As International Women’s Day approaches, we’re looking back at five FemTech companies from the South West that we featured last year to see where they are now, 12 months later. From wellbeing apps and health platforms to sustainable period products and innovations in public infrastructure, these startups highlight the growing innovation happening across the women’s health sector.
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Melody
Previously known as Flow with the Seasons, the startup has since rebranded to Melody, reflecting a broader vision of helping women live more in sync with their hormonal rhythms.
Founded by Jade Wakes, the company began as a menstrual journalling app designed to help women better understand patterns in their mood, behaviour and energy throughout their cycle. Jade’s journey started in 2020 when she began journalling alongside her own menstrual cycle and discovered insights into how hormonal shifts influenced her daily life. This inspired her to create an app that allows users to analyse their cycle data and journal without the distraction of fertility-focused tracking.
Over the past year, Melody has launched its UK Beta, introducing a whole-cycle approach to menstrual wellbeing with personalised insights, science-backed education and daily check-ins. The app also includes features such as a predictive seasonal calendar and practitioner-ready reports, all within a private and ad-free platform.
The Melody beta is currently available on iOS and Android, with a full launch taking place in March 2026.
Founded: 2024
Founder: Jade Wakes
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PEEQUAL
PEEQUAL is the UK’s first squat-and-go women’s urinal, created to tackle long toilet queues at large events while breaking the taboo around female urination.
Founded by Hazel McShane and Amber Probyn, the startup has continued to gain momentum over the past year. Their urinals have now been used more than 1.25 million times since their first event in 2022 and have appeared at major events including Glastonbury and the London Marathon.
In a major milestone, PEEQUAL recently raised nearly £1 million in investment to support international expansion. The funding will help manufacture the company’s next-generation urinals, designed to be flat-packed for easier global distribution. The new design also includes patent-pending updates and a stackable structure that allows significantly more units to be transported at once, helping reduce both road congestion and the carbon footprint of large events.
Founded: 2020
Founders: Hazel McShane & Amber Probyn
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Grace & Green
Grace & Green offers sustainable period products designed to be kinder to both women’s bodies and the environment. Their range of tampons, pads and liners are made using organic materials such as bamboo and organic cotton, and are free from chlorine bleaches, fragrances and synthetic dyes.
Founder Frances Lucraft launched the company after spending a decade working in the water and sanitation industry, where she witnessed the negative impact conventional period products were having on water systems. After three years of research and product development, Grace & Green was created to offer a more sustainable alternative.
Over the past year, the company has reached a major milestone by securing £1.3 million in investment, with support from Lifted Ventures. The funding will help accelerate the development of two world-first patented innovations in period and incontinence care, further strengthening Grace & Green’s position as a leading voice in sustainable hygiene products.
Founded: 2017
Founder: Frances Lucraft
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Emm
Emm is developing the next generation of bio-wearables to improve healthcare. The company is creating the first menstrual cup with built-in biosensors, designed to provide users with deeper, personalised insights into their cycles.
Founded by Jenny Burton in 2020, Emm brings together a team of engineers, researchers and innovators working to create high-performance period products that combine health data with everyday menstrual care.
Over the past year, the company has reached a significant milestone by raising $9 million (£6.8 million) in an oversubscribed funding round. The investment will support Emm’s clinical development, strengthen its data infrastructure and help bring its smart menstrual solution closer to market, with the aim of launching the product to consumers in 2026.
Founded: 2020
Founder: Jenny Button
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WAVESIX
WAVESIX is a lifestyle, health and wellbeing tracking app designed to help users monitor six key areas of their lives: sleep, nutrition, movement, relationships, relaxation and self.
Founder Julia Marshall-Wessendorf conceived the idea after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2011 and struggling to find a digital tool that tracked multiple aspects of wellbeing in one place. Her personal health journey inspired her to create WAVESIX to help others take a more holistic approach to managing their health.
Over the past year, the startup has continued to build momentum within the regional startup ecosystem. Julia recently won the People’s Choice Award at the Canopy Community x SETsquared Bristol Demo Night, and WAVESIX was also recognised as SETsquared Bristol’s Success of the Month, highlighting the growing interest in the platform and its mission.
Founded: 2023
Founder: Julia Marshall-Wessendorf
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These five companies represent just a snapshot of the innovation happening across the FemTech and women’s health space in the South West. Over the past year, it’s been exciting to see them grow – from securing investment to gaining recognition across the ecosystem. We look forward to seeing what’s next for these startups as the FemTech sector continues to evolve.
If you would like your FemTech company to be featured in the future, please get in touch with techSPARK’s Growth Marketer, Valeria Mata Cuervo, at valeria@techspark.co.
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