The Menopause Movement: How the Workforce Is Changing

In recent years, the conversation around menopause has shifted from something whispered about in private to a topic openly discussed in boardrooms and investment meetings. Once hidden away, this natural life stage is now being recognized for its significant impact on both the women experiencing it and the organizations they help build. 

Women Bring Value to the Workforce

Women in their 40s to 60s, a demographic often at the peak of their professional lives, bring a wealth of experience, leadership, and unique perspectives to any organization. Their career growth, sharpened skills, network expansion, and deep industry knowledge accumulated over the years are instrumental to operational success and the fostering of inclusive, empathetic, and diverse workplaces.

These women often serve as mentors and leaders, guiding the next generation of professionals. They’ve developed the resilience and adaptability needed to handle complex challenges in their personal lives and careers. Their ability to juggle multiple responsibilities, solve problems, and lead teams through change is a testament to their strength and commitment. Today, the insights and leadership of women in their 40s to 60s are more important than ever, driving innovation and ensuring long-term success.

These women, champions of work-life balance and workplace support policies, are instrumental in shaping corporate cultures that prioritize employee well-being. By supporting women during menopause, companies not only retain invaluable talent but also gain the wisdom, stability, and experience these women bring to the table.

The Menopause Market: A Growing Opportunity and the Role of Female Investors

Entrepreneurs and businesses are stepping up to meet the increasing demand for menopause-related services and products aimed at addressing symptoms and normalizing conversations around this life stage.

With demand for women's health products and services on the rise, female investors are playing a pivotal role in advancing historically underfunded, menopause-related startups. Female investors have intimate experience with menopause — whether firsthand through their own journey or because important women in their lives (mothers, grandmothers, mentors) have gone through it. This personal connection drives them to invest in companies that offer real solutions, helping to fill gaps in the market that have been overlooked for too long.

The Rise of Menopause-Focused Startups

Recognizing the unique challenges that perimenopause and menopause present and sensing the increase in investor interest, a growing number of startups are stepping up to meet the needs of women going through these stages. These companies are innovating in various ways, from offering personalized healthcare solutions to creating digital platforms connecting women with needed resources.

1. Gennev  and Winona are digital health platforms designed specifically for women experiencing menopause. They both offer telemedicine services and an online community where women can share experiences and find support. Winona specializes in bioidentical hormone therapy whereas Gennev offers hormone, non-hormone, and dietary/nutrition therapy as well as wellness coaching. Each platform has gained significant traction, providing accessible, personalized care to women around the world.
2. Elektra Health is another company gaining attention in the menopause space. In addition to telemedicine (covered by some insurance providers) they also provide coaching, education and Employee Resource Groups for organizations. Elektra Health’s primary goal is to break down the stigma surrounding menopause and empower women with knowledge.
3. Embr Labs is working in the technology sector and pioneered the innovative Embr Wave device, a wearable, personalized cooling device for hot flashes. Embr Labs' technology was invented by the company's founders while at MIT and the company has raised $50 million from investors to date.
4. Bonafide  focuses on holistic supplements that target the sexual health and well-being of women in perimenopause and menopause.  

These start-ups aren’t just meeting a growing market need; they’re also helping to change the conversation around menopause. By providing women with accessible, personalized care, they’re shifting the narrative from discomfort to empowerment.

Investors Are Paying Attention

The amount of venture capital (VC) firms led by women is trending upward significantly. Venture Capital Journal, as cited on Equities.com, notes that the number of women-led venture capital funds has climbed from about a dozen in 2010 to over 300 in 2020. Investments being made by these firms are increasingly targeting healthcare, including women's health and sexual health (which is growing at a faster rate than other targeted sectors), alternative medication and mental health treatments (like cannabis and psychedelics), as well as areas within education and sustainable living. 

Some women-led VC firms to keep an eye on include: 

Amboy Street Ventures is the first venture capital fund focused on sexual health and women's health technology startups. Amboy Street Ventures invests in seed and series A rounds of sexual health and women's health technology startups.

Primetime Partners makes seed, pre-seed, series A, and series B investments with a focus on improving the quality of life for older adults, aging, and longevity.

Female Founders Fund is an early-stage fund making seed investments in the next generation of transformational technology companies founded by women.

SteelSky Ventures is an early stage VC fund making seed and series A investments in women's health.

Serena Ventures is Serena Williams’ venture capital fund. Founded in 2017, Serena Ventures focuses on making series A investments in founders and startups aimed at making positive change through ideas and products.

These firms and others recognize untapped potential in the menopause market and actively seek opportunities to support innovation in this space. Their involvement isn't just driving growth in the sector; it's also encouraging other investors to see the value in backing women's health initiatives, fostering a sense of optimism and hope for the future.

