FemTech (short for “Female Technology”) has become one of the most exciting and fast-evolving sectors in global innovation. Although the term was coined in 2016 by Ida Tin to describe technology-driven solutions for women’s health, it’s only in recent years that it has gained real recognition and momentum. Just last year, AWS CTO predicted that FemTech was reaching an inflection point, and the McKinsey Health Institute valued the “Women’s Health Gap” as a $1 trillion opportunity.
It is no surprise, then, that we’re seeing more attention, funding, and conversations around this industry. From menstrual health to fertility solutions, menopause support, and beyond, FemTech is the melting pot of new technology designed to improve women’s health. Globally, the FemTech market is projected to surpass $100 billion by 2030, and Spain is starting to carve out its own space in this movement.
Yet, despite growing awareness and brilliant innovators leading the charge, one persistent challenge remains: collaboration.
Spain’s FemTech Landscape: A Patchwork of Innovation
Spain’s Femtech landscape is still emerging, but growing fast. According to Grand View Research, as of 2023, the Femtech market in Spain was valued at approximately USD900 million, and is projected to reach USD2.31 billion by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.9%, versus a 10% in general digital health and 13.4% in smart healthcare.
The ecosystem is concentrated primarily in Barcelona (with around 85% of FemTech startups) and Madrid (around 14%). Out of more than 370 funded healthtech startups nationwide, FemTech currently represents only 8% of the total.
While small, the sector is incredibly diverse. The key areas of focus include:
• Diagnostics & Biotech – 24%
• Reproductive Health & Contraception – 17%
• Pregnancy & Maternal Health – 17%
• Menstrual & Hormonal Wellness – 13%
• Menopause Care – 13%
This diversity is encouraging, but it also underscores how fragmented the ecosystem is. There are small, powerful hubs of innovation (particularly in Catalonia), but few bridges connecting them internally and to the rest of the country. Startups often operate in silos, policy support remains inconsistent, health hubs do not have dedicated initiatives for women’s health, and there’s still limited cross-sector collaboration between entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, and healthcare institutions.
The Collaboration Gap
This lack of coordination has real consequences. Without a united front, promising ideas take longer to scale, funding opportunities slip through the cracks, and international visibility remains low.
Despite progress, such as the €8.3 million raised by Barcelona’s FemTech startups in 2023 (an eightfold increase compared to 2019), Spain’s FemTech scene is still at a pre-institutional stage. Most investments remain early-stage or angel-backed, with limited participation from larger venture capital funds or institutional investors.
Public and private stakeholders are showing growing interest, helped by progressive national policies: for example, Spain’s introduction of menstrual leave. These initiatives signal cultural and policy-level support for women’s health innovation. However, FemTech is still underrepresented in national innovation frameworks, and regulatory clarity is lacking for areas like fertility tech, hormone diagnostics, and at-home medical testing.
Beyond regulation, the integration of digital health in Spain’s national healthcare system remains slow. Although the country’s public system provides comprehensive maternal and reproductive care, digital tools like at-home hormone testing or menopause apps are rarely integrated into standard care pathways or covered by reimbursement models.
This is where the collaboration gap becomes especially visible: between innovation and implementation. Without stronger public-private connections, between startups, hospitals, universities, investors, and policymakers, innovations risk stalling at the pilot stage.
The FemTech industry develops on the pillars of shared learning and collaboration, through co-developing technologies and exchanging data, aligning on ethical standards and advocating for inclusive research. When collaboration doesn’t happen, innovation slows down, and the gender health gap continues to widen.
So, How Do We Fix It?
For these reasons, bridging the collaboration gap is not just a nice-to-have: it is essential for scaling the industry and creating real impact. It requires intentional effort from everyone in the ecosystem, from founders, to investors, to policymakers and support organizations alike.
Here’s a few key steps on how we can make a real difference in the Spanish ecosystem:
Build shared platforms and communities: Spain needs spaces designed specifically for FemTech, not just general healthtech meetups. Dedicated hubs would allow founders, researchers, investors, and policymakers to connect, share data, and build joint projects.
Encourage cross-sector projects and partnerships: Collaboration between the public and private sector are key for reasons explained above. Improved relationships among startups, hospitals, universities, and corporates can accelerate clinical validation and product adoption, to scale innovations faster.
Promote visibility and advocacy: Public campaigns, reports, and events can help this industry gain recognition as a strategic sector. Greater visibility attracts investors, policymakers, and talent, and ultimately accelerates systemic change.
Leading European events like Health Tech Forward are already providing an international stage for FemTech founders and investors to connect, exchange insights, and shape the future of women’s health innovation.
Invest in collaboration infrastructure: Community-building takes resources and structure. Funding should be allocated not only to product innovation but also to network development, data-sharing systems, and collaborative programs that strengthen the ecosystem from within.
Encourage policy innovation: Spain has made bold moves with social policies, but it is now time for regulatory innovation. Dedicated FemTech frameworks could clarify product approval pathways, facilitate public-private pilot programs, and incentivize R&D in women’s health.
Our Mission: Fostering Connection and Collective Growth
At Femtech Spain, we’re passionate about helping close that collaboration gap. Our mission is to build stronger bridges across Spain’s FemTech ecosystem, connecting innovators, healthcare professionals, investors, and institutions to move forward together.
We do this through partnerships, thought leadership, mentorship, funding and international exposure. Our ultimate goal is to empower the Spanish Femtech scene and position it as a global leader.
Our long-term vision is clear: a fully integrated, inclusive, and innovation-driven ecosystem for women’s health, where collaboration, policy, and investment work hand in hand to make Spain a global leader in FemTech.
Because ultimately, women’s health innovation isn’t a solo journey, it’s a shared mission. And when we collaborate, we all win.
Join our community at www.femtechspain.es
About the author
Lucia Orozco Lopez is the Founder of Femtech Spain, a community dedicated to uniting innovators, investors, and healthcare professionals advancing women’s health technologies. Passionate about collaboration and inclusion, Lucia advocates for stronger partnerships between public institutions and private innovators to close the gender health gap and accelerate FemTech growth in Spain and beyond.
