MMC backs Vira, the digital health company focused on women

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29.07.21

Vira Health raised a £1.5 million Seed round to improve long term care, and extend healthy life expentancy, for women.


We’re delighted to be backing Andrea, Rebecca, and the Vira Health team alongside our friends at LocalGlobe and angels including Megumi Ikeda, Managing Director, Hearst Ventures, Andrea Zitna of Elvie and former Spotify executive Sofia Bendz.

Vira Health’s mission is to make high-quality personalised menopause care accessible to all women. Their ultimate vision is to improve healthy life expectancy for women by reducing the prevalence of later life conditions such as osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and dementia. Stella, the first product from Vira Health, a personalised app for menopause relief, is about to launch and you can join the waiting list here.

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At Vira, our vision is to fundamentally transform long term health and wellbeing for women. We believe better menopause care is the first step. Female health issues have historically been under-researched and under-invested, and this remains the case today. There is an opportunity to use technology to redress this balance by improving the collection and use of female data in healthcare. This first round of seed funding is a step towards realising our vision.

ANDREA BERCHOWITZCO-FOUNDER AND CEO, VIRA HEALTH

Menopause affects most women at midlife, typically occurring at age 51, although many experience symptoms well before that. The impact of menopause symptoms on daily life can be hugely debilitating, affecting both personal and professional life. Menopause often hits at a critical point for women in the workplace. In their late 40s and 50s, many women are stepping into senior leadership roles and this coincides with symptoms like hot flushes, insomnia, joint pain, anxiety and depression. Over 80% say that symptoms interfere with their daily life, and nearly half say that it makes work difficult or near impossible. In the UK, menopause is responsible for about 14 million lost working days and 1 million premature career exits.

In her recent TED Talk, Vira co-founder and CEO, Andrea Berchowitz, shared practical advice on how to create a menopause-friendly work culture that supports gender equity and diversity retention in the workplace. You can watch it here.

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At MMC, healthcare is a key area of research and investment. We see a huge potential in capturing and harnessing data insights to reshape the way that healthcare is practised and delivered. This is particularly relevant in female healthcare where there is a well documented gender data gap that needs to be addressed. Andrea, Rebecca and the wider team at Vira Health have the passion, expertise and vision to transform the provision of healthcare and long term health outcomes for women, starting with menopause. We’re delighted to be partnering with them in the months and years ahead.

ALEXIA ARTSMMC VENTURES

More on the funding news via TechCrunch.