#32: Building a FemTech, don’t look too passionate about it - Fatoumata Ly
Many businesses start with the future founders trying to solve an issue they face personally. FemTech startups (female technology) are no exception. Here, however, many areas are emotionally loaded and wrapped into layers of taboos.
Fatoumata Ly shares how her own story of trying to conceive evolved into addressing the centuries-old issue countless women face. Fatoumata is now building Ninti, a company that provides digital solutions for personalised care around sexual and reproductive health.
Developing a product for women undergoing traumatic experiences
Together with her co-founder, Fatoumata identified the longstanding problems many women face. They interviewed women from various countries and discovered that personal fertility stories were often connected with the isolation these women experienced. The team also examined the solutions available in different countries and realised that a healthcare model in Europe is not sufficient; only when problems appear, specialists try to find a solution. By analysing the workplace environment, Fatoumata and her team observed that companies are not prepared to openly discuss these topics. And this became their focus.
“How can we challenge workplace taboos surrounding sexual and reproductive health?”
Going through the personal journey while building the company
Fatoumata shares her own experiences of handling reproductive health issues. Each time she faced new devastating circumstances, there were a lack of awareness about the problem and taboos around it.
“Sometimes, when you endure so much, you may not always have the courage or ability to advocate for your health.”
Founders’ Perspective
Black women founders receive less than 0.5% of the venture capital funding. Fatoumata discusses her own pitching and fundraising experiences and how she had to carefully tailor her speech to account for the circumstances and goals. Although funding is scarce, some investors do back women of colour and actively change the narrative. Will we see more investors supporting women of colour entrepreneurs after this podcast?
“I live in a world where people see me and think they already know what I’m going to say.”
About Fatoumata Ly:
Fatoumata Ly is a Franco-Guinean entrepreneur, currently a co-founder of Ninti, a company that provides digital solutions for personalised care around sexual and reproductive health. She is also a member of the board of directors of SISTA, a French NGO that focuses on reducing the funding gap between male and female entrepreneurs.
Fatoumata is committed to putting women at the centre of the healthcare and entrepreneurship system. She actively works to reduce gender inequalities in the areas of reproductive health and entrepreneurship, with a soft spot for emerging markets.