FemTech MX: Pushing LatAm's Health Innovation Agenda

FemTech MX, the first association of its kind in Latin America, was founded in 2024 by Chihuahua-born entrepreneur Mayra Hurtado, CEO and co-founder of Hormony, together with Jazna Stannard, former director of Well4Tech. This initiative was born out of a pressing reality: according to Roche, women in the region spend 25% more time in poor health compared to men. FemTech MX aims to close that gap, attract investment, and position Mexico as a global hub for women’s health innovation.

Building a Strong FemTech Ecosystem in Mexico

The association’s mission is to connect startups, investors, healthcare professionals, and technology experts to accelerate solutions addressing women’s specific health needs. These include reproductive health, menopause, mental well-being, and access to digital diagnostic and prevention tools.

“Our mission is to make the FemTech ecosystem visible and stronger in the region, providing access to information, resources, and investment opportunities,” explained Mayra Hurtado in an interview with Startups Latam.

From Chihuahua to the Global Innovation Map

While the FemTech industry has experienced remarkable growth worldwide over the past decade, Latin America continues to face a significant investment and development gap. FemTech MX seeks to change that by creating collaboration spaces and promoting Mexico as an international reference point for women’s health innovation.

The association collaborates with academic institutions such as Tecnológico de Monterrey and investment funds like Ilum Ventures and New Venture Capital to bring talent and capital into the ecosystem.

According to data from McKinsey Health Institute and the World Economic Forum, investing in women’s health could add up to US$1 trillion to the global economy, underscoring the magnitude of the opportunity for Mexico and the region.

FemTech MX Forum: A Groundbreaking Event in Chihuahua

In March 2025, Chihuahua hosted the FemTech MX Forum, the first event in Mexico dedicated to technological innovation in women’s health. Held at Tecnológico de Monterrey, the forum brought together specialists, entrepreneurs, and students from multiple disciplines.

The agenda featured conferences on topics such as early breast cancer detection, gender-focused innovation, digital health, and financial evaluation for startups. Panels and workshops created opportunities for cross-sector collaboration and exchange of experiences.

“What began as a single talk ended up as an interdisciplinary event,” shared Hurtado about the forum’s origins, which emerged from a collaboration between Prelude Health and Tecnológico de Monterrey’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Following its success, a second edition is already planned for Mexico City in summer 2025, with the goal of further strengthening strategic alliances and placing Mexico on the global women’s health innovation agenda.

Driving Change from Chihuahua with Mayra Hurtado’s Leadership

From its roots in Chihuahua, FemTech MX seeks to create a community that empowers emerging companies in the sector. Its vision is to serve as the main catalyst for FemTech innovation in Mexico, ensuring that transformative products and services reach women worldwide.

The association puts on the table critical issues such as menstrual care, mental health, sexual well-being, and chronic conditions like endometriosis or polycystic ovary syndrome, which historically have been under-researched in medicine.

Thanks to this movement, and the leadership of Mayra Hurtado, FemTech MX is laying the foundation for a future where women’s health takes center stage in scientific, economic, and social conversations.