I feel like Boston is the place to be these days! I made my 3rd trip there in the last year to attend the Women’s Health Innovation Summit in Boston thanks to Kisaco Research and it was inspiring, to say the least.

The event assembled leaders, innovators, and passionate professionals all focused on one mission: revolutionizing the women’s health industry. Ever the hustler, I wormed my way into as many sessions and networking opportunities as I could.

Here are my top six takeaways from this powerful gathering of the best minds and ideas in healthcare.

1. A Hub for Founders and Start-ups

One of the most impressive aspects was that 40% of the participants were founders or start-ups, which created a fantastic environment for meeting fellow innovators and exchanging ideas. Not too many, not too few. This is not just a conference full of founders complaining to one another about the status of investment in women’s health but a good mix of key players which includes a healthy number of founders.

Whether you were in the early stages of a new venture or scaling your business, the opportunities to network were unparalleled. Conversations ranged from business models to clinical trial strategies, but at the heart of each was enthusiasm and the shared goal of advancing women’s health.

The energy was electric, and I came away with new ideas and, just as importantly, new connections.

2. The Innovators Showcase: Pitching and Feedback

The Innovators Showcase was another standout feature of the summit, with founders from across the women’s health ecosystem pitching their products, ideas, and companies.

It was incredible to witness the level of creativity and ingenuity being applied to address unmet needs in women’s health. The event wasn’t just a presentation fest; it was also a learning opportunity.

Founders could refine their strategies based on real-time feedback from investors, industry experts, and peers. And as a co-founder myself, seeing the innovations in action was inspiring and educational. I’ll admit, I had to admire the way those other founders handled themselves in the hotspot during the Q&A.

3. Talent Acquisition: Debunking Myths and Building Teams

Finding the right talent is always challenging for start-ups, especially in women’s health.

Lisa Marceau, President and Founder of Alpha Millennial Health, led a fascinating session on building high-achieving teams. The discussion debunked several myths about assembling a team that delivers results in a rapidly evolving industry like ours.

One of the key takeaways was to build teams with problem-solving in mind. To consider not just an impressive resume, but whether the individual’s skill set aligns with your product and mission.

On that note, there was also great advice on sourcing talent—specifically, how to leverage non-traditional avenues to find the right fit for women’s health companies. It’s one of Thang Vo-Ta ‘s magical talents: finding passionate and talented people willing to work for a start-up!

4. Navigating the FDA Approval Process for Women’s Health Devices

The session on FDA medical device approval processes was also packed with actionable insights. Having representatives from the FDA who were also willing to meet one-on-one with founders is an invaluable resource.

Monica Garcia, Assistant Director for Obstetrical and Reproduction at the FDA, provided a deep dive into the agency’s support for innovation in reproductive health, obstetrics, and gynecology.

She informed us that the FDA actively encourages innovation pipelines and provided tips on leveraging their resources to expedite clinical trials.

The session was particularly valuable for those working on medical devices or novel therapeutic approaches.

Bringing innovations to market requires a detailed understanding of how to navigate the FDA process, and the strategies that were shared will be critical in shaping Calla Lily’s approach moving forward.

5. Fundraising for Women’s Health: KPIs and Investor Insights

Securing funding is a hurdle many women’s health companies face, and hearing directly from consumer investors provided much-needed clarity.

The focus was on the key performance indicators (KPIs) investors favor, such as a robust business model, a clear understanding of the target consumer, and a compelling market need. These are vital for building investor confidence and securing the capital needed to scale a business.

What stood out was the emphasis on not just solving a user problem, but also articulating the market opportunity and the company’s long-term vision. This more holistic view will help guide our future fundraising efforts as we continue to grow Calla Lily Clinical Care.

6. Mastering Healthcare Communications and Public Relations

Effective communication in healthcare can be challenging when you consider the diversity of stakeholders and the complexity of regulations. Let’s face it, most people don’t want to say the V-Jay-Jay word at their Monday’ morning portfolio review so it’s up to us to convince them that these issues matter.

In a session titled Women’s Health Communications: PR 101, Ariel Kramer described strategies for crafting compelling narratives that resonate with different audiences whilst also navigating regulatory constraints.

Kramer, who is the Founder and President of Klover Communications, also stressed the importance of building trust through clear and emphatic messaging.

In a field as sensitive and impactful as women’s health, knowing how to tell your story and engage key stakeholders—whether they be patients or policymakers—is essential.

This is something I’ll be taking to heart as we continue to shape Calla Lily Clinical Care’s communications strategy.

Bonus Insight: The White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research

Finally, the summit kicked off with an inspiring discussion on the White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research.

Nearly one year after its announcement, we had the chance to reflect on the impact of the initiative in 2024. Led by WHAM Founder and CEO Carolee Lee, the discussion focused on the progress made so far and the areas that still need attention.

In a field that has been understudied and underfunded for too long, the initiative breathes new life into women’s health research and, in the process, helps fill critical knowledge gaps.

Concluding Thoughts

The Women’s Health Innovation Summit was a must-attend for anyone in the women’s health space.

From learning about FDA approval to tips on team building and communications strategies, I walked away with a wealth of knowledge that will enable Calla Lily to capitalize on this revolution in women’s healthcare.

It’s clear that we’re on the cusp of significant progress, and I’m excited to be part of that journey.

And if you’re a founder, innovator, or medical professional in women’s healthcare and want to be part of it too, I can’t recommend the summit enough.

References

https://www.whitehouse.gov/womenshealthresearch/

https://www.kisacoresearch.com/sites/default/files/agendas/whis_usa_24_agenda_06.09.pdf