemic biases in AI. When you’re talking about developing an AI product, it starts with who’s in the room and that group of people needs to be diverse. We need diverse perspectives."

Let's hope the CTA were listening, and that the most influential tech showcase in the world makes leaps and bounds in 2024, bringing more diverse perspectives to the fore, paving a way for a more inclusive future.

Indicators
Mireille Steinhage
Solar Empowerment

In an effort to bring renewable energy to those who need it, design graduate, Mireille Steinhage, has invented a self-heating, solar-powered blanket which is made from conductive yarn.

Studio Floris Schoonderbeek and Sweco
Local Food Systems

The Circle Farming project, from Studio Floris Schoonderbeek and Sweco, provides a comprehensive solution to bridge the gap between urban and rural food production. This community revolves around agricultural-circled fields and provides housing, nature, and recreation on the fringes of the green space.

Sunne by Marjan van Aubel
Designing with Sunlight

Sunne, by Marjan van Aubel, is a solar-powered, indoor light which stores, produces, and captures light. It harvests energy from the sun during the day: at night, it brings light inside.

Luma Arles Arts centre
No Space for Waste

Designed by Frank Gehry, the Luma Arles Arts centre in France has been clad with a progressive palette of locally produced, natural materials, including salt, algae, and sunflower waste.

Syntropia Re-FREAM
From Seed to Shoe

The Syntropia Re-FREAM project, initiated by Sophia Guggenberger and Eugenia Morpurgo, explores the regeneration of ecosystems through circular manufacturing, from 'seed to shoe'. The shoe's framework is unique, designed to be flexible and modular, made from bio-based materials harvested from one polycultural field.

Indicators
Nowhere
Combatting Inequity

A Metaverse meet-up platform has been designed to combat social inequalities which exist on other Web 3.0 platforms. Nowhere developers have designed the platform to remove barriers to access: you don't need an NFT or crypto wallet to join, thus reducing financial and technical requirements. The 3D voice chat feature increases the volume of a user's voice as they move closer to you, making contact more authentic and frictionless.

Soul Machines
The 'Digital Workforce'

Soul Machines is a personalized, AI-based simulation service with a Human OS platform. It features a patented 'Digital Brain' which helps deliver human and machine collaboration. It's designed to democratise the service industry, with digital 'people' placed in the WHO and New Zealand police.

SenseGlovel
Meta Touch

Wireless gloves from Dutch start-up, SenseGlove, let users feel the size, weight, texture and density of virtual objects when worn with VR headsets.

Institute of Digital Fashion
Avatar Representation

Research by Institute of Digital Fashion shows that people want more choices for diverse representation in online spaces. There are clear demands from consumers for: better accommodations (including text to accompany audio) and avatar customisation which takes into account bodily differences.

Indicators
Miele
Tech Repair

At the Salone del Mobile 2022, Miele's 'Longevity Lab' used an exploded installation to communicate the brand's inherited value around longevity. The brand celebrated their policy of keeping spare parts available for fifteen years after a home appliance is discontinued, encouraging everyone to care for and repair their home equipment.

Yamaha x ECAL
Reimagined Touchpoints

In a project with ECAL, Yamaha proposes an alternative approach to physical interaction with sound-play devices. Incorporating AI, live-streamed performances and ASMR, the students designed six new music players and accessories which offer a novel music listening experience, as well as physical appeal.

Paul Coenen
Mono Material

Paul Coenen folds a single sheet of steel to create furniture which is designed to be passed from generation to generation. The mono-material furniture and homeware collection offers superior durability through the use of stainless steel without the need for added coatings, adhesives or fasteners.

Disruptive Berlin
Anti-impulsive Consumerism

Disruptive Berlin offers its community an alternative lifestyle and perspective when it comes to consumerism. With an exclusive password-protected shopping area on their site and Instagram channel, they encourage consumers to question their potentially 'impulsive' decisions before buying new/ second-hand clothing.

Indicators
Bethany Williams
Stronger Together

Bethany Williams is building a practice that seeks to challenge the traditional fashion industry. From garments made from recycled book waste to collaborations with community projects, her work tackles social and environmental issues.

