- Research finds growing synergies between women's health and venture capital companies

LONDON, June 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Venture capital (VC) firms are increasingly turning their attention to women's health, the primary area of focus being breast cancer research. However, there is a slow but steady widening in focus to embrace new pathologies; efforts are progressing world over to improve women's health.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan's (http://www.technicalinsights.frost.com) Emerging Technologies for Women's Health – Evaluation of Funding Prospects finds that VC backed participants who were hit by the economic slowdown are recovering even as weak pipelines are slowly being strengthened.

For more information on this research, please email Anna Zanchi, Corporate Communications, at anna.zanchi@frost.com

"Company valuations reduced over the past few years, as companies were affected by the recession," notes Frost & Sullivan Technical Insights Industry Analyst Saju John Mathew. "Most investors are now focusing on later-stage, less risky opportunities in the private segment to protect values and generate investor profits."

VC investment is currently unevenly distributed. This has resulted in a handful of companies dabbling in technology innovation, while the majority struggle to get by. Start-ups in women's health face many hurdles such as sustaining innovation due to the low amount of VC money being pumped in. The dearth of evidence-based clinical trials also tends to discourage VC investments.

"Attracting VC funding will require start-ups to conduct extensive evidence-based clinical trials, the results of which can be used to substantiate their product or technology," explains Mathew. "Moreover, the current economic scenario compels companies to work within a strict capital agenda to prove their technology potential."

For the women's health sector to truly profit, multiple partners from both private and public sectors need to collaborate and coordinate on issues ranging from financing infrastructure to services. Initiatives to propagate women's health require cooperation from all stakeholders concerned.

New entrants can rely on government backed technology incubators to ease the path of their product/technology, from the research to the commercialization stage. All companies active in women's health also need to understand evolving market dynamics in order to tailor their product/technology to fill gaps. Apart from core healthcare issues, they can focus on advancing women's health through synergies with other fields, such as wireless patient monitoring apps.

"Developing geographies are hotbeds for new VC investment," concludes Mathew. "The healthcare sector is growing rapidly in BRIC nations and long-term capital of the kind provided by VCs will help in leveraging the plethora of investment opportunities in these geographies."

Emerging Technologies for Women's Health – Evaluation of Funding Prospects, a part of the Technical Insights subscription, offers a brief snapshot of the market. It analyzes the impact of major trends, drivers and challenges. Furthermore, this research service tracks technology advancements and emerging trends evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants.

Technical Insights is an international technology analysis business that produces a variety of technical news alerts, newsletters and research services.

Connect with Frost & Sullivan on social media, including our Transform Health group on LinkedIn, for the latest news and updates.

About Frost & Sullivan
Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants.

Our "Growth Partnership" supports clients by addressing these opportunities and incorporating two key elements driving visionary innovation: The Integrated Value Proposition and The Partnership Infrastructure.

• The Integrated Value Proposition provides support to our clients throughout all phases of their journey to visionary innovation including: research, analysis, strategy, vision, innovation and implementation.
• The Partnership Infrastructure is entirely unique as it constructs the foundation upon which visionary innovation becomes possible. This includes our 360 degree research, comprehensive industry coverage, career best practices as well as our global footprint of more than 40 offices.

For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Is your organization prepared for the next profound wave of industry convergence, disruptive technologies, increasing competitive intensity, Mega Trends, breakthrough best practices, changing customer dynamics and emerging economies?

Contact Us: Start the discussion
Join Us: Join our community
Subscribe: Newsletter on "the next big thing"
Register: Gain access to visionary innovation

Contact
Anna Zanchi
Corporate Communications – Europe
P: 0039 02 48516133
E: anna.zanchi@frost.com
http://www.frost.com

SOURCE Frost & Sullivan