Waterloo alum inspires student innovations in women’s health
University of Waterloo alum and founder of Hyivy Health, Rachel Bartholomew (MBET ’14), returned to campus as a collaborator of Velocity and FemTech Canada’s Innovation Challenge, where more than 100 students formed teams to address three critical areas of women’s health: menopause, gynecological health and breast health.
“For those who don't know, 50.4 per cent of our population in Canada is female, yet women weren’t required to be included in clinical trials until 1997,” Bartholomew said. “We are fundamentally almost 30 years behind in core research and innovation. The projects you’ve worked on help move the needle forward but know that the challenge doesn't end here — Velocity and FemTech Canada will continue to support you.”
From October 28 to November 8, student teams participated in Velocity workshops, working sessions and a project showcase, while receiving 1-to-1 mentorship with industry experts to refine their presentations. The competition culminated in a dynamic final pitch event, with eight finalists delivering 3-minute presentations to a panel of judges made up of female health founders and health professionals.
In a stimulating finale, the team of Biomedical Engineering students behind PeriGuard won the grand prize of $4,000 to expand their health-technology device. Miora, the runner-up, received a $1,000 prize for their innovative AI-driven solution addressing cognitive changes during menopause.