Yinka Ilori
Bright Spaces

Yinka Ilori opens his first a pop up retail store in Shoreditch. Featuring his signature colourful, bright motifs, the space is inspired by West African architecture and features his homeware products. The aim of the space is to explore how we can help customers connect, experience and discover.

Brothers Fearon Fabrication
Playful Furniture

Australian studio Brothers Fearon Fabrication creates funky and tactile aluminium furniture pieces, some with whimsical character faces, showcasing pure fun and enjoyment.

Modibodi
Menstruation for All

Modibodi's new All Gender Collection brings non-binary and transgender men into the conversation around menstruation. The campaign brings inclusive design to the forefront, through the LGBTQ+IA colour palette, and accessible design for all body types and genders.

Indicators
Jonathan Bocca
Curious Forms

Jonathan Bocca uses everyday materials (like paper) to craft strange animal-esque objects. Bridging the gap between sculpture and furniture, his otherworldly pieces take on a personality of their own, pushing the boundaries of traditional forms.

Strange Clay
Expect the Unexpected

Full of weird and wonderful delights, the Strange Clay Exhibition at the Hayward Gallery illustrates the tactile, sensual medium of clay and its endless possibilities: from fantastical creatures and uncanny representations of the everyday to expending the perception of ceramic objects.

Dopamine Land
Dopamine Land

A multi-sensory experience which combines media, technology and play, all in one place. It's an interactive museum which channels the limitless imagination of your inner child into reality.

Ka! Empathogenics
Edible Trips

Ka! Empathogenics are chews which are designed to help users handle moments of stress. It's the first ever natural empathogenic supplement, containing botanicals like Kanna, a South African psychoactive herb, which helps to boost energy, focus and creativity.

Mariel Brown is Director of Foresight & Strategy at Seymourpowell.

Industry Insight
Technology
Industry Insight
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Return to LAB

Despite the media buzz, 'Femtech' is still struggling to find equality

This year's CES demonstrated why so-called "Femtech" still has a long way to go to get the recognition it deserves.

Mariel Brown
9 min read

My first trip to CES in 2013 felt like I had gate-crashed the boys' club.

I was one of the only women at the fair who was not a "booth babe". The speaker line-up was almost entirely male and the one place where women had considerable presence was in the marketing imagery for hoovers, washing machines and dishwashers.

So, this month at CES 2023 I couldn't help but reflect on the changes over the course of the past ten years. What difference had a decade made? Had the notorious #CESGenderBias moment of 2019 been a catalyst for reflection and change? Sadly, not as much as it should have been.

“She didn't finish her sentence; the silence said it all” 

CES feels a bit like prospecting: sift through enough terabytes of the banal and you'll likely hit gold. Gold, in this instance, is a tech innovation which offers a strong value proposition and shines a light on the future of technology and, by mutuality, society itself. The Women’s health section at Eureka Park is a reliable place to hit "pay dirt", so it was here I headed first.

When I spoke to one exhibitor about the response to her product, she said: "To be honest, it's really tough to get male show-goers to see the value in it and I'm a woman of colour so…". She didn't finish her sentence; the silence said it all.

Despite the buzz in the media, when it comes to investment, "Femtech" is still a sector struggling to find equality. A recent study by Pitchbook noted that women's health only receives 4 percent of healthcare research and development funding worldwide.

In 2021, CTA and the World Bank launched The Global Woman's Health Tech Awards to recognise innovative start-ups that leverage tech to improve women's health and safety in emerging markets. The winners showed a sophisticated understanding of the users' emotional needs, alongside life-changing functionality.

Take, for example, iBreastExam. The non-invasive, ultra-portable wireless device enables early detection and easy diagnosis of breast cancer in regions where access to medical support is limited. The results are shared instantly, avoiding torturous wait times, and the process is pain-free, unlike more traditional screening techniques such as mammograms, which are painful. With breast cancer the world's most prevalent cancer affecting one in eight women during their lifetimes, iBreastExam is a powerful example of tech innovation at its best.