Female investors, in particular, are in charge of this space. Their personal connection to the challenges of menopause and their commitment to improving women’s health has driven them to invest in companies offering innovative solutions. By backing these startups, they’re helping bring much-needed products and services to market and paving the way for broader societal acceptance of menopause as a normal, well-supported part of life.

The Role of Technology in Managing Menopause

Technology is playing an increasing role in how menopause is managed and understood, offering women new tools and resources to navigate this stage of life. Digital health platforms are at the forefront of this movement, providing personalized care plans, telehealth services, and online communities that offer support and information.

Wearable technology is another area of innovation, with devices (like the Embr Wave) that track and manage menopause symptoms such as hot flashes and sleep disturbances. These wearables collect real-time data, helping women better understand their bodies and adjust their lifestyle or treatment plans accordingly. Some devices even connect directly to apps that offer tailored advice or connect users with healthcare providers for immediate assistance. Check out a few popular devices on the market now: 

The Evie Ring is made to support women throughout every phase of their reproductive health by keeping tabs on heart health, physical activity level, sleep, oxygen saturation, and menstrual cycles. You can also use the app to set personalized health goals.

The Thermaband Zone is like a hot flash tracker and zapper that you can program to automatically start warming or cooling by sending a message to your brain at the onset of a hot flash. You can also turn it on manually whenever you feel one coming on. 

Continence is a complicated issue that research has shown to be a concern for around half of postmenopausal women over the age of 50. There are multiple types of incontinence, but the most common is stress incontinence (a small leak when laughing, sneezing, or during exercise), which is what ELITONE targets. ELITONE is a wearable device that helps facilitate pelvic floor therapy. The device can be used for 20 minutes a day to strengthen those muscles at home while you're exercising, getting dressed, or even cooking.

IdentifyHer tracks the frequency of hot flashes, night sweats and other sleep disturbances, anxiety, and more. It's a device that is worn under the chest and, after gathering data, can evaluate the best path for treatment or symptom management for you. The affiliated app is secure and bound by HIPAA.

Menopause often exacerbates anxiety and causes issues with sleep. Apollo Neuro assists with both. You can wear it around your wrist or chest (or clip it on your pants) and take advantage of soothing vibrations released to communicate with your nervous system and help you maintain calm and internal balance all day long. Wearers can program the device with different rhythms geared toward focus, energy, calmness, or assisting with sleep. The newest model features a movement tracker for night use, prompting relaxing vibrations to help you stay asleep. 

Finally, the Muse 2  is a wearable designed to help combat menopause-related brain fog, anxiety, and stress. This device will help your brain zone in on mindfulness. While meditating, you can slip it on to track your brain waves and give you gentle alerts when your mind starts to drift. You can also choose heartbeat mode to help synchronize your heartbeat to the sounds, body mode to track body movement and aid in stillness and focus, or breath meditation that helps keep your breathing evenly paced. The Muse uses an app to help you track and measure how your focus improves over time.

As technology continues to evolve, we can expect even more innovations in menopause care. From advanced diagnostic tools to more personalized treatment options, integrating technology into menopause management is improving outcomes for women and driving growth in the market.

How Employers Are Addressing Menopause

As awareness of the impact of menopause on the workforce grows, some employers are beginning to take proactive steps to support their employees. This shift isn't just about fairness; it's also good business sense.

Leading companies are starting to implement policies and practices that support employees experiencing perimenopause and menopause. These initiatives include flexible work arrangements, access to health resources, and promoting an open culture where menopause can be discussed without stigma.

Another critical component of addressing menopause in the workplace is education. By training managers and HR professionals to understand the challenges associated with perimenopause and menopause, companies can create a more inclusive environment. Such training often covers how to recognize menopause symptoms, provide appropriate support, and understand legal obligations related to health and safety.

In addition to workplace policies, some companies are expanding their healthcare benefits to include menopause-related treatments and services. This might involve coverage for hormone replacement therapy, counseling, and other treatments that help manage symptoms. By offering these benefits, employers can ease the financial burden on their employees and empower them to manage their symptoms more effectively.

A New Era in Women's Health

The conversation around perimenopause and menopause is shifting, and with it, the way businesses, entrepreneurs, and investors approach this important life stage. As more women share their experiences and demand better support, we're likely to see continued growth in the menopause market and more companies recognizing the importance of addressing this issue in the workplace. With the number of women experiencing perimenopause and menopause set to increase, the demand for innovative products, services, and education is only going to grow.

We are entering a new era for women's health and everyone stands to benefit — employers, investors, and most importantly, women themselves.