Episode 018: FemTech and The Women’s Health Revolution with Dr. Brittany Barreto

Brittany Barreto is the co-founder, executive director and podcast host of FemTech Focus: a nonprofit that’s revolutionizing the women’s health tech (femtech) industry through connection, capital and collaborative innovation. She’s on a mission to disrupt the male-centric status quo in healthcare, and bring much-needed focus and funding to underserved women’s issues.As a geneticist-turned-venture-capitalist (and founder of the world’s first ever DNA-based dating app), Brittany is a true trailblazer at the intersection of entrepreneurship and science. Since founding FemTech Focus in March 2020, the organization has bloomed into a unique launchpad for healthcare workers, entrepreneurs and investors to come together and improve health outcomes for women everywhere – in addition to becoming the #1 femtech podcast in the world.In this episode, Brittany dives into her journey as a scientist and entrepreneur, the founding and evolution of FemTech focus, the pervasiveness of gender bias at all levels of healthcare/research, and why tackling gendered inequities in the health sector is vital to the empowerment of women everywhere.   Notable Quotes:“Women are so much more than just birthing, we're more than wombs. We're so much more. And we deserve all of the innovation, all of the funding…and we deserve to not be censored.”Highlights:What inspired Brittany’s career as a geneticist and her journey toward becoming a “woman of influence”All about Pheramor, the first-of-its-kind DNA-based dating app that Brittany launched in 2016 How her transition into venture capitalism sparked a passion for women’s health innovation and femtech, and ultimately led her to Start FemTech Focus How FemTech Focus has evolved over the past year from a fledgeling podcast to a groundbreaking nonprofit Highlights from the FemTech Focus Podcast: interviews with the founder of CBD-infused tampon company, Daye, and the CEO of Evofem Biosciences, which created the first non-hormonal contraception The impact of historical and ongoing gender bias and inequity in the health sector, including the exclusion of women from clinical trials until 1993  Connect/Resources:Email: brittany@femtechfocus.orgWebsite: femtechfocus.orgReferences: Women In Clinical ResearchBio: Dr. Brittany Barreto is the Co-Founder, Executive Director and Podcast Host of FemTech Focus. While finishing her PhD in genetics at Baylor College of Medicine, Brittany became the CEO and Co-Founder of the revolutionary dating app Pheramor. The ambitious venture was the first nationwide DNA-based dating app. She then embarked on a new path into venture capital as the Senior Venture Associate at Capital Factory, where she was tasked with launching the fund's Houston branch. Under her leadership, the Houston accelerator portfolio grew by an impressive 205% and she led due diligence on several successful investments. Brittany now has her sights set on advancing the women’s health and wellness community through her latest world-changing venture: FemTech Focus. She is host of the FemTech Focus Podcast which has over 100 episodes, 30K downloads and subscribers in 100 countries. FemTech Focus has assisted hundreds of femtech founders to build, launch and succeed through their events, resources and market research reports. Additionally, Brittany is a founding partner and emerging fund manager at Coyote Ventures, an early-stage femtech investment firm.Support the Show.Please support us at daysforgirls.org