I was sad to see no sign of the Global Woman's Health Tech Awards continuing this year, especially as the CES theme of 2023 was "Human Security for All".

 “A quick count of the CES Innovation Award judging panel showed 12 women to 75 men”

How can we improve the status quo for 50 per cent of the world's population? One answer may lie in better representation. A quick count of the CES Innovation Award judging panel showed 12 women to 75 men. This shortfall is important, as the innovation awards draw the attention of journalists and investors. If male attendees can't see the value in Femtech, then representation on judging panels matters. As Anias Nin shrewdly reflected "we see things as we are, not as they are". If lived experience is critical to perceiving value, then it follows that the more diverse a judging panel is, the better it will be at forming an opinion on what is award worthy.

One female-health-friendly product awarded at this year's show – but still splitting public opinion somewhat – was Withings U-Scan. The small, pebble-shaped, hands-free urine lab sits under the toilet rim and can track 100 biomarkers, allowing users to easily monitor hydration, nutrition, and menstrual cycles.

Withings U-Scan

"They are literally taking the piss," quipped a male show attendee as we waited in line to view the new device. Yet, for the millions of women worldwide who must wake up to the hopes, fears and stresses of ovulation stick tests, the U-Scan is no joke.

Another launch aiming to make health monitoring seamless was the Evie Smart Ring, which gathers insights such as resting heart rate, heart rate variability, oxygen saturation, respiration rate and skin temperature variability. The ring has been given FDA clearance, making it the world's first medical-grade wearable to empower healthy lifestyles through personalised insights, delivered via an app.

Evie Smart Ring

While the sleek design offers a nice lifestyle fit, what really excited me was where the new data gathered by this device could lead. After all, women have only been included in clinical trials since the mid-1990s, partly because of the misheld belief that fluctuating hormones would make women difficult to study.

The fact the ring was designed to support women throughout their life stages (including those who are perimenopausal, menopausal and post-menopausal) generated a surprising number of headlines during the show, underlining the fact that Femtech solutions have a long way to go when it comes to normalising female health issues.

Evie Smart Ring and App

Conversely, it also emphasised the fact that Femtech can advance technology and culture for everyone – men and women alike – as it is mainstreaming topics that have been taboo for centuries. The growing conversation around menopause in women has stimulated discussion about the male menopause: men can develop depression, loss of sex drive, erectile dysfunction, and other physical and emotional symptoms when they reach their late 40s to early 50s.

"Femtech", as a term, is currently sparking important debate. People are questioning whether the phrase, coined in by Ida Tin in 2016 to promote female health and wellness, is in fact doing the opposite, by causing an "othering" effect where Femtech is unduly separated from broader health and wellness tech and positioned as "niche". There is no such thing as "Mentech", after all.

Furthermore, does the gender-binary term "Femtech" alienate people who may identify as intersex, trans or non-conforming? Many people who might benefit from Femtech functions (such as menstruation apps) do not identify as female. If the future of tech is a space where we escape the constructs of our bodies, then surely the associated vocabulary needs to match this ambition.

While the lack of diversity on judging panels felt tone-deaf, on a more positive note, there was an increase in female voices on stage. A standout was Alice Xiang, head of Sony Group's AI ethics office and senior AI research scientist, who spoke about the importance of diversity when designing future products like AI.

"First, I would say please enter this field," she said. "It's extremely low-diversity and that's a big problem when we think about tackling problems like systemic biases in AI. When you’re talking about developing an AI product, it starts with who’s in the room and that group of people needs to be diverse. We need diverse perspectives."

Let's hope the CTA were listening, and that the most influential tech showcase in the world makes leaps and bounds in 2024, bringing more diverse perspectives to the fore, paving a way for a more inclusive future.

Mariel Brown is Director of Foresight & Strategy at Seymourpowell.

Industry Insight
Technology
Industry Insight
arrow icon
Return to LAB

Despite the media buzz, 'Femtech' is still struggling to find equality

This year's CES demonstrated why so-called "Femtech" still has a long way to go to get the recognition it deserves.

Mariel Brown
9 min read
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My first trip to CES in 2013 felt like I had gate-crashed the boys' club.

