Venture Capital Investment in Women's Health Startups Reaching Record Highs; Silicon Valley Bank Releases Report

Rhea-AI Summary

Venture capital investment in women's health startups reached a record $2.6 billion in 2024, marking a 55% increase from 2023. When including funding for related diseases affecting women disproportionately, total investment rose to $10.7 billion.

Key trends highlighted in SVB's 2025 Innovation in Women's Health Report include:

• Healthtech solutions investment dropped from 54% (2021) to 38% (2024)
• Biopharma investment increased from 12% (2021) to 34% (2024)
• Seed and Series A deals represented 70% of women's health investments in 2024
• Precision medical startups received $3.6 billion in VC funding, up from $1.4 billion in 2023

While exits remain challenging in the sector, recent IPOs and M&A activity suggest potential breakthrough opportunities in the broader healthcare market.

Positive

• Record-breaking VC investment of $2.6B in 2024, up 55% YoY
• Total sector investment reached $10.7B including related diseases
• Significant growth in biopharma investment from 12% to 34%
• Strong growth in precision medicine funding from $1.4B to $3.6B

Negative

• Decline in healthtech solutions investment from 54% to 38%
• exit opportunities raising concerns about sector potential
• Investors report difficulty finding comparable companies for valuations

Investment in Women's Health reached $2.6 billion in 2024 despite challenging fundraising environment

SAN FRANCISCO, April 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Venture capital investment in women's health startups has experienced significant growth in recent years, with funding reaching new heights in 2024. According to the latest report from Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), a division of First Citizens Bank, women's health investment hit $2.6 billion last year, surpassing 2023's total by nearly $1 billion. When including funding for related diseases that affect women differently or disproportionately, total investment in the sector rose to $10.7 billion.

Leveraging SVB's proprietary data and analysis, the 2025 Innovation in Women's Health Report explores the current fundraising landscape, key trends, and emerging innovations across the sector.

"Investment in women's health continues to reach new milestones, driven by a growing recognition of the ways in which health conditions impact women differently," said Raysa Bousleiman, co-author of the report and senior vice president for Investor Coverage in Life Science and Healthcare at SVB. "While 2025 may present challenges, the long-term potential of the sector is clear, and we expect continued investment focused on addressing the unmet healthcare needs for women."

Key findings from the Innovation in Women's Health Report include:

• Increased awareness is fueling investment: Investment in women's health has grown significantly. In 2024, the sector saw a 55% increase in VC investment, outpacing growth in the broader healthcare industry.
• Sector innovation follows broader healthcare trends: As the women's health sector evolves, it is increasingly diversified, following in the footsteps of the wider healthcare industry. Investment in healthtech solutions dropped from 54% in 2021 to 38% in 2024, while biopharma investment surged to 34%, up from just 12% in 2021.
• Women's health investment stages now mirror the larger healthcare sector: In 2023, seed and Series A deals made up 83% of women's health investments, compared to 72% in the overall healthcare space. The gap narrowed in 2024, with seed and Series A deals representing 70% and 67%, respectively, of total deals in each sector.
• Precision medicine and personalized health are taking center stage: Funding flooded into early-stage startups focused on filling gaps in clinical pathway guidelines for women's health. In 2024, VC investment in precision medical startups totaled $3.6 billion, up from $1.4 billion in 2023.
• Exits remain a challenge but potential is growing: The lack of exits in women's health has raised concerns about the sector's potential, with investors noting difficulty in finding comparable companies and doubts about large returns. However, recent IPOs and M&A activity in related areas suggest that women's health could help break the exit logjam in the broader healthcare market.

Learn More
For a preview of the Innovation in Women's Heath report, click here: Innovation in Women's Health | Silicon Valley Bank

SVB is a leader in providing market insights on sectors across the innovation economy. For the complete library of SVB's signature reports, please visit Market Research Industry Trends & Insights | Silicon Valley Bank (svb.com) 

About Silicon Valley Bank
Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), a division of First Citizens Bank, is the bank of some of the world's most innovative companies and investors. SVB provides commercial banking to companies in the technology, life science and healthcare, private equity, and venture capital industries. SVB operates in centers of innovation throughout the United States, serving the unique needs of its dynamic clients with deep sector expertise, insights, and connections. SVB's parent company, First Citizens BancShares, Inc. (NASDAQ: FCNCA), is a top 20 U.S. financial institution with over $200 billion in assets. First Citizens Bank, Member FDIC. Learn more at svb.com

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SOURCE Silicon Valley Bank

FAQ

How much venture capital funding did women's health startups receive in 2024?

Women's health startups received $2.6 billion in venture capital funding in 2024, representing a 55% increase from the previous year.

What percentage of women's health investments were early-stage (seed and Series A) deals in 2024?

In 2024, seed and Series A deals accounted for 70% of total women's health investments.

How has the investment distribution changed between healthtech and biopharma in women's health since 2021?

Healthtech investment decreased from 54% to 38%, while biopharma investment increased from 12% to 34% between 2021 and 2024.

What was the total investment in precision medical startups within women's health sector in 2024?

Precision medical startups in women's health received $3.6 billion in VC investment in 2024, up from $1.4 billion in 2023.

What is the total investment in women's health when including related diseases affecting women disproportionately?

The total investment reached $10.7 billion when including funding for diseases that affect women differently or disproportionately.