While significant progress has been made in addressing gender disparities in healthcare, women continue to face significant barriers. As referenced in the GIIN’s most recent GIINsight, women remain underrepresented in medical trials, underserved by existing treatments and are often dismissed by their providers regarding pain concerns.
Research has shown that increased representation of women as leaders in healthcare can address disparities for both providers and patients. While women face barriers to employment opportunity in healthcare, there are promising outcomes for patients of all backgrounds when women are able to break through.
This brief investigates the representation of women founders among healthcare companies receiving impact investments using data collected in the GIIN healthcare benchmark.
- Women comprise just 11% of founding teams among healthcare investees represented in the benchmark.
- Representation is highest in virtual care models (33%) and lowest in hospital-based offerings (2%).
- 81% of companies analyzed had no women on their founding teams.
This analysis offers an early look at emerging patterns that raise important questions for the field. By benchmarking key performance indicators such as women's representation in healthcare entrepreneurship, investors can better contextualize their impact and understand what "good" looks like. As more investors share data, the insights will deepen, helping to shape strategies that close gender gaps in healthcare innovation and impact investing.
This research was made possible through generous support from Investing in Women and the funders of the GIIN’s Impact Lab.
Download the GIINsight, Representation of Women in Healthcare: Preliminary Findings, Trends and Considerations for Impact Investors and explore the findings.