I was one of the only women at the fair who was not a "booth babe". The speaker line-up was almost entirely male and the one place where women had considerable presence was in the marketing imagery for hoovers, washing machines and dishwashers.

So, this month at CES 2023 I couldn't help but reflect on the changes over the course of the past ten years. What difference had a decade made? Had the notorious #CESGenderBias moment of 2019 been a catalyst for reflection and change? Sadly, not as much as it should have been.

“She didn't finish her sentence; the silence said it all” 

CES feels a bit like prospecting: sift through enough terabytes of the banal and you'll likely hit gold. Gold, in this instance, is a tech innovation which offers a strong value proposition and shines a light on the future of technology and, by mutuality, society itself. The Women’s health section at Eureka Park is a reliable place to hit "pay dirt", so it was here I headed first.

When I spoke to one exhibitor about the response to her product, she said: "To be honest, it's really tough to get male show-goers to see the value in it and I'm a woman of colour so…". She didn't finish her sentence; the silence said it all.

Despite the buzz in the media, when it comes to investment, "Femtech" is still a sector struggling to find equality. A recent study by Pitchbook noted that women's health only receives 4 percent of healthcare research and development funding worldwide.

In 2021, CTA and the World Bank launched The Global Woman's Health Tech Awards to recognise innovative start-ups that leverage tech to improve women's health and safety in emerging markets. The winners showed a sophisticated understanding of the users' emotional needs, alongside life-changing functionality.

Take, for example, iBreastExam. The non-invasive, ultra-portable wireless device enables early detection and easy diagnosis of breast cancer in regions where access to medical support is limited. The results are shared instantly, avoiding torturous wait times, and the process is pain-free, unlike more traditional screening techniques such as mammograms, which are painful. With breast cancer the world's most prevalent cancer affecting one in eight women during their lifetimes, iBreastExam is a powerful example of tech innovation at its best.

I was sad to see no sign of the Global Woman's Health Tech Awards continuing this year, especially as the CES theme of 2023 was "Human Security for All".

 “A quick count of the CES Innovation Award judging panel showed 12 women to 75 men”

How can we improve the status quo for 50 per cent of the world's population? One answer may lie in better representation. A quick count of the CES Innovation Award judging panel showed 12 women to 75 men. This shortfall is important, as the innovation awards draw the attention of journalists and investors. If male attendees can't see the value in Femtech, then representation on judging panels matters. As Anias Nin shrewdly reflected "we see things as we are, not as they are". If lived experience is critical to perceiving value, then it follows that the more diverse a judging panel is, the better it will be at forming an opinion on what is award worthy.

One female-health-friendly product awarded at this year's show – but still splitting public opinion somewhat – was Withings U-Scan. The small, pebble-shaped, hands-free urine lab sits under the toilet rim and can track 100 biomarkers, allowing users to easily monitor hydration, nutrition, and menstrual cycles.

Withings U-Scan

"They are literally taking the piss," quipped a male show attendee as we waited in line to view the new device. Yet, for the millions of women worldwide who must wake up to the hopes, fears and stresses of ovulation stick tests, the U-Scan is no joke.

Another launch aiming to make health monitoring seamless was the Evie Smart Ring, which gathers insights such as resting heart rate, heart rate variability, oxygen saturation, respiration rate and skin temperature variability. The ring has been given FDA clearance, making it the world's first medical-grade wearable to empower healthy lifestyles through personalised insights, delivered via an app.

Evie Smart Ring

While the sleek design offers a nice lifestyle fit, what really excited me was where the new data gathered by this device could lead. After all, women have only been included in clinical trials since the mid-1990s, partly because of the misheld belief that fluctuating hormones would make women difficult to study.

The fact the ring was designed to support women throughout their life stages (including those who are perimenopausal, menopausal and post-menopausal) generated a surprising number of headlines during the show, underlining the fact that Femtech solutions have a long way to go when it comes to normalising female health issues.

