Where are investors placing their bets in the rapidly evolving health tech space? Rita Vilas-Boas, seasoned expert in health tech venture capital and jury member at Health Tech Forward 2024, shares her perspective on where investors are placing their bets – from femtech to computational biology and beyond. From femtech to computational biology, she outlines the health tech investment trends that are shaping the future.
What innovations excite you as the next big thing in health tech?
“I believe that computational biology for wellness, specifically healthy longevity, is one of the most incredible innovations with global impact potential. AI and generative models will significantly influence drug discovery. First through their content – for example, enabling personalized cancer vaccines. Secondly through the process, by speeding up clinical trials and dramatically reducing costs, as we’ve already seen in insilico medicine.”
This highlights one of the most exciting health tech VC insights: technologies that combine biology with AI are no longer experimental – they’re becoming investable opportunities. In fact, in H1 2025, U.S. healthtech startups raised $6.4B across 245 deals – with AI and provider tools drawing much of the capital, as detailed in Rock Health’s H1 2025 market overview.
Which sub-sectors are still flying under the radar?
“Femtech, or more broadly women’s health, remains largely under the radar for several reasons. Research often defaults to male biology, limiting knowledge on female-specific health issues. Data on women’s health is undervalued, with key conditions often excluded from medical datasets. Because of that, women face barriers such as delayed diagnoses and inadequate treatments.
Historically, investment in women’s health has been lower, reinforcing this data gap and limiting innovation. The good news is that the femtech sector holds a $1 trillion market potential, and with rising awareness and more female investors, it could finally transform healthcare for women.”
Femtech’s rise is becoming a central theme in health tech startups funding, with new companies addressing unmet needs in fertility, menopause, chronic pain, and more.
What do you look for when considering a health tech startup investment?
For founders, this means that beyond technology, investors value scalability, execution, and resilience – fundamentals that apply across health tech venture capital.
“There are a few key things that need to line up for a startup to deliver top-tier performance. These include:
– A strong team
– A viable market
– Clear customer demand
– Competitive advantage
– Favorable environmental changes that increase demand
If any of these elements is lacking, the startup is unlikely to succeed.”For founders, this means that beyond technology, investors value scalability, execution, and resilience – fundamentals that apply across health tech venture capital.
What are the biggest risks for health tech startups?
“Startups often stumble for three main reasons: the team fights and falls apart, they can’t crack the code on what customers really want, or even if they do, they struggle to bring that vision to life.”
This underlines why health tech startups funding often hinges on execution ability – an idea alone isn’t enough without the right leadership and customer insight.
Can you share examples of successful health tech investments?
“A company I admire, and that is part of my portfolio, is Kencko. It addresses nutrition challenges by offering freeze-dried, organic fruit and vegetable products through direct-to-consumer channels. What makes Kencko stand out is its presence in the target market, as well as addressing and innovatively solving high-impact problems like global food waste and poor nutrition.”
Kencko’s success shows how health tech VC insights extend beyond biotech and into everyday nutrition, where scalable solutions can address both consumer needs and global challenges.
Be Part of the Change
New tech solutions can reshape the future of healthcare, but they need the right platform to shine. Don’t let your innovation go unnoticed – apply to Health Tech Challengers for a unique opportunity to pitch your idea to investors and jury members like Rita. Increase your product’s visibility, forge essential industry connections, and secure the funding necessary to turn your vision into reality.
FAQ: Health Tech Venture Capital & Startups
1. What is driving today’s health tech investment trends?
Key drivers include AI in drug discovery, personalized medicine, femtech, and digital health platforms that improve access and efficiency. For more insights, see PitchBook’s global health tech VC trends.
2. What do health tech VCs look for in startups?
They prioritize strong teams, market validation, scalability, and a clear competitive edge. Learn more about what matters to investors from our Health Tech Forward conference.
3. How big is the opportunity in femtech?
Recent studies estimate a $1 trillion market potential in women’s health innovation, making femtech one of the most underfunded yet promising areas.
4. Where can health tech startups find funding opportunities?
Beyond traditional venture capital, platforms like Health Tech Challengers offer visibility, mentorship, and connections to leading investors.5. What are the biggest risks in health tech venture capital?
Team misalignment, lack of customer validation, and challenges in execution are the most common pitfalls. Rock Health’s digital health funding reports also highlight how investment cycles impact startup growth.
