Welcome to the world of Bridie Houlihan – a visionary entrepreneur who has dedicated her life to empowering women's health and wellness. Bridie is the founder and CEO of Female Health Founders, an organisation that is revolutionising the way women view and manage their health. With her unwavering passion and commitment to her cause, Bridie has become a leader in the field of women's health and wellness. In this blog, we will take a closer look at Bridie's inspiring journey and how she is transforming the lives of women around the world. So, sit back, relax, and get ready to be inspired by the amazing work of Bridie Houlihan and Female Health Founders.
1.Can you share the story behind founding the Female Health Founders and what inspired you to focus on women’s health?
Female Health Founders, comes from the lack of space for women’s health entrepreneurs and innovators online. There are lots of sites for ‘female entrepreneurship’ and there is a growing online space for ‘femtech’, but there is no space which includes all forms of business which female health founders can take. Its really important for female health founders to see stories from other founders and CEOs, and to get bespoke business advice which speaks directly to the world in which they are building there business in. This is why we focus on sharing Female Health Founder Stories, and our super popular #powerhour articles from leading professionals who are experienced in working in this space.
2. As a startup consultant, what challenges do you see most commonly faced by women entrepreneurs in the health and technology sectors?
I would say number one thing I see, is a lack of confidence, to scale past what I call the ‘services’ stage. Most set up in their comfort zones of doing 1:1 coaching/consultancy, its a less daunting space to work within, it fills your diary fast. But.. reach, impact and revenue is all capped with the service based model in women’s health. Yet, so many female founders come from a corporate background, have managed big budgets, big teams, big projects, but there seems to be a history of corporate burnout or bullying, which impacts their confidence as a female health founder to ‘really go for it’. Please go for it. Dream big. You have done it before, and you can do it again.
3. How do you envision the intersection of innovation, technology, and community in unlocking female health and wellbeing?
This is everything, and with female founded businesses, you tend to see this blend come naturally, as an approach to business. Female founded businesses are more likely to take a community/grassroots approach to solving health problems, compared to male founded businesses. I think this is one of the reasons why female founded businesses, will turn on average 10% more in the first 5 years, compared to male-founded business. Because they take the time to engage the community.
4. What key trends or advancements in Fem Tech and Med Tech do you find particularly exciting for the future of women’s health?
I am seeing a lot of developments in the fields of hypnotism apps, in particular for female medical trauma and birth trauma. Also the evolution of diagnostic tools such as robotics for the diagnosis of endometriosis, to reduce impact on the body and scar tissue. There is also a trend I am spotting for female health coaches to take their services into app form, and then partner with wearable technologies such as Fitbit and Apple watches. It’s truly as exciting time for female health.
5. How has your experience as a Dyslexia Advocate influenced your approach to entrepreneurship and business leadership?
Oo good question! I think as a dyslexic person, innovation and entrepreneurship tend to naturally lean into our ways of thinking and working, its our flow state. I think, my dyslexias main influence has been in how I approach working with others, patience, understanding, and open mindedness are key when working with CEOs, board members and partners. Every female founder and CEO is juggling many things, and being able to adapt to their way of working is defiantly a strength of being dyslexic.
6. Could you highlight some successful initiatives or projects from the Female Health Founders that have made a positive impact in the field of women’s health?
Yes there are so many! One of my favourites is a founder who works with daughters and granddaughters of dementia, its called Vivira Brain Health and is by an inspiring female founder called Donna de Villiers, you can read her story here.
7. In your opinion, what role does diversity and inclusion play in driving innovation, especially in the traditionally male-dominated fields of technology and health?
Well, we desperately need more diversity and inclusion in women’s health and business. Across the whole eco-system of female entrepreneurship and female health needs a huge injection of inclusion and diversity from market research, clinical trials, investment, representation, branding, R&D, everything! There are some great examples of female health companies which have been driven at the innovation stages with I&D such as Peanut App, which connects women who are at a similar stage in life-from fertility, pregnancy, motherhood and menopause. For founders and startups, approaching inclusion and diversity as important as getting an accountant, is when real change will be made. Inclusion and diversity should not be an after thought in the business.
8. As a Women in Business advocate, what advice do you have for aspiring female entrepreneurs navigating the start up landscape?
The best advice I have is, this is your space to own, and don’t think otherwise. Call yourself a ‘female founder’ or ‘female CEO’ and step into it. Women are 50% of the population, yet 13% of start up founders are female. When going for funding and investment, it can feel even more like a ‘mans world’ as 85% of venture capitalists are male, and only 1.3% of funding is given to female founders. But don’t let this discourage you. Remember female founded businesses will generate 10% more revenue over a five-year period, over male-founded companies. You got this!
9. How can technology better address the unique health needs and challenges faced by women throughout different stages of their lives?
Technology is key, femtech is currently one of the fastest growing industries, and it exists to solve women’s health with technology. Wearables, home testing kits, apps, you name it, its being developed and expanded upon. Also the world of integrated technology with the female body, so tech in and not on the body. This area is called ‘transhumanism’ its a super interesting space for innovation and entrepreneurship for women’s health. Apps are one of the best scalable ways of delivering tailored and responsive female health care on a large scale, read my article ‘Top 10 Best Apps Revolutionising Women’s Health.’
10. What motivates you the most in your mission to unlock female health and wellbeing, and how do you see your work evolving in the coming years?
My main motivation is to contribute towards reducing the accessibility gap to health for women. In the UK we have one of the largest gaps for women and girls to access female health care, we are 12th from the bottom in the globe, and this has to change. I am a great believer in that women really can change the world, and the tools of entrepreneurship and innovation are key to this change. Yet only 1.3% of startups are women. My work is motivation to provide female founder stories and information to help more female health founders start, and have all the information they need to succeed and change the world. I think my work will evolve into expanding the media 'Female Health Founders' create, into podcasts and ebooks. Also by building on the ‘freemium’ business model that we have, to ensure we expand and grow globally.
Connect with Bridie:
Website: https://femalehealthfounders.com/
Newsletter: https://femalehealthfounders.com/newsletter/
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