Upstart Impacts, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit dedicated to advancing life sciences and deep tech innovation, announced on October 15, 2026 the launch of its Women’s Health Innovation Program. The program will help early-stage healthcare companies advance their technologies toward market while challenging them to consider how women may experience diseases and respond to treatments differently than men, and how those differences could lead to new applications, products, and better care for women.
The program will select 10 Pennsylvania life sciences and medtech startups for its first cohort. Applications are open through December 15, 2026, with selections announced in January and the program beginning in February 2027.
“Women’s health is not just about solutions that specifically address women’s health and wellness needs, it’s about having all life sciences and medtech companies consider women’s biology in how their products are built and evaluated. For centuries, medicine has treated women’s bodies as an afterthought. We want to change that,” said Karina Sotnik, President of Upstart Impacts and CEO of WorldUpstart. “We ask every founder, whether they’re building a heart device or an AI tool, how their product works in women or for women. That question can uncover new IP, open doors to new markets, and make products better for everyone. And, we want Pennsylvania to be where that work happens.”
Closing a Long-Standing Gap
Consideration for women in clinical trials and healthcare R&D has historically lagged. According to Upstart Impacts, women are still nearly twice as likely as men to experience adverse drug effects and 50% more likely to be misdiagnosed after a heart attack. Despite making up nearly half the global population, women’s health receives only about 5% of healthcare R&D funding.
At the heart of the program is a simple question: how could a better understanding of women’s biology and healthcare experiences improve the technologies companies are developing?
Who Can Apply
The program is open to pre-seed and seed-stage life sciences and medtech companies based in Pennsylvania or Greater Philadelphia, or willing to relocate to Pennsylvania. Founders don’t need to lead women-focused companies or work only on women’s conditions; they just need to be willing to examine their technology through the lens of the female body. The program is disease-agnostic, spanning cardiovascular, neurological, reproductive, cancer, autoimmune, endocrine, metabolic, and other conditions.
Participants will receive an immersive curriculum designed to prepare them for funding and commercialization, including one-on-one mentoring, access to more than 50 mentors and industry experts, and connections to healthcare institutions and investors. The program is free, with no equity requirements. Partners include Ben Franklin Technology Partners and Life Sciences Greenhouse Investments.
“Ben Franklin is proud to support early-stage women’s health companies in our region — businesses that can harness Southeastern Pennsylvania’s world-class research institutions, health systems, and founders to positively impact lives,” said Scott Nissenbaum, president and CEO of Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania.
Building on a Proven Model
The new program builds on a 2025 initiative Upstart Impacts developed and ran for early-stage life sciences and medtech companies led by underrepresented founders in the Philadelphia region. Funded by the Knight Foundation, that program supported 10 companies, eight of which secured funding. Together, participants have since raised $7.4 million. The Women’s Health Innovation Program uses the same support structure and programming, with an added women’s health lens.
Philadelphia-based biotech Ajaya Bio, a 2025 participant, is developing a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, a disease that predominantly affects women. “As first-time entrepreneurs, we benefited enormously from the experience of mentors who had been through the process,” the company said. “The program helped us make better decisions about building and growing our company, preparing for the next stage of funding, and avoiding costly mistakes.”
About Upstart Impacts
Upstart Impacts is a Philadelphia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that helps early-stage life sciences and medtech companies advance promising technologies toward market. Its programs give founders mentoring, expertise, and connections to clinicians, industry, and investors, drawing on 15 years of experience bringing healthcare technologies to market.
