WoW Woman in FemTech I Dr. Ravid Shechter, co‑founder of MyMilk Laboratories

Dr. Ravid Shechter is the co‑founder of MyMilk Laboratories, where she translates human‑milk science into practical, consumer wellness tools for new families. She earned a B.Sc. in Biochemistry from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology and completed a direct‑track Ph.D. at the Weizmann Institute of Science. Her scientific expertise spans immunology, developmental neurobiology, stem‑cell biology, and central nervous system repair. As a mother of two - whom she breastfed for over five years while pursuing her scientific career - Ravid brings both rigorous science and deep empathy to women’s health. At MyMilk she co‑led the creation of MyLee, an at‑home, non‑medical lactation wellness device and app that guides mothers through the first days and weeks postpartum using a tiny milk sample. Ravid helped catalyze the establishment of Israel’s first national human milk bank (now operated by MDA with Ministry of Health support). Her work has been recognized on stages such as TechCrunch Disrupt (Top Picks, HealthTech/Biotech) and in peer‑reviewed publications. She is passionate about making maternal care personalized, data‑driven, and compassionate.

MyMilk Laboratories (MyLee) develops science‑backed, consumer wellness tools that help new mothers establish breastfeeding with confidence. The MyLee device uses a tiny drop of breast milk to assess conductivity - a proxy for electrolyte levels that reflect early secretory activation progress and milk maturation - and pairs it with a mobile app that delivers day‑by‑day, personalized guidance during the first weeks postpartum. MyLee is CE/FCC‑compliant consumer electronics (not a medical device), FSA/HSA eligible in the U.S., and used by individuals and lactation professionals. By translating milk data into timely insights, MyMilk empowers proactive, informed breastfeeding care for families.

Tell us a bit about your background and your projects so far.

I’m a neuroscientist and immunologist by training who moved from leading academic research to building practical tools for families. At MyMilk, we created MyLee - a handheld sensor and app that give mothers objective, day‑by‑day guidance in the earliest, most critical days of lactation using a tiny milk sample. Before that, our team operated the first human‑milk‑dedicated laboratory in Israel, and we also co‑founded a non‑profit that advanced Israel’s first national human milk bank now serving preterm babies.

How did you get into this industry? Has it been an easy industry to get into or have you had many challenges?

I entered women’s health because I saw a gap: pregnancy is monitored closely, yet breastfeeding often lacks objective tools and need is great. We faced the classic Femtech headwinds, underfunding, breastfeeding perceived as a niche, and the added complexity of pairing hardware with software all with very little resources. Those challenges sharpened our focus on evidence, business collaborations, and real‑world utility for mothers and lactation professionals.

How long did it take you to be where you are now? What was the biggest obstacle? What are the challenges of being in the industry you are in?

From the first concept in 2012 to forming the company in 2014 and to today - it’s been years of careful iteration. Our biggest obstacles were pioneering a new category and validating outcomes with extremely lean resources. Women’s health still faces structural barriers in funding and adoption, so we anchored our path in rigorous science, a clear science-based positioning. We also have an approved US patent and another one on its way and published two peer-reviewed papers, and we work closely with researchers and clinicians. 

What are your biggest achievements to date?

Transforming MyLee from concept to CE/FCC‑compliant consumer electronics that are FSA/HSA eligible in the U.S.; being selected as TechCrunch Disrupt Top Picks (HealthTech/Biotech); publishing two peer‑reviewed research papers; securing IP in the U.S. and more on its way; early adoption by lactation consultants and research partners; and helping catalyze Israel’s first national human milk bank - a life‑saving resource for preterm infants. But most of all we see our greatest achievement when we provide real world assistance on a daily basis to each one of our happy Mom users.

What are the projects you are currently working on?

Scaling home use of MyLee with better onboarding and education, expanding professional collaborations and distribution, and supporting research programs that strengthen the evidence base behind personalized lactation guidance.

Is the #WomenInTech movement important to you and if yes, why?

Yes. Women’s experiences are historically underrepresented in product development and datasets. WomenInTech helps bring those voices to the table - creating visibility and pathways that translate lived experience into better products and outcomes.

What will be the key trends in your industry in the next five years and where do you see them heading?

Personalized maternal care via at‑home biosensing paired with AI‑driven coaching; tele‑lactation becoming standard; more interoperable maternal‑infant data driving changes in care; and a shift from generic advice to timely, individualized guidance throughout the postpartum journey.

What is the most important piece of advice you could give to anyone who wants to start a career in this industry?

Co‑design with mothers and clinicians from day one. Define the smallest repeatable value and collect evidence early. Choose your regulatory and commercial path intentionally, find champions, and plan for education - it’s as critical as the technology. Also be patient, progress can take time. (although not all entrepreneurs could or would have been as patient as we are).

Who are three inspirational women in your respective industry you admire?

Dr. Jane Morton - Stanford pediatrician who revolutionized early postpartum protocols and hands-on lactation education, and whose early work on milk electrolytes was the inspiration for building the MyLee
Tania Boler - of Elvie, a model for consumer-centric cutting-edge women’s health hardware and the way they claimed breastfeeding public awareness.

Kate Ryder - Founder/CEO of Maven Clinic, scaling virtual maternal and women’s health in a very impressing way

Find out more about MyMilk Laboratories on their website.

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