Las Vegas, January 5, 2022 - The World Bank Group and the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) announced today the winners of The Global Women's HealthTech Awards, recognizing innovative startups that leverage tech to improve women's health and safety in emerging markets. The winning startups selected by a panel of industry experts are Antiva Biosciences, InnAccel, NIRAMAI, and UE LifeSciences.
The Awards attracted over 70 companies from 35 countries, which submitted their innovative products and services under three categories: reproductive health and pregnancy, general women's and adolescent health, and women safety and security.
"These startups are using technology to help women in developing countries live longer and healthier lives," said IFC's Managing Director, Makhtar Diop. "They're at the cutting edge of a growing market focused on women's health that has the potential to reach almost $10 billion by 2024."
Karen Chupka, EVP, CES, Consumer Technology Association (CTA), announced the winning startups during the opening session of CES2022, one of the most influential tech events in the world.
"The winners announced today are providing innovative solutions that are making a difference in solving some of the most pressing challenges in healthcare and will help improve the health and well-being of women in developing countries," said Karen Chupka.
New technology can play a key role in addressing some of the most pressing health challenges for women, including access to maternal care, reproductive care, and high-quality diagnostic tests and screening. Tech innovations can be particularly impactful in emerging markets, where women often face a lack of adequate resources and tailored solutions. For instance, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), 94 percent of all maternal deaths occur in low and lower-middle income countries, mostly due to poor access to quality health services, while limited access to diagnostic centers and tools for early detection result in lower survival rates for breast cancer.
About Antiva Biosciences
Antiva Biosciences, Inc. is a venture-backed biopharmaceutical company developing novel, topical therapeutics for the treatment of pre-cancerous lesions caused by HPV, before they progress to invasive cancers. The company's non-surgical alternative for treatment of cervical neoplasias could be a major advancement for women's health around the world by improving access to care in communities where resources are scarce and enabling women to self-treat in the privacy of their homes. For more information, visit www.antivabio.com
About InnAccel
Inadequate fetal monitoring, and thus undetected fetal asphyxia, is a major cause of intrapartum deaths. InnAccel has developed Fetal Lite, an AI-powered, fetal heart rate monitor for mothers in labor or post 36 weeks of gestation. Fetal Lite, based on next-gen ECG signal processing, is more accurate, reliable, and easier to use compared to conventional Doppler-based devices. Fetal Lite will expand access to fetal monitoring, thus reducing intrapartum deaths through better diagnosis and more effective care. The company has also developed Saans, a portable, neonatal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) device designed to universalize breathing support for infants with respiratory distress, which is responsible for over a million deaths each year. For more information, visit www.innaccel.com
About NIRAMAI
NIRAMAI has developed a novel software-based medical device to detect early-stage breast cancer in a simple and private way. Their solution is a low cost, accurate, automated, portable cancer screening tool that works for women of all age groups and breast densities, addressing a key unmet need in cancer screening. The core technology of this solution is based on their patented machine learning algorithms over thermal images for accurate detection of breast cancer. This unique solution can be used as a cancer diagnosis test in hospitals for regular preventive health checkups, and also for large scale screening in rural and semi-urban areas. For more information, visit www.niramai.com
About UE LifeSciences
UE LifeSciences has developed iBreastExam, a radiation-free device that enables earlier stage detection of breast cancer at low-cost and minimal training compared to other options. To date, the company has reached over 500,000 women, helping to detect over 200 cases of breast cancer. For more information, visit www.uelifesciences.com
About the World Bank
The World Bank provides financing, global knowledge, and long-term commitment to help low- and middle-income countries end poverty, achieve sustainable growth, and invest in opportunity for all. We comprise the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the world's largest development bank, and the International Development Association (IDA), one of the largest sources of funding for the world's poorest countries. With the other World Bank Group institutions as well as partners across the public and private sectors, we are helping build solutions to the global challenges of the 21st century in all major sectors of development. A world where no one lives in poverty and everyone has the opportunity for a better life is within our reach.
About IFC
IFC—a member of the World Bank Group—is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In the fiscal year 2021, IFC committed a record $31.5 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity as economies grapple with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.
About Consumer Technology Association
As North America's largest technology trade association, CTA® is the tech sector. Our members are the world's leading innovators – from startups to global brands – helping support more than 18 million American jobs. CTA owns and produces CES® – the most influential tech event in the world. Find us at CTA.tech. Follow us @CTAtech.
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