Malaysia’s first femtech accelerator backs health startups

The inaugural Alpha Startups Inno4Her Demo Day, organized by Malaysia-based 1337 Ventures, took place on May 3, 2025, at WORQ KL Sentral.

This event marked the conclusion of Malaysia’s first FemTech-focused accelerator, highlighting solutions for women’s health and wellness in Asia.

The eight-week accelerator program supported ten early-stage startups.

Winners Dear Kyra and Magnolia Collective were acknowledged for their innovative contributions.

Dear Kyra, co-founded by David Ong and Loh Hui Lin, offers a telehealth platform for birth control and STI testing in Malaysia.

Magnolia Collective, founded by Theresa Lovelin and Kelly Yamamoto in Singapore, provides a digital care platform for women experiencing menopause, using AI and wearable technology.

🔗 Source: 1337 Ventures

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Femtech’s dramatic growth contrasts with persistent funding disparities

The launch of Malaysia’s first dedicated Femtech accelerator comes amid extraordinary market expansion but lingering investment challenges.

The global Femtech market is projected to grow from $22.5 billion in 2021 to over $65 billion by 2027, yet these startups receive only 1-2% of global health technology funding1.

This disparity is particularly stark for female founders, who raise significantly less capital than their male counterparts in Femtech—averaging $4.6 million compared to $9.2 million2.

The Asia-Pacific region is expected to experience the fastest growth in Femtech innovation3, making 1337 Ventures’ accelerator strategically positioned to capitalize on this regional momentum.

European Femtech startups set a new funding record in 2024 with €339.4 million raised4, suggesting increased investor recognition of women’s health solutions that programs like INNO4HER aim to replicate in Southeast Asia.

2️⃣ Accelerators address critical market gaps in women’s healthcare

The INNO4HER program’s winning startups directly target severely underserved areas in women’s health that represent substantial market opportunities.