Evie Smart Ring and App

Conversely, it also emphasised the fact that Femtech can advance technology and culture for everyone – men and women alike – as it is mainstreaming topics that have been taboo for centuries. The growing conversation around menopause in women has stimulated discussion about the male menopause: men can develop depression, loss of sex drive, erectile dysfunction, and other physical and emotional symptoms when they reach their late 40s to early 50s.

"Femtech", as a term, is currently sparking important debate. People are questioning whether the phrase, coined in by Ida Tin in 2016 to promote female health and wellness, is in fact doing the opposite, by causing an "othering" effect where Femtech is unduly separated from broader health and wellness tech and positioned as "niche". There is no such thing as "Mentech", after all.

Furthermore, does the gender-binary term "Femtech" alienate people who may identify as intersex, trans or non-conforming? Many people who might benefit from Femtech functions (such as menstruation apps) do not identify as female. If the future of tech is a space where we escape the constructs of our bodies, then surely the associated vocabulary needs to match this ambition.

While the lack of diversity on judging panels felt tone-deaf, on a more positive note, there was an increase in female voices on stage. A standout was Alice Xiang, head of Sony Group's AI ethics office and senior AI research scientist, who spoke about the importance of diversity when designing future products like AI.

"First, I would say please enter this field," she said. "It's extremely low-diversity and that's a big problem when we think about tackling problems like systemic biases in AI. When you’re talking about developing an AI product, it starts with who’s in the room and that group of people needs to be diverse. We need diverse perspectives."

Let's hope the CTA were listening, and that the most influential tech showcase in the world makes leaps and bounds in 2024, bringing more diverse perspectives to the fore, paving a way for a more inclusive future.

Indicators
Nowhere
Combatting Inequity

A Metaverse meet-up platform has been designed to combat social inequalities which exist on other Web 3.0 platforms. Nowhere developers have designed the platform to remove barriers to access: you don't need an NFT or crypto wallet to join, thus reducing financial and technical requirements. The 3D voice chat feature increases the volume of a user's voice as they move closer to you, making contact more authentic and frictionless.

CES Page 07

Soul Machines
The 'Digital Workforce'

Soul Machines is a personalized, AI-based simulation service with a Human OS platform. It features a patented 'Digital Brain' which helps deliver human and machine collaboration. It's designed to democratise the service industry, with digital 'people' placed in the WHO and New Zealand police.

CES Page 08

SenseGlovel
Meta Touch

Wireless gloves from Dutch start-up, SenseGlove, let users feel the size, weight, texture and density of virtual objects when worn with VR headsets.

CES Page 09

Institute of Digital Fashion
Avatar Representation

Research by Institute of Digital Fashion shows that people want more choices for diverse representation in online spaces. There are clear demands from consumers for: better accommodations (including text to accompany audio) and avatar customisation which takes into account bodily differences.

CES Page 10

Indicators
Miele
Tech Repair

At the Salone del Mobile 2022, Miele's 'Longevity Lab' used an exploded installation to communicate the brand's inherited value around longevity. The brand celebrated their policy of keeping spare parts available for fifteen years after a home appliance is discontinued, encouraging everyone to care for and repair their home equipment.

CES Page 12

Yamaha x ECAL
Reimagined Touchpoints

In a project with ECAL, Yamaha proposes an alternative approach to physical interaction with sound-play devices. Incorporating AI, live-streamed performances and ASMR, the students designed six new music players and accessories which offer a novel music listening experience, as well as physical appeal.

CES Page 13

Paul Coenen
Mono Material

Paul Coenen folds a single sheet of steel to create furniture which is designed to be passed from generation to generation. The mono-material furniture and homeware collection offers superior durability through the use of stainless steel without the need for added coatings, adhesives or fasteners.

CES Page 14

Disruptive Berlin
Anti-impulsive Consumerism

Disruptive Berlin offers its community an alternative lifestyle and perspective when it comes to consumerism. With an exclusive password-protected shopping area on their site and Instagram channel, they encourage consumers to question their potentially 'impulsive' decisions before buying new/ second-hand clothing.

CES Page 15

Indicators
Bethany Williams
Stronger Together

Bethany Williams is building a practice that seeks to challenge the traditional fashion industry. From garments made from recycled book waste to collaborations with community projects, her work tackles social and environmental issues.

