What You Should Know:
- Hyivy Health most recent $2M seed funding round was led by Zcube – Zambon Research Venture along with contributions from Beresford Ventures, Equation Angels, FACIT, mHub, Women’s Equity Lab, and the founding partner of Chai Ventures.
- The funds are crucial for the advancement of Hyivy Health clinical trials and to prepare for market entry. CEO Rachel Bartholomew acknowledges fundraising challenges in the femtech space. “Fundraising in the women’s health space is still a hurdle,” she said. “The more women we have entering the field of venture capital, the easier it gets, but it’s a slow uptake.”
- The Hyivy Health technology is a first-of-its-kind to measure the contributors and impact of pelvic pain in endometriosis patients with a new and proven pain management tool which involves treatment of pelvic pain, but also potentially diagnosing more than 51 conditions associated with pelvic pain including cervical and ovarian cancers.
Cancer Treatment Impact on Pelvic Health
Cancer treatments can wreak havoc on pelvic health, the area responsible for reproduction. Surgeries, radiation and chemotherapy can cause significant changes to the pelvic area, including scar tissue formation, reduced blood flow and nerve damage. For many cancer survivors, these long-term side effects can be just as challenging as the cancer itself, impacting a person’s quality of life long after treatment ends.
Medical-First Approach to Pelvic Health
To address this need, Hyivy Health took a medical-first approach, prioritizing clinical validation and regulatory approval over a direct-to-consumer strategy. One clinical trial addressing the needs of a large, complex gynecological and colorectal patient population. The Hyivy team started with a clear goal: to create a device that would address the issues of traditional dilators while providing therapeutic benefits during rehab.
Bartholomew explains. “This progression is crucial for effective treatment, but it’s often a significant physical and psychological hurdle for many women. Our aim was to create a solution that would make this[rehabilitation] process more gradual and manageable.”
During the rehab process, dilators are part of the treatment plan and it’s shocking to know these devices have remained unchanged for decades. “ I was shocked – nothing had advanced in this field,” exclaimed Bartholomew.
Bridging the Gap Between Patients and Providers
Hyivy Health’s remarkable solution serves as a medical connective bridge between patient and healthcare professionals, providing the first-ever pelvic and gynecological benchmarking/baselining, real-time monitoring and therapeutic intervention through a clinician software portal. Patients use the Hyivy device and app from the comfort of their homes.
U.S. Expansion and FDA Approval
Hyivy Health is now ready to launch in the United States. Starting in California, with over 25 clinics, Hyivy Health will continue to actively recruit gynecological and pelvic floor physiotherapy clinics across the US to adopt this novel healthcare solution Hyivy Health is also in the beginning stages to complete FDA approval.
About Hyivy Health
Founded in 2020 by Canadian entrepreneur Rachel Bartholomew following a diagnosis of cervical cancer, Hyivy Health aims to improve the standard of care for both patients and physicians through a holistic approach and device that treats, monitors, tracks and prevents pelvic symptoms.
