Call for Femtech Startup Applications and Nominations

Programme Overview

Following the success of last year’s Health Innovation Spark for Kids (HITS4KIDS), ERIA is launching the Health Innovation Spark for Women (HITS 4WOMEN). This initiative is a collaboration between the ERIA Startup Team and the Healthcare and Social Welfare Unit, designed to advance women’s health as a key economic and social driver in the Asia-Pacific region.

Women’s health is vital to regional prosperity and social well-being. Addressing health needs across the life course – from lifestyle-related factors to non-communicable diseases – requires a comprehensive approach that responds to the evolving challenges faced by women at different stages of life. Promoting holistic wellness – encompassing physical, mental, and spiritual health – is also essential to overcoming structural barriers and improving health outcomes.

By leveraging innovation, HITS 4WOMEN strengthens partnerships between researchers and practitioners to drive inclusive, multi-sector progress within the regional femtech and women's health ecosystems.

HITS 4WOMEN serves as a platform to:

1. Raise awareness and advocacy on key women’s health challenges across Asia
2. Showcase innovative solutions focused on women's health
3. Foster cross-sector collaboration and community engagement within the Medical Excellence in Asia framework

ERIA invites applications or nominations of femtech startups from across Asia whose solutions address the following areas:

1. Reproductive and sexual health
2. Women’s wellness and mental health
3. Pregnancy, nursing, and postpartum care
4. Healthy and active ageing

Programme Agenda

The programme features a 2-day agenda designed to provide startups with opportunities to showcase their solutions, expand their international networks, and explore new business ventures.

Day 1: Tuesday, 9 June

Location: ERIA Co-working Space, 15th Floor

The first day focuses on high-impact engagement and networking, featuring:

• Startup Pitching & Awards: Selected startups developing women-focused healthcare solutions will be invited to pitch their innovations in approximately 5 minutes each to a diverse panel of judges and stakeholders.
• World Café Session: This facilitated discussion will bring together participants in rotating small groups to exchange ideas and co-create innovative solutions to women’s health challenges.
• 1-on-1 Matching Sessions: Interested startups can take part in an inclusive, multi-sector business matching session designed to facilitate collaboration with potential partners

Day 2: Wednesday, 10 June

The second day is dedicated to practical insights and industry immersion. It will feature a site visit (including a guided tour) to a women’s health-related facility (TBC).

Eligibility Criteria for the Startup Pitching Session

Early- to growth-stage global femtech startups that fulfil the following criteria are invited to apply for the Startup Pitching Session:

1. The startup must be operating in, or actively preparing to launch in, at least one Asian country and it must demonstrate clear evidence of early product–market fit (PMF), such as pilot results, user feedback, or market demand.
2. The solution must address pressing healthcare challenges faced by women in the target markets mentioned above, such as the need to improve access, affordability, early diagnosis, or health literacy.
3. The startup must adopt a science- or evidence-based approach in the development of its product/service, supported by preliminary validation such as feasibility studies, academic partnerships, or user trials.
4. The startup must be open to engaging in ERIA’s research, policy dialogues, or knowledge exchange initiatives, particularly in the healthcare or innovation sector.
5. The startup should demonstrate aspirations for regional or international collaboration, whether through market expansion, R&D partnerships, pilot projects, or joint initiatives with corporations, institutions, or governments.

Key Benefits for Startups

• The chance to pitch in front of international companies, investors, and policymakers
• Participation in business matching with ERIA’s network of ecosystem players
• Opportunities to collaborate with ERIA’s Healthcare and Social Welfare Unit on future healthcare-related projects and with the Startup Team on business-related projects
• Visibility through features in ERIA’s and the Startup Team’s official reports and social media channels
• A token of participation for selected top startups, with certificates of appreciation for all participating startups

Whether you are a founder ready to showcase your solution or you know a promising startup that deserves the spotlight, apply or submit a nomination by 10 April 2026.

Apply or Nominate Here