Investment (off the) Pitch: Making the Case for Advancing Femtech and Women’s Health 💪
By focusing on the unique needs of women, both Kang and Bellis are championing a new era where female-specific technology and research are at the forefront of a growing and dynamic market...
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BIG IDEA
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Washington Spirit, Olympique Lyonnais Féminin, and London City Lionesses owner and innovator Michele Kang is keenly aware of the double-edged sword facing women’s sports today.
On one hand, the increasing commercialisation of women’s sports is a vital and overdue development, bringing greater visibility and investment.
On the other hand, this focus on marketing and fan engagement often comes at the expense of the athletes’ performance and well-being.
Kang sees the disparity in the support female athletes receive and is addressing it head-on by creating technology and infrastructure specifically tailored for women through the launch of Kynisca Innovation Hub.
This hub is a central element to her all-female multi-club organisation (MCO), Kynisca Sports International, and is dedicated to developing sports science and technologies designed for the female body.
This focus is crucial because, as Kang has pointed out, the current landscape of sports science is overwhelmingly male-centric, leaving female athletes with tools and training methods that don’t fully address their unique needs.
“With so little investment in sports science focused on women, we have only begun to unlock the potential of female athletes on the pitch,” said Michele Kang. “Kynisca Innovation Hub will become a pioneer of female performance research - so we can stop training women as if they are simply small men – and unlock their true potential.”
Kang isn’t alone in having this view.
CiCi Bellis, a former professional tennis player and now managing partner at Cartan Capital, is another that has identified this opportunity.
In a previous episode of the Sports Pundit Podcast, she discussed the significant investment potential in the ‘femtech’ space, highlighting how the creation of tech specific for women goes far beyond just improving on-pitch performance.
"There’s a massive market opportunity here," Bellis noted, emphasising that while sports may be the first use case where these innovations are honed, the applications extend into broader areas of health, wellness, and even consumer behaviour.
Investing in female-specific sports technology goes beyond levelling the playing field; it taps into a historically underserved market with vast potential.
These innovations can drive new advancements in wearable technology, data analytics, and personalised health solutions that cater to women’s specific needs.
These advancements, however, are likely to first emerge within an elite sporting environment, before trickling down to a broader consumer base.
"Understanding where you’re at in your cycle and how that impacts your training… that’s just the beginning," Bellis remarked, underscoring the broader implications of this tech.
By investing in the development of sports science that is specifically designed for women, Kynisca is setting the stage for innovations that could transform how female health and wellness are approached globally.
Kang is addressing the disparity head-on, ensuring that female athletes are not only given the opportunity to succeed commercially but are also equipped with the tools and technology they need to thrive in every aspect of their careers.
Similarly, Bellis’ recognition of the investment potential in this space reinforces the idea that the true value of these innovations, though they may first be seen by those involved in sports, also extends far beyond.
While many managing partners at VC firms may struggle to fully grasp these challenges, Bellis, a former professional athlete and still in her twenties, is leveraging her unique perspective and experience to seize this opportunity.
True to her word, Bellis announced an investment into Tiny Health shortly after recording the podcast. Tiny Health is the first gut health test for moms and babies 0-3 years to detect gut imbalances and course correct early on.
By focusing on the unique needs of women, both Kang and Bellis are in their own ways championing a new era where female-specific technology and research are not just afterthoughts but are at the forefront of a growing and dynamic market.
Ultimately, these innovations stem from a deep understanding of, and commitment to, female athletes—ensuring they are not only heard but empowered to reach their fullest potential across all facets of their lives.
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THE PODCAST
Want to hear more from my conversation with CiCi?
We discuss her early professional tennis career, developing an interest in venture capital, the opportunity in the wearables space, Cartan Capital’s investment into Proto Hologram, finding a silver lining to her first-hand experiences in rehab and recovery, and the MASSIVE opportunity to invest into Femtech.
Listen to the full podcast via the link below - and I’d love to hear what you think!👇
JOB BOARD
Head of Commercial Digital Strategy and Innovation - The FA (London, UK)
Managing Director - Baller League UK (London, UK)
Global Partnerships Sales Manager - Juventus FC (Turin, Italy)
Director, Video Gaming (Licensing) - National Football League (NFL) (New York, US)
Media Relations Manager (Temporary) - TMRW Sports (Florida, US)
To see these jobs, and more jobs like these, visit the Sports Pundit Job Board, hosted by Peak 72.
Do you have a job you’d like to promote to the amazing readers of this newsletter? Email me 📩
SPEAKERS ONLY
Saracens' StoneX Stadium is set to host the first major event from Sports Pundit, bringing together experience from across the sports industry with a new event format designed for the modern age.
With our hosts and mentors confirmed, applications are now open for the final 20 places, reserved for executives 30 and under.
We’ll confirm successful applications by the 16th of August. Please feel free to also share with young colleagues in your teams.
SOCIAL CLUB
The Sports Pundit Social Club is a monthly series of industry Happy Hours happening in New York and London.
These free gatherings are designed to connect individuals who might not meet at conventional industry events. Our community includes senior and junior executives from rightsholders, founders of venture-backed startups, private equity investors, and even (a few) professional footballers, all bringing unique value to the table - and very rarely mixing in other settings.
With July events now behind us, make sure to RSVP now for August👇
New York 🗽 (Wednesday 28th August @ Maxwell Social)
London 🎡 (Wednesday 28th August @ Eight Club London, Moorgate)
Getting insights and news via email is great, but there's so much untapped knowledge in our community. We want to open up the floor and hear from everyone.
It’s all part of moving from mass emails to meaningful, one-on-one conversations.
The Big Idea is brought to you by the Global Institute of Sport!
The Global Institute of Sport is the leading destination for Master's degrees, executive education and professional qualifications in sport around the world.
They count world-famous stadiums and surrounding venues among their state-of-the-art campus facilities across the globe, including London's Wembley Stadium, Miami's DRV PNK Stadium and Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Ready to master the global sports industry? Enquire today about their in-person and online courses.
