00:00Thank you very much for being with us. There's a lot to talk about, but let's start with Femtech.
00:04It is something that we hear more and more about.
00:06Can you tell us what it is precisely, and what does it entail today?
00:12So, Femtech represents anything to do with technologies to improve the woman's health.
00:19So, it could be anywhere from period health, fertility, maternity, solutions that can help the woman also in the workplace.
00:29Such as women who are in the menopause and have to miss work, for example.
00:34There are solutions for all of these problems.
00:36What are the challenges of Femtech today?
00:40The main challenges are that it's underfunded by the venture capitalists because they think it's a niche market.
00:48Well, it's not. It's 50% of the world's population or more.
00:52Which is not a niche at all.
00:54No, which is not a niche at all.
00:55We're talking about 4 billion people.
00:57But somehow, only 3% to 4% of all VC funding goes to this sector, Femtech.
01:03That's unbelievable.
01:04The other issue is it's under-researched because for many years, there were no clinical trials allowed on women.
01:12So, this is another issue as well.
01:15There's not enough data and research in this sector.
01:17So, there's a lot to do, obviously.
01:20Tech for Eva specializes in health-related issues.
01:24Which one and what do you do precisely?
01:28So, Tech for Eva is an international accelerator.
01:33It's fully virtual because we started it in the middle of the COVID pandemic.
01:38So, the companies in the accelerator are from around the world, North America, Europe, Switzerland, Asia, and even South America.
01:48You say it's fully virtual.
01:50How do you work?
01:51On conference calls.
01:53We have virtual workshops for them, peer-to-peer sessions that they can have talks with co-founders that understand
02:03their issues and their challenges.
02:04And you can do that in a research program?
02:08We do it fully virtual, yes.
02:11And we have mentoring as well.
02:13Our mentors come from big corporates like Merck, Fering, Roche, but also venture capital and business.
02:21And they help the startups progress.
02:23My question is, in terms of research, is it as efficient as something which would not be 100% virtual?
02:33Well, the research is not virtual, of course, yes.
02:36The companies do their own research.
02:39At the EPFL Innovation Park in Lausanne, you also go beyond Femtech.
02:43You do a lot of other things.
02:45Tell us more about your incubator.
02:47How many companies?
02:47How many startups?
02:50Well, in the ecosystem, we have over 1,000 startups that went through different programs.
02:55We focus on three main sectors.
02:58One is healthcare.
03:00One is cleantech and sustainability.
03:02And the third is ICT AI.
03:05In what you see in Lausanne, what are the main trends today?
03:09Main trends, I would say we're very well known for healthcare in the area because of the presence of a
03:18lot of pharmaceutical companies in Lausanne, Geneva area.
03:24And then the big trend is probably sustainability.
03:27Yes, anything to do with improving the world and your environment.
03:32Talking of which, I mean, you've probably heard about it.
03:35We talk a lot here in VivaTech about artificial intelligence.
03:39Do you also work on that in those fields?
03:41And if so, how?
03:44We do.
03:45I'm not an expert in AI, but we do have 500 research labs on campus.
03:50And some of them do work on AI.
03:53Some of the tech for Eva companies use AI in their solutions in healthcare as well.
03:59So, you know, it could be, yeah, data and AI used for detection of breast cancer or other illnesses.
04:10How much of an impact can it have on health research and medical research in general?
04:15I think it can have a huge impact, yes.
04:17It's our future.
04:19You think it's the future?
04:20Yes.
04:22What is the importance for you to be here at VivaTech?
04:26VivaTech, we have a booth, so come visit us.
04:29Of course.
04:29Tech for Eva at the Femtech Village.
04:32So, it's mainly to connect for visibility, to meet with investors and corporates as well.
04:39You were saying that Femtech is underfinanced.
04:43How can you explain that?
04:44I mean, why?
04:47It's a very good question because it's a huge market opportunity, lots of money to be made.
04:53I mean, we have over, probably over 150 exits already.
04:58So, I think it's mainly because VC funds are very male-focused and they simply don't understand women's health as
05:06a subject.
05:07How do you change that?
05:08That's a very good question.
05:10Maybe you can tell me as a man.
05:12Well, I'm afraid I'm asking the questions here and you know so much more about this than I do.
05:17So, you're the expert.
05:19But, no, it's a real question, honestly, because, as you said, it's a huge market.
05:23It makes perfect sense that people would invest in it.
05:26And what do people tell you when you try to get funding?
05:33I think usually they think there is not a quick return, I guess.
05:38I mean, most VCs want to earn money fast, right?
05:41But a lot of femtech is also medtech where you need to go through the clinical trial phases and it
05:47just takes time.
05:48So, you have to be patient and then you will make your money.
05:53Do you have the feeling that things are changing or evolving in that matter or that it's still as difficult
05:58as it used to be five or ten years ago, for example?
06:02No, I've been in this industry for over 20 years, so I've certainly seen more women rise up to the
06:11partner level within VC funds, which is great.
06:15We just need more women in VC funds who care about this topic.
06:20And I think things will change.
06:22It just takes time.
06:24It takes a little time.
06:25Thank you so much.
06:26Thank you for coming on the set.
06:28Thank you.
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