FemTech

FEMTECH INNOVATION HUB FOR PAKISTAN

Led by CERP | In partnership with LUMS Centre for Entrepreneurship | Funded by the Gates Foundation

Why the Hub Exists

The Femtech Innovation Hub (FIH) is Pakistan’s first dedicated platform for advancing women’s health innovations. Launched in 2025 by the Centre for Economic Research in Pakistan (CERP), with support from the Gates Foundation and in partnership with the LUMS Centre for Entrepreneurship (LCE), the Hub empowers entrepreneurs to tackle the most pressing challenges in women’s health.

From menstrual hygiene and maternal care to digital health, mental wellness, and chronic disease management, the Hub provides a comprehensive ecosystem where local startups can access mentorship, training, regulatory guidance, investor networks, and pilot opportunities with healthcare partners.

Our vision is to position Pakistan as a leader in women’s health innovation by enabling locally driven, globally relevant solutions that improve outcomes, empower women, and strengthen healthcare systems for underserved communities.

CERP’s Role in Driving the Hub

As lead organisation, CERP provides strategic direction, policy linkages, and research support to ensure the Hub’s work is evidence-based and aligned with national and global health priorities.

CERP: Lead organisation, responsible for program design, governance, and alignment with women’s health policy and research.
LUMS Centre for Entrepreneurship (LCE): Implementation partner, delivering incubation, training, and business development support.
Gates Foundation: Funding partner, enabling the program as part of its global commitment to women’s health.

Hub’s First Cohort (2025)

In June 2025, the Hub welcomed its inaugural 35 startups after receiving more than 130 applications from across Pakistan. These ventures span diverse clusters:

Menstrual & Gynaecological Health – 12
Maternal & Reproductive Health – 6
Mental Health & Well-being – 8
Digital Health & AI – 4
Market Access & Affordability – 3
Social Impact & Policy Advocacy – 1
Chronic & Non-Communicable Diseases – 1

Many of these startups are already serving low-income women, using offline-first models, mobile apps, culturally adapted education tools, wearable devices, and hybrid digital–physical solutions.

What Startups Gain at the Hub

Tailored Curriculum: A dual-track program combining health-tech capacity building (CERP) with business development (LUMS).
Expert Mentorship: Access to local and global leaders in digital health, bioethics, AI, maternal care, and entrepreneurship.
Regulatory Guidance: Navigation of DRAP compliance, clinical validation, and ethical standards.
Pilot Opportunities: Linkages with hospitals, NGOs, and public health systems for real-world testing.
Investor Access: Networking with angel investors, venture capital firms, CSR programs, and international donors.

Why Women’s Health Innovation Can’t Wait

Pakistan has one of the highest maternal mortality ratios in South Asia.
Millions of women lack access to safe menstrual hygiene, mental health support, or affordable chronic disease care.
Despite this, women’s health technology (“femtech”) remains underfunded and underdeveloped.

The Femtech Innovation Hub bridges this gap, turning bold ideas into scalable health solutions that save lives, break taboos, and create sustainable businesses.

Past Sessions

Conversations hosted by the Femtech Innovation Hub that bring together experts, entrepreneurs, and innovators in women’s health.

What’s Next for the Hub

With its first cohort underway, the Femtech Innovation Hub is laying the foundation for a long-term pipeline of women’s health innovators. In the coming years, we aim to:

Incubate and accelerate 100+ femtech startups.
Expand pilots into rural and underserved districts.
Foster partnerships with government, NGOs, and private sector players.
Position Pakistan as a regional leader in femtech innovation.

For more information, please contact:

Salwa Akhtar
Program Manager, Femtech Innovation Hub for Pakistan
[email protected]