LIVTOSHARE

✨ This week's quote:

✨ This week's life update: Embracing Imperfection & Connection. This week has been a beautiful reminder about letting go of perfection, embracing chaos, and biassing for action. An update on me trying Factor meals this week to help give me back time, I would say it was a success! Was it the tastiest meal I’ve ever had in my life? Not particularly (I would say the presentation could use some work) but wasn’t bad at all and saved me precious time during the week. The 5-6 hours back enabled me to spend more time working on some things I’ve had on my plate, get in some workouts, and have more meaningful conversations with leaders in the women’s health space. Sometimes good enough is perfect enough!

✨ This week's health reminder: Move your body, even if it's just for 20 minutes. You'll feel better, trust me. 

✨ This week's tip: As we dive into the holiday season, I'm reminded of a beautiful tradition my bff/co-founder and I practice: taking time to reflect on all the people who've made a meaningful impact on our lives this year. Whether through a video, card, or in-person share…this process of reflecting and expressing gratitude can take longer than you'd think - so consider this your friendly reminder to start early!

Remember: Take what you need don't be afraid to say no, and make space for yourself this holiday season too.

✨ This week's podcasts:

• Robert Greene - "Optimising Your Reality" on Invest Like the Best

• "Getting off the Beaten Path" on Reset with Liz Tran 

✨ This week's journal prompt: Who has made a meaningful impact on your life this year? What would you want to tell them? Bonus step - share this with them!

🌱 FOUNDING TEAM INSIGHTS: From Seed to Series E - Maven's Early Days

This week, I had the privilege of having a conversation with a founding team member of Maven Clinic, who played a pivotal role in Maven’s journey from seed stage to their Series E with $300m raised. Here are some golden nuggets for founders and operators in the women's health space:

On Finding Product-Market Fit: Maven's path wasn't linear – they experimented with D2C and subscription models before discovering their enterprise breakthrough (starting off on college campuses). The key insight? Maternity was a major healthcare expense for employers, and by targeting early adopters in tech and professional services firms, they found their sweet spot.

On Go-To-Market Strategy:

• Their early cold emails saw surprisingly high response rates – a signal they'd identified a critical pain point

• They strategically focused on areas with less friction, allowing them to dedicate attention to more challenging aspects of the business

🍒 WOMEN’S HEALTH NEWS THAT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION 🍒

On Endometriosis 

• Game-changing development: A simple stool test could revolutionize endometriosis diagnosis, potentially eliminating years of painful waiting and invasive procedures. As someone navigating this journey myself, this hits close to home and gives me hope!

• New Endometriosis drug offers hope for those suffering from endo and worried about having kids!

Major Market Movements & Social Trends

• Digital health platforms see surge in emergency contraception demand: Winx Health said it saw a 966% increase in emergency contraception sales in the 60 hours following the election

• 74% of YouTube influencers discourage hormonal contraception, on discussing the role of reliable health education and power of social media for women’s health

Significant Funding Rounds This Week:

• FertilAI closes $4.5M for AI-driven fertility solutions

• Freya Biosciences receives $10.4M strategic investment from Gates Foundation

The intersection of technology, healthcare, women’s needs, and advocacy is more crucial than ever. We’re seeing impressive innovations and funding momentum, however the rise of misinformation and regulatory challenges reminds us why evidence-based solutions and education in this space is incredibly important.

🎯 UPCOMING EVENT: Funding & Investment Workshop in TORONTO

This Friday, I'm thrilled to be co-hosting an intimate workshop with Firehood Ventures! We'll be joined by Danielle Graham, General Partner of Phoenix Fire and founder of Canada's first women-focused Angel Syndicate.

The evening will feature live pitch opportunities with real-time feedback from Danielle, followed by an interactive discussion on navigating funding pathways. I'll be hosting alongside Cindy, with Tashuka Shah moderating the discussion.

Limited spots are still available! If you're interested in joining us for this intimate evening of pitching, learning, and connecting with fellow women in tech, RSVP HERE!

ps. Event will be hosted at blend space, a holiday pop up featuring women-owned small businesses in Toronto, so you can habit stack and get your holiday shopping in while being inspired! 😉 

⚡WHO’S HIRING?⚡

Check out this Women’s Health Jobs newsletter here!

If you enjoyed this edition of LIVTOSHARE, forward it with a friend who's interested in women’s health and growth!

Have a BEAUTIFUL WEEK!!!

With love & light,

Livia Han 💗