Investing in Change

Research and technology can help close the gender gap. Yet there’s a major barrier: money. Women-focused solutions are often dismissed as ‘niche’, receiving just 4% of venture capital investments.

In this episode, we speak to Anouk Petersen of the McKinsey Health Institute, Cristina Ljungberg from The Case For Her and Mariam Torosyan of Safe YOU. They are each working to fund and develop technological or medical solutions that are transforming girls’ and women’s lives. Whether it’s reusable menstrual pads that give girls in developing nations freedom and dignity, an app that provides urgent support to victims of domestic violence, or endometriosis treatment, millions of women can benefit.

Anouk, Cristina and Mariam explain the problems female-centred technology startups face in securing investment in a male-dominated space, what needs to change, and their hopes for the future.

Plus we hear from Dr Nigina Muntean and Lalita Taylor, who are part of the Equity 2030 Alliance, a global initiative working to close the gender gaps in technology, science and financing solutions.

Learn more here:

McKinsey Health Institute

The Case For Her

Safe You

UNFPA

A co-production between the UNFPA and City St George’s, University of London.

Produced by Lucy Antonatos, Thuy Dong and Chloe Sackur. Executive Producer: Brett Spencer. Artwork by Yaman Mohammed. With thanks to Nathalie Bastin, Emma Heitaniemi and Maria Julia Da Silva Benini.

Main theme by Ben Edwards. Additional music by Alec Slayne, Silver Maple and Out to the World.

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