CES Page 17

Yinka Ilori
Bright Spaces

Yinka Ilori opens his first a pop up retail store in Shoreditch. Featuring his signature colourful, bright motifs, the space is inspired by West African architecture and features his homeware products. The aim of the space is to explore how we can help customers connect, experience and discover.

CES Page 18

Brothers Fearon Fabrication
Playful Furniture

Australian studio Brothers Fearon Fabrication creates funky and tactile aluminium furniture pieces, some with whimsical character faces, showcasing pure fun and enjoyment.

CES Page 19

Modibodi
Menstruation for All

Modibodi's new All Gender Collection brings non-binary and transgender men into the conversation around menstruation. The campaign brings inclusive design to the forefront, through the LGBTQ+IA colour palette, and accessible design for all body types and genders.

CES Page 20

Indicators
Jonathan Bocca
Curious Forms

Jonathan Bocca uses everyday materials (like paper) to craft strange animal-esque objects. Bridging the gap between sculpture and furniture, his otherworldly pieces take on a personality of their own, pushing the boundaries of traditional forms.

CES Page 22

Strange Clay
Expect the Unexpected

Full of weird and wonderful delights, the Strange Clay Exhibition at the Hayward Gallery illustrates the tactile, sensual medium of clay and its endless possibilities: from fantastical creatures and uncanny representations of the everyday to expending the perception of ceramic objects.

CES Page 23

Dopamine Land
Dopamine Land

A multi-sensory experience which combines media, technology and play, all in one place. It's an interactive museum which channels the limitless imagination of your inner child into reality.

CES Page 24

Ka! Empathogenics
Edible Trips

Ka! Empathogenics are chews which are designed to help users handle moments of stress. It's the first ever natural empathogenic supplement, containing botanicals like Kanna, a South African psychoactive herb, which helps to boost energy, focus and creativity.

CES Page 25

Mariel Brown is Director of Foresight & Strategy at Seymourpowell.

Industry Insight
Technology
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My first trip to CES in 2013 felt like I had gate-crashed the boys' club.

I was one of the only women at the fair who was not a "booth babe". The speaker line-up was almost entirely male and the one place where women had considerable presence was in the marketing imagery for hoovers, washing machines and dishwashers.

So, this month at CES 2023 I couldn't help but reflect on the changes over the course of the past ten years. What difference had a decade made? Had the notorious #CESGenderBias moment of 2019 been a catalyst for reflection and change? Sadly, not as much as it should have been.

“She didn't finish her sentence; the silence said it all” 

CES feels a bit like prospecting: sift through enough terabytes of the banal and you'll likely hit gold. Gold, in this instance, is a tech innovation which offers a strong value proposition and shines a light on the future of technology and, by mutuality, society itself. The Women’s health section at Eureka Park is a reliable place to hit "pay dirt", so it was here I headed first.

When I spoke to one exhibitor about the response to her product, she said: "To be honest, it's really tough to get male show-goers to see the value in it and I'm a woman of colour so…". She didn't finish her sentence; the silence said it all.

Despite the buzz in the media, when it comes to investment, "Femtech" is still a sector struggling to find equality. A recent study by Pitchbook noted that women's health only receives 4 percent of healthcare research and development funding worldwide.

In 2021, CTA and the World Bank launched The Global Woman's Health Tech Awards to recognise innovative start-ups that leverage tech to improve women's health and safety in emerging markets. The winners showed a sophisticated understanding of the users' emotional needs, alongside life-changing functionality.

Take, for example, iBreastExam. The non-invasive, ultra-portable wireless device enables early detection and easy diagnosis of breast cancer in regions where access to medical support is limited. The results are shared instantly, avoiding torturous wait times, and the process is pain-free, unlike more traditional screening techniques such as mammograms, which are painful. With breast cancer the world's most prevalent cancer affecting one in eight women during their lifetimes, iBreastExam is a powerful example of tech innovation at its best.

I was sad to see no sign of the Global Woman's Health Tech Awards continuing this year, especially as the CES theme of 2023 was "Human Security for All".

 “A quick count of the CES Innovation Award judging panel showed 12 women to 75 men”

How can we improve the status quo for 50 per cent of the world's population? One answer may lie in better representation. A quick count of the CES Innovation Award judging panel showed 12 women to 75 men. This shortfall is important, as the innovation awards draw the attention of journalists and investors. If male attendees can't see the value in Femtech, then representation on judging panels matters. As Anias Nin shrewdly reflected "we see things as we are, not as they are". If lived experience is critical to perceiving value, then it follows that the more diverse a judging panel is, the better it will be at forming an opinion on what is award worthy.

One female-health-friendly product awarded at this year's show – but still splitting public opinion somewhat – was Withings U-Scan. The small, pebble-shaped, hands-free urine lab sits under the toilet rim and can track 100 biomarkers, allowing users to easily monitor hydration, nutrition, and menstrual cycles.

Withings U-Scan

"They are literally taking the piss," quipped a male show attendee as we waited in line to view the new device. Yet, for the millions of women worldwide who must wake up to the hopes, fears and stresses of ovulation stick tests, the U-Scan is no joke.

Another launch aiming to make health monitoring seamless was the Evie Smart Ring, which gathers insights such as resting heart rate, heart rate variability, oxygen saturation, respiration rate and skin temperature variability. The ring has been given FDA clearance, making it the world's first medical-grade wearable to empower healthy lifestyles through personalised insights, delivered via an app.

Evie Smart Ring

While the sleek design offers a nice lifestyle fit, what really excited me was where the new data gathered by this device could lead. After all, women have only been included in clinical trials since the mid-1990s, partly because of the misheld belief that fluctuating hormones would make women difficult to study.

The fact the ring was designed to support women throughout their life stages (including those who are perimenopausal, menopausal and post-menopausal) generated a surprising number of headlines during the show, underlining the fact that Femtech solutions have a long way to go when it comes to normalising female health issues.

Evie Smart Ring and App

Conversely, it also emphasised the fact that Femtech can advance technology and culture for everyone – men and women alike – as it is mainstreaming topics that have been taboo for centuries. The growing conversation around menopause in women has stimulated discussion about the male menopause: men can develop depression, loss of sex drive, erectile dysfunction, and other physical and emotional symptoms when they reach their late 40s to early 50s.

"Femtech", as a term, is currently sparking important debate. People are questioning whether the phrase, coined in by Ida Tin in 2016 to promote female health and wellness, is in fact doing the opposite, by causing an "othering" effect where Femtech is unduly separated from broader health and wellness tech and positioned as "niche". There is no such thing as "Mentech", after all.

Furthermore, does the gender-binary term "Femtech" alienate people who may identify as intersex, trans or non-conforming? Many people who might benefit from Femtech functions (such as menstruation apps) do not identify as female. If the future of tech is a space where we escape the constructs of our bodies, then surely the associated vocabulary needs to match this ambition.

While the lack of diversity on judging panels felt tone-deaf, on a more positive note, there was an increase in female voices on stage. A standout was Alice Xiang, head of Sony Group's AI ethics office and senior AI research scientist, who spoke about the importance of diversity when designing future products like AI.

"First, I would say please enter this field," she said. "It's extremely low-diversity and that's a big problem when we think about tackling problems like systemic biases in AI. When you’re talking about developing an AI product, it starts with who’s in the room and that group of people needs to be diverse. We need diverse perspectives."

Let's hope the CTA were listening, and that the most influential tech showcase in the world makes leaps and bounds in 2024, bringing more diverse perspectives to the fore, paving a way for a more inclusive future.

Indicators
Nowhere
Combatting Inequity

A Metaverse meet-up platform has been designed to combat social inequalities which exist on other Web 3.0 platforms. Nowhere developers have designed the platform to remove barriers to access: you don't need an NFT or crypto wallet to join, thus reducing financial and technical requirements. The 3D voice chat feature increases the volume of a user's voice as they move closer to you, making contact more authentic and frictionless.

CES Page 07

Soul Machines
The 'Digital Workforce'

Soul Machines is a personalized, AI-based simulation service with a Human OS platform. It features a patented 'Digital Brain' which helps deliver human and machine collaboration. It's designed to democratise the service industry, with digital 'people' placed in the WHO and New Zealand police.

CES Page 08

SenseGlovel
Meta Touch

Wireless gloves from Dutch start-up, SenseGlove, let users feel the size, weight, texture and density of virtual objects when worn with VR headsets.

CES Page 09

Institute of Digital Fashion
Avatar Representation

Research by Institute of Digital Fashion shows that people want more choices for diverse representation in online spaces. There are clear demands from consumers for: better accommodations (including text to accompany audio) and avatar customisation which takes into account bodily differences.

CES Page 10

Indicators
Miele
Tech Repair

At the Salone del Mobile 2022, Miele's 'Longevity Lab' used an exploded installation to communicate the brand's inherited value around longevity. The brand celebrated their policy of keeping spare parts available for fifteen years after a home appliance is discontinued, encouraging everyone to care for and repair their home equipment.

CES Page 12

Yamaha x ECAL
Reimagined Touchpoints

In a project with ECAL, Yamaha proposes an alternative approach to physical interaction with sound-play devices. Incorporating AI, live-streamed performances and ASMR, the students designed six new music players and accessories which offer a novel music listening experience, as well as physical appeal.

CES Page 13

Paul Coenen
Mono Material

Paul Coenen folds a single sheet of steel to create furniture which is designed to be passed from generation to generation. The mono-material furniture and homeware collection offers superior durability through the use of stainless steel without the need for added coatings, adhesives or fasteners.

CES Page 14

Disruptive Berlin
Anti-impulsive Consumerism

Disruptive Berlin offers its community an alternative lifestyle and perspective when it comes to consumerism. With an exclusive password-protected shopping area on their site and Instagram channel, they encourage consumers to question their potentially 'impulsive' decisions before buying new/ second-hand clothing.

CES Page 15

Indicators
Bethany Williams
Stronger Together

Bethany Williams is building a practice that seeks to challenge the traditional fashion industry. From garments made from recycled book waste to collaborations with community projects, her work tackles social and environmental issues.

CES Page 17

Yinka Ilori
Bright Spaces

Yinka Ilori opens his first a pop up retail store in Shoreditch. Featuring his signature colourful, bright motifs, the space is inspired by West African architecture and features his homeware products. The aim of the space is to explore how we can help customers connect, experience and discover.

CES Page 18

Brothers Fearon Fabrication
Playful Furniture

Australian studio Brothers Fearon Fabrication creates funky and tactile aluminium furniture pieces, some with whimsical character faces, showcasing pure fun and enjoyment.

CES Page 19

Modibodi
Menstruation for All

Modibodi's new All Gender Collection brings non-binary and transgender men into the conversation around menstruation. The campaign brings inclusive design to the forefront, through the LGBTQ+IA colour palette, and accessible design for all body types and genders.

CES Page 20

Indicators
Jonathan Bocca
Curious Forms

Jonathan Bocca uses everyday materials (like paper) to craft strange animal-esque objects. Bridging the gap between sculpture and furniture, his otherworldly pieces take on a personality of their own, pushing the boundaries of traditional forms.

CES Page 22

Strange Clay
Expect the Unexpected

Full of weird and wonderful delights, the Strange Clay Exhibition at the Hayward Gallery illustrates the tactile, sensual medium of clay and its endless possibilities: from fantastical creatures and uncanny representations of the everyday to expending the perception of ceramic objects.

CES Page 23

Dopamine Land
Dopamine Land

A multi-sensory experience which combines media, technology and play, all in one place. It's an interactive museum which channels the limitless imagination of your inner child into reality.

CES Page 24

Ka! Empathogenics
Edible Trips

Ka! Empathogenics are chews which are designed to help users handle moments of stress. It's the first ever natural empathogenic supplement, containing botanicals like Kanna, a South African psychoactive herb, which helps to boost energy, focus and creativity.

CES Page 25

Mariel Brown is Director of Foresight & Strategy at Seymourpowell.

Industry Insight
